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Imagine this...the miracle of birth enhanced by the calming effects of water. Our Birth Center will accommodate women's personal choices in birth. Our water birth program provides this and more! |
RELAXATION
During a water birth, you will experience the comfort and weightlessness of the warm water. The water is soothing and relaxing and may assist in easing discomfort. The water creates a wonderful barrier to the outside world. Moving and easily changing position assists women in having control of your own birth. Warm, soothing water helps a laboring woman’s muscles relax, free from gravity – which often speeds labor. When a woman is more relaxed and comfortable, the uterus functions optimally reducing stress to both mother and baby. Immersion in water during labor and delivery decreases the pain of contractions and increases buoyancy and improves blood circulation of oxygen to her baby.
Says Diane Bindl, RN, Birth Center Director, “Water births are a gentle way for babies to enter the world, going from water to water, then mother’s arms, the baby emerges into water and has the freedom of movement within familiar fluid surroundings. Baby’s limbs unfold with greater ease during those first moments of leaving mother’s body. The water offers a familiar comfort after the stress of birth reassuring the child and allowing her bodily systems time to organize. Baby takes her first breath when her skin contacts the air."
Interventions such as monitoring are kept to a minimum during labor and birth and are done as needed. Although epidural anesthesia is not available during a water birth, other pain medication can be given through an IV.
EDUCATION
Education is an essential key to any fulfilling delivery. We encourage women and their partners to become informed. We welcome you and your family to visit the Birth Center for a guided tour of the birth room and our unit, watch the water birth video, and have all your questions answered. If you are experiencing a healthy pregnancy and are considering natural childbirth, consider our water birth option.
IS WATER BIRTH FOR YOU?
Water births are for healthy women expecing an uncomplicated birth at term. The tub is used for women in active labor whose baby is in the head down position. Problems in labor may require getting out of the tub. Other conditions which will prevent water birth include:
- Twins
- Any condition requiring continuous fetal heart rate monitoring
- Abnormal bleeding
- Need for instrument delivery
- Need for medicine to strengthen contractions
- Fever or other evidence of infection
SUMMARY
- RAMC is proud to offer you and your family the option of having a water birth. Discuss the option with your provider and they will help you decide whether water birth is the right choice for you.
- Women must attend a preparation class in the Birth Center. This class includes viewing a water birth video, a birth center tour and discussing water birth at length.
- There is no additional charge for having a water birth.
For more information or to schedule a personal tour of the Birth Center, please call the Birth Center at
608-768-6251.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Giving Birth in Water: A Gentle Choice
www.waterbirth.org
All About Water Birth and Water Babies: The Water Birth Web Site
www.waterbirthinfo.com