
As pregnant women come closer the end of their term, delivery options stare them hard in the face. The development of science and technology has today made it possible for women to opt for painless delivery methods too. However, most physicians recommend the natural methods, which are said to be most suitable for both the mother and the child. Keeping this in mind several ladies do opt for water deliveries since the method is known to be comparatively less painful for the mother and less traumatic for the baby.
Below we shall discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the water deliveries both from the mother’s and the child’s perspective.
Advantages for the mothers:
1. Lesser pain – Women who have opted for water delver state that the effect of water was definitely a positive one in reducing the pain felt during delivery. The principles of Hydrotherapy state that water helps reduce the pain levels especially in the lower back during the process of labor. As opposed to chemical pain killers like epidurals, water is considered a natural and safe method to cut down on labor pains.
2. Zero episiotomy – In all the years that water deliveries have been undertaken there is no record of an episiotomy ever having occurred during this process. Since the water tends to provide support while the babies head is descending chances of skin tear are also reduced drastically.
3. Relaxed environment- Women who have chosen to have their deliveries in the water state that the liquid does help the entire body relax and stay cool. Since the water chosen for this method is generally lukewarm, women find it therapeutic and highly relaxing even when the labor pains are towards their peak.
Advantages for the baby:
1. Less traumatic – Studies show that since babies are used to the intra uterine fluids, they find a similarity in the warm water environment provided right from the birth canal, and therefore the transition is smoother for them than otherwise. Having fewer traumas is known to help in the development of the baby, since it is scientifically proven that trauma babies sometimes face development issues too.
Disadvantages for the mothers:
1. Longer labor – There are people who believe that water tends to decrease the intensity of the contraction and thus cause the labor to last longer. While doctors argue that this has not yet been proved to be true, most hospitals suggest entering the water once the cervix has opened up to 5 centimeters at least.
2. Judgment on blood loss – Another problem associated with water birth is the assessment of the mother’s blood loss. However, since most established hospitals have advanced methods to judge this situation, this problem can be overcome easily.
Disadvantage for the baby:
1. Infection – There is a theory that the child (and mother) is exposed to higher risks of infection due to the bacteria present in the tub or the water during the delivery. However, hospitals are known to follow very strict cleanliness routines in this area and therefore the rate of infection in water deliveries has not been reported to be higher that those choosing to have their babies on land. Also there has never been a case reported of infant death due to water consumption by the baby.
All in all it is safe to state that water deliveries are fast gaining high acceptance and the only caution one needs to maintain when opting for this method is select an authorized hospital environment for the purpose, rather than trying it at home.