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Waterbirth
But how will he breathe? What if he drowns?!
It's simple, really. He won't, so he can't! He will continue to get oxygen and nourishment from the cord he grew and has been using especially for that purpose for 9 months now.
According to Barbara Harper, Founder and President of Waterbirth International and Global Maternal-Child Health, "One more factor that most people do not consider, but is vital to the whole waterbirth and aspiration issue, is the fact that water is a hypotonic solution and lung fluids present in the fetus are hypertonic. So, even if water were to travel in past the larynx, they could not pass into the lungs based on the fact that hypertonic solutions are denser and prevent hypotonic solutions from merging or coming into their presence."
Waterbirth is possible even for breech babies. Hermann Ponette, an obstetrician who practices at H. Surreys Hospital in Ostend, Belgium, uses a frank breech position as an indication for a waterbirth. Shoulder dystocia is also more easily handled in water.
Women who labor in water consistently report a great ease in the intensity or pain of contractions once they get in. At least one has thought her labor stopped because she was falling asleep! It hadn't, which was evidenced by a baby several minutes later.
Women who birth in water can also expect their baby to be clean the first time they see him! A very nice perk for a time when you'd much rather snuggle in bed and nurse your newborn than have to clean him.
Jacuzzi tubs work well and are pretty popular these days. Other women have rented birthing tubs. Those who didn't want the expense opted for a children's "kiddie" pool padded with a comforter underneath or a horse trough if they desired more stability from the sides, padding the bottom with inverted egg cartons covered by something waterproof like a shower curtain.
Even tall women usually prefer a round pool measuring about 24-28" high with a diameter of 60", or 5', which includes the wide sides. This gives the women enough space to stretch a bit and still be able to brace her feet against something. This does not leave room, however, for your husband and may make it hard for anyone outside the pool to "catch", depending on the position you are in.
A rented birth pool usually comes with it's own heater. A water heater for large fish tanks has also worked well for some women. Possibly not advisable in a kiddie pool. Water can always be heated on the stove, or a hose attached to a faucet can be a more convenient means.
Clean-up is a breeze for waterbirth. The mess is contained, and easily emptied with a hose attached to a waterbed pump at the faucet. Viola!
With a side table for water and snacks, plenty of towels close-by for baby and a bathrobe for mom to step into... it doesn't get any better than waterbirth!
Copyright © 2002 Christian UC All rights reserved.
