In my book, it doesn't get any better than a waterbirth! Birthing in the water is NOTHING like birthing on a hospital bed.... at all. Have you considered a waterbirth? I copied and pasted the following article from BlessedBeginnings.Net. Let me know what you think :)
Water for Labor and Birthing
For a better birth… just add water!
Take the plunge and discover the benefits of water immersion during labor and birth.
Benefits For Mom
- Pain relief: warm water immersion decreases secretion of stress-related hormones (noradrenaline & catecholamines) associated with fear and anxiety; increases production of endorphins—the body’s natural pain killers. Mom is able to attain a deeper state of relaxation and conserve her energy. Buoyancy in water reduces effects of gravity and creates weightlessness; less abdominal pressure promotes more efficient uterine contractions.
- Decreases hypertension and reduces edema: mild vasodilation occurs thus decreasing maternal BP
- Increases oxygenation to uterus; no external compression of inferior vena cava; promotes better blood circulation and supply to the uterus/placenta improving fetal oxygenation.
- Facilitates a dysfunctional labor; stimulates effective dilation of the cervix. Provides greater mobility for maternal positioning during labor and birth.
- Reduces perineal/cervical injuries. The warm water softens the vagina, vulva and perineum making the tissues more supple and able to stretch gradually.
- Best water temperature: 86-96°F induces mild hypothermia; intensifies uterine blood flow; makes glycogen reserves available and activates insulin receptors in the mom thus is beneficial for diabetic moms.
- Shortens length of labor.
- Improves placental blood flow; increases efficiency of uterine contractions which assists in efficient placental separation; reduces postpartum hemorrhage.
- VBAC: lessens danger of rupture; safer for scar; uterus has better blood supply.
- Empowers mother: when mom is awake, aware and in “control” of her birthing experience it becomes a source of great personal strength and enriches her life forever.
Benefits For Baby
- Gentler transition from maternal womb to external “womb” of water with less trauma at birth
- Enhances fetal oxygenation. Improved blood flow to baby due to better blood circulation in mother
- Best water temperature: 86-96°F helps regulate fetal heart rate; protects against hemorrhagic disease of the newborn by normalizing clotting response; stabilizes primitive reflex responses and activates fetal movements.
- Water mitigates the shock and sensory overload to the newborn that are so often an inextricable part of “dry-land” birth
Benefits For Family/Society
- Greater involvement of the father—because mom’s pain and stress is greatly reduced, fathers take a more active role in the birthing process.
- Enhanced family relationships—involvement of father creates a greater family bond
- Better parent-child interactions—a mom who has an empowering birth experience will have a positive association to the baby; and a baby who experiences a non-traumatic, painless, gentle birth will have a positive association to the parent.
- The birth experience is one of several causal factors in determining the kind of personality an individual manifests later in life. (The Calif. Commission on Crime Control & Violence Prevention spent two years studying the root causes of crime. It found that gentle birth, more loving families and less violence on television are three major factors that curb violent crime. The Commission said that “a positive birth experience, one that is gentle, loving and non-traumatic, increases the likelihood of healthy child development and less violent behavior.”)
