Scandalous blogger stunned by giving birth in home pool for the sake of likes

Sometimes I just want to say: everything with us is not like people! Experiments, new products, research, fashion... Even childbirth was affected. Now you can boast about this and distinguish yourself. Who hasn’t heard funny stories about giving birth at home in your favorite bathtub? This topic is so overused that I don’t even want to delve into it too deeply with reasoning and prejudices. So let's talk without unnecessary emotions, pathos and euphoria.

Childbirth in water is not something new at all. For the first time we heard that a person can give birth in water, like a dolphin or a mermaid, back in the 60s. The Russians did their best, namely a certain Mr. Charkovsky, who popularized this type of childbirth. Soon, maternity hospitals with baths and Jacuzzis spread to many countries around the world. However, after a while, water births ceased to be a highlight, everyone returned to the usual way of giving birth “on land,” and then they remembered again and started talking about water births. And now they talk about it on every corner. Women in labor boast about their delightful impressions, and doctors are still arguing about the pros and cons, the advantages and dangers.

Natural birth in water. Should you give birth in water?

To decide whether to give birth in water, you need to think carefully and weigh all the pros and cons of this type of birth. Water birth is strictly contraindicated for women with poor health, narrow pelvis, or pathological pregnancy. If the fetus is too large or there is a risk of hypoxia, it is also better to refrain from water birth.

If there are no obvious contraindications for giving birth in water, a woman needs to prepare for them in advance: decide where exactly they will take place and find a doctor who has experience in conducting such births.

A woman can give birth in water if she has no contraindications to this

Who is the procedure contraindicated for?

Like any other medical procedure, water birth has contraindications.
Giving birth using this method is prohibited if:

A woman develops late toxicosis;
The fetus showed signs of developing oxygen starvation;
Ultrasound examination reveals the large size of the child;
The woman has a narrow pelvis, which makes it difficult for the fetus to pass through the birth canal;
Regional placenta previa was diagnosed;
The baby has a leg or breech position in the uterus;
Disruption of the mother's cardiovascular system;
Psychological unpreparedness of a woman.

This method of delivery is suitable only for completely healthy women and children.

How is a water birth better than a normal birth?

Advantages of water birth over traditional birth:

shortened contraction time
relaxation of the muscles of the thighs, back and abdomen
a woman feels virtually no pain during contractions
the likelihood of ruptures decreases, as the vagina becomes more elastic and at the same time elastic
all movements of the woman in labor are smooth and neat, which allows her to take the most comfortable positions during labor and childbirth
in water, blood pressure does not “jump” and does not exceed normal values
a child who appears in the water is immediately washed away from blood and mucus
the child moves smoothly from one environment to another, without sudden changes in temperature, light brightness or noise level

Contractions in water are less painful

IMPORTANT: Despite the obvious benefits of water birth, this practice is banned in many countries due to the existing dangers for mother and child.

Is water birth harmful?

There is no denying the naturalness of childbirth in water, because the child spent all 9 months from conception to birth in water. However, in addition to the benefits and relief, water birth can harm the health of the mother and child, namely:

a child can take his first breath while still underwater, which can lead to the development of pneumonia
urgent use of medications under water is impossible
heat transfer process is disrupted in water
aggressive microbes in tap water can be many times more dangerous than any hospital germs
If the woman in labor does not leave the bath before the placenta appears, water may enter the bloodstream
in warm water, after 3 hours there is E. coli, which actively multiplies and poses a threat to both mother and child
in water, the midwife may not immediately recognize the onset of bleeding
fetal heartbeat is difficult to listen to when the woman is in the water

Rapid proliferation of microbes in water can threaten the health of mother and child

IMPORTANT: In addition to the listed dangers, there are certain inconveniences associated with organizing childbirth: the need to change the water every 2 - 3 hours, as it cools down very quickly and difficulty for the doctor, who will not be able to fully control the process.

Positive and negative

The most positive thing for a woman during water delivery is that the contractions are less painful. Contractions in water are compared to oncoming waves. It is in water (if, of course, the volume of the bath allows) that it is easiest to choose the most painless position, freeing yourself from external tension. Yes, warm water has fantastic relaxing abilities.

Other factors are also considered positive aspects of water birth. For example, many “mothers in water” note the fact that the first stage of labor is several times shorter compared to normal childbirth. That is why they recommend that even those mothers who do not want to give birth in water, while away the period of contractions in a warm bath, and when pushing, move to the bed. But will you always be provided with a swimming pool with a jacuzzi at the maternity hospital?

Features of water birth

The popularity of water births is explained by the fact that the woman in labor does not experience as much pain and stress during them as during a normal birth. To ensure that the pursuit of painlessness does not turn into a tragedy, a woman must fully understand what difficulties she may encounter during the process of childbirth.

Firstly, if complications arise, providing medical care will be difficult. It makes no sense to add any medications to the water, and a lot of time can be spent removing the woman in labor from the bathtub and transporting her.

Secondly, you need to be prepared for the fact that labor management tactics may have to be changed. As soon as the woman in labor feels discomfort, malaise or panics, the doctor delivering the baby will immediately ask her to leave the bath to continue the process in traditional conditions.

IMPORTANT: For a water birth to be successful, a woman must be prepared. To do this, from the first weeks of pregnancy she needs to attend special courses and perform exercises in the pool recommended by the doctor.

If something goes wrong during childbirth in the water, it will be quite difficult to quickly help the woman in labor.

The impact of such births on the child

When giving preference to this method of delivery, it is necessary to understand how childbirth in water affects the child.
It is believed that birth into an aquatic environment is more physiological for the child.

This is due to the fact that the baby was in amniotic fluid for all 9 months of its intrauterine development. And this is inherently also an aquatic environment.

In the absence of a sudden change in the environment, the child does not experience severe stress, as during a normal birth.

It has been established that the risk of hypoxia and the baby is minimal, placental nutrition is not disturbed. This has a positive effect on the general condition of the child.

Easier passage through the birth canal virtually eliminates the need to use assistive devices to extract the fetus.

During the water birth process, forceps are never used, which are placed on the baby’s head during its long passage through the mother’s birth canal.

Thus, we can conclude that water birth is extremely beneficial for the baby. But against the backdrop of numerous advantages, there is one significant disadvantage.

The use of poor-quality water can pose a threat to the development of infectious diseases.

What equipment is needed for water birth?

To give birth in water, you will first need a bath or pool, where this very birth will take place. When women decide to have a water birth at home, they usually plan to use a regular bathtub for this purpose.

However, this is wrong. The dimensions of the water birth container must be more than 2200mm in length and 600mm in depth. Such dimensions will provide the woman in labor with comfort and the opportunity to take the desired comfortable position. Swimming pools and bathtubs of the required sizes are available in specialized maternity hospitals. You can also rent them there for home births.

IMPORTANT: Water for childbirth can be either ordinary tap water or purified. But preference is still given to water that has undergone multi-level processing or filtration. Sea salt is added to the prepared water.

In addition to the bath, you will need a water thermometer. Even a slight drop in degrees should be a signal to immediately regulate the water temperature.

To support a woman's head, she will need a special rubberized pad, and to quickly remove feces in the event of discharge, a plastic container should be prepared in advance.

The rest of the equipment that may be useful for water birth is exactly the same as the equipment for traditional birth. It is definitely in the arsenal of a doctor in a hospital or a home midwife.

To perform a water birth, you will need a large bathtub.

To be or not to be

But the answer to this question is always up to the parents. But even if you have a strong desire to give birth in water, there are factors that will prevent you from doing so:

diseases of the cardiovascular system;
clinically narrow pelvis and large fetus;
diabetes;
gestosis;
placenta previa;
risk of developing fetal hypoxia;
psycho-emotional imbalance of a woman.

In all these cases, water birth is strictly contraindicated. If none of the above threatens you, and your desire to give birth in water is justified and supported by knowledge and skills, then go ahead. Just keep in mind the main nuances:

A qualified and, most importantly, experienced midwife in this matter should conduct water births;
water birth is best carried out in a maternity hospital equipped with special swimming pools for women in labor;
the birth bath should be deep enough (at least 60 cm) and wide (2.2 m);
the temperature of the water in the bath should be at least 37 degrees, but not much higher, because temperature changes are dangerous to the health of both mother and child;
the water needs to be changed every 3-4 hours, otherwise E. coli begins to bloom in it;
ensure strict adherence to antiseptics in the bathroom;
It is unacceptable to use any medications during water birth, so that if you accidentally inhale water from the pool, the baby does not swallow dangerous medications;
You should take additional medical care, especially if water birth occurs in a home bath;
monitor your condition; if you feel discomfort in the water, you should leave the bath immediately;
listen to your midwife; you must trust her.

Very often, women go through labor in the water, but then give birth outside the pool. Which method of childbirth is closer to you - decide for yourself. However, this must be a deliberate joint decision. During a water birth, you, your loved ones and the attending physician must become one: mutual trust and understanding are the main components of a successful birth.

Good luck to you!

Especially for beremennost.net - Tanya Kivezhdiy

How to prepare for a water birth?

Preparation for water birth begins with attending courses where expectant mothers are informed about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of birth. When a woman understands what she is doing and understands all the risks, there is more hope for a successful outcome of such a birth.

Physical training consists of regularly performing exercises for pregnant women in a pool or natural body of water. This helps the body get used to the aquatic environment.

Performing gymnastics for pregnant women in the pool is one of the stages of preparation for childbirth in water

If you are planning a home birth in water, then it is necessary to install a pool in a separate room in which it will take place in advance. The expectant mother needs to get used to it in advance and try to move in it.

If it is very hot or very cold in a room specially designated for water births, it is necessary to install equipment that can adjust the air temperature at the right time (it should not exceed 22˚C and not be lower than 21˚C)

IMPORTANT: Prepare plenty of towels and cotton napkins in advance to dry your baby once he or she is removed from the water.

How does water birth occur?

Childbirth in water occurs in stages. And if at each stage the woman in labor and the medical staff do exactly what is needed, everything should be successful. So, here are the important rules to follow:

Before a woman in labor enters a pool of water, the midwife examines her, performs a CTG, and listens to the baby’s heartbeat. In water, constant monitoring of the fetus's condition is impossible.
The pool is filled with warm water in advance, so as not to do this when the woman is already having contractions - the temperature should not be lower than 37.2°C, but not higher than 38.3°C.
When contractions occur, the expectant mother enters the water and takes any position that is comfortable for her and relieves pain. It is recommended to try the “squatting” position - this position of the body helps to open the birth canal and make contractions easier.
If suddenly, during labor, a woman in labor releases feces into the water (this often happens), the doctor’s assistants or the doctor himself must immediately remove them from the pool.
A husband may be present next to a woman giving birth - his task is to support his wife morally, to calm her down with affectionate words; you can get a massage.
The midwife’s task is to monitor the well-being of the expectant mother during water birth and give her timely advice.
When, as a result of pushing, the baby is completely out of the mother’s womb, he should be carefully removed from the water (usually a midwife, but maybe a birth partner). You should not be afraid that the baby will suffocate in the water, since oxygen is supplied to him through the umbilical cord. But you need to keep in mind that as soon as the umbilical cord and placenta leave the woman in labor, the flow of oxygen stops.
At the end of the birth in water, the mother is helped to get out of the pool, dry herself with a towel and put on dry underwear.

A woman may have her husband by her side throughout the entire birth - his moral support is extremely important.

As a psychologist who advises women in labor, I can say that they are not always satisfied with how the water birth went. But problems more often arise not because this procedure is somehow bad, but because of the lack of proper preparation. If you don’t go to aquatic training and don’t tell the midwife about your illnesses or phobias, then acute problems can arise at any time. For example, many women begin to panic in the water during contractions, do not know what position to take, or have an uncontrollable fear that the baby will suffocate. Not to mention the cases when mothers in labor developed illnesses during childbirth that they did not consider necessary to warn the doctor about. I am not an opponent of this method, but I want to emphasize that without proper preparation it is fraught with considerable trouble. By strictly observing safety measures, the likelihood of negative consequences can be minimized.

Childbirth at home in water: how does the process of childbirth in water work?

A home birth in water begins, like any traditional one, with contractions. When a woman feels the first contractions, she calls a doctor or midwife (doula), who will help her during childbirth. After the doctor examines the woman in labor and determines dilatation, the woman can begin to prepare for childbirth.

IMPORTANT: Home water births can take place in the family circle - with the participation of the husband or other close relatives of the woman in labor.

During the process of home birth, relatives can participate in water.
During noticeable contractions, the midwife helps the woman move into a bath of water to relieve the condition. She shows the best postures and teaches the woman in labor to breathe correctly during contractions. The temperature of the water in the bathroom needs to be monitored, and the water itself needs to be replaced periodically.

IMPORTANT: During a home birth, during contractions and pushing, the husband can support the woman, give her a massage and even immerse himself in the bath.

When a child enters the water, he is often left there for 10 to 30 seconds. The baby can swim or lie still, as long as the umbilical cord remains intact at this time. After the midwife removes the baby from the water, his body is blotted with dry, clean wipes and applied to the mother’s breast for the first time.

Baby born in water

The midwife then releases the water and prepares to receive the afterbirth, which is born some time after the baby. The emerging placenta is transferred to a glass container and left for several hours so that all the umbilical cord blood passes to the baby. After this, the umbilical cord is cut and the umbilical wound of the newborn is treated.

The child is taken and taken to the room, and the mother is helped to carefully get out of the bathroom and move after the baby. In the room, the woman in labor is examined by a doctor and carries out the necessary treatment. After all the procedures, the woman can drink warm milk or tea and relax.

Getting ready for the procedure

The decision to give birth in water should be made in advance in order to have time to prepare for it. There are several important factors that need to be taken into account.

Physical and psychological preparation

In order to give birth to a baby in water without any problems, the expectant mother must attend special aquatic training during pregnancy, where she will be taught how to behave correctly during the birth process and will be told how to breathe and push. Working on your own psychological attitude is no less important. It involves dealing with the fears that are common to all pregnant women.

Finding a midwife

It is very important that the doctor delivering the baby is highly qualified and experienced. You can find a good midwife on the Internet by using a special online directory and reading patient reviews. When agreeing with your doctor about all the details, you need to find out:

does he have experience in giving birth in water;
what special training did he receive;
he works with or without assistants;
whether he will be free and whether he will be able to provide assistance during the time frame for which the birth is planned.

It is also necessary to provide the doctor (midwife) with complete information about your health status.

How should a birth room be equipped?

In the room where a woman is about to give birth, there must first of all be a special birth pool. It is desirable that it be equipped with water purification and heating systems. This will allow you to fill the reservoir with liquid in advance, and not do it at the last moment, when the woman has already begun to give birth. There should also be a bed, a table, chairs for those present, and a locker for things. It is also necessary that the room has all the necessary medical equipment to measure the vital signs of mother and baby (in or out of the water), as well as to provide the necessary assistance in case of acute situations.

For water births at home, an inflatable pool is often chosen

Some families, wanting to save money, express a desire to give birth at home in a regular bathroom. From a security point of view, this option is undesirable. Firstly, the bathroom, unlike the swimming pool, is not equipped with the necessary systems. It is impossible to heat and purify water in it. Secondly, the sanitary standards of the home bathroom do not meet the required level. Thirdly, giving birth at home is quite risky, even with the necessary equipment and a good midwife. After all, during the birth process, any complications may arise that require urgent assistance, which can only be provided by a team of qualified doctors. And while the woman in labor is taken to the hospital, precious time may be lost.

Not all maternity hospitals practice water births. Therefore, this procedure is often organized at home or carried out in perinatal centers. A special swimming pool can be rented.

The room for water birth must have the necessary equipment

What things need to be prepared

When planning a water birth in a maternity hospital, a woman, as a rule, should think about preparing the following things:

robe, underwear, postpartum pads (everything as after a normal birth);
rubber slippers;
all accessories for the baby (diapers, diapers, etc. according to the list of the maternity hospital).

Video: Newborn baby in water

A child, finding himself at the bottom of the bathtub, usually makes swimming-like movements with his arms and legs. The baby has not yet gotten used to the fact that he is no longer constrained by a cramped space and is happy to flounder in the water.

When the baby is on the mother's breast, he begins to actively suck. After birth and the first attachment, children born in water calmly fall asleep for several hours.

Children born in water are calmer and healthier than children born in the traditional way.

Water birth in a maternity hospital: is it real?

Childbirth in water in a maternity hospital is real, despite the fact that very few modern clinics provide women with such an opportunity.

The delivery room should be equipped not only with water tanks, but also with special monitors and sensors that allow monitoring the condition of the woman in labor and the fetus. All procedures performed must be as safe as possible, and for unforeseen cases, the clinic provides an intensive care unit.

IMPORTANT: Water births should be carried out under the guidance of an experienced doctor and midwife who have undergone prior training.

Maternity hospitals that provide the opportunity for women to give birth in water usually have the following advantages:

individual shower and toilet
rest room for relatives
postpartum treatment and observation room
kitchen section

IMPORTANT: When choosing a clinic for water delivery, you need to ask whether the institution has documents permitting such practice.

Clinics practicing water birth are equipped with all necessary equipment

Reviews

I planned to give birth in water, but naturally in a hospital (I have lived in England for a long time, this is possible here). Unfortunately, we managed to spend no more than half an hour in the water, then the green water broke and I was moved to the bed (it was necessary to monitor the child’s heart). For a water birth, everything should be perfect and naturally no complications, no painkillers like epidurals, etc.
Guest
https://www.woman.ru/health/Pregnancy/thread/4769923/1/#m58926052

A friend gave birth in water. The child caught an infection (I don’t remember which one) and after 7 days the child died.
Guest
https://www.woman.ru/health/Pregnancy/thread/4769923/1/#m58927119

I can only tell you about my experience. Contractions are much easier to endure in water. It’s easier to feel when the pushing begins. For a child, I think this is less stress, since he finds himself in almost the same environment. Mine was surprisingly calm. In any case, if you decide to have a water birth, you need to keep in mind that there may be unforeseen complications and have access to your doctor in case his intervention is needed.
Guest
https://www.woman.ru/health/Pregnancy/thread/4769923/1/#m58926487

I gave birth in water, at home, in my own bathroom. It was wonderful, although painful. You need to be absolutely prepared for this and be absolutely sure that this is not a disease and doctors are not needed here. And most importantly, you have to really want it. My husband’s family is all doctors and they scared me that I would kill myself and the child, but I don’t trust doctors so much that at the mere thought of a too narrow pelvis and stimulants I went into panic. This was my first birth, my pelvis was very narrow - size 42. But the birth lasted only six hours, of which 3 were contractions and three were pushing. I still had about two hours to prepare and walk the dog. And I was alone. My husband arrived about 3 hours after the contractions started. Two weeks later I was playing tennis and didn’t have a single breakup, while my friends with traditional births took months to recover. Nature is smarter than all doctors combined. My son is 11 years old. I wish you good luck and the right choice!
Lisa
https://www.kleo.ru/items/zdorovie/rody_v_vode.shtml#link155119
Read also: Cats sense the death of a person. Can cats sense a woman's pregnancy?

She gave birth in the hospital. I was in the water only during the contraction stage. It doesn't give anything. The pain was the same.
Sea of Happiness
https://sovet.kidstaff.com.ua/question-2160725

Video: review of water birth

Water birth at home: tips and reviews

Katerina, 34 years old : I planned to have my third birth at home. I always dreamed of giving birth in water and finally I decided to do it. I am sure that both pregnancy and childbirth are absolutely natural processes for a woman. If there are no health problems, then childbirth should be easy and painless. I found a midwife in advance who agreed to help me with my idea. Throughout the pregnancy, we called her and talked for a long time. She introduced me to all the intricacies of water birth and explained what the consequences could be. When the contractions started, I sent my husband and the older children for a walk, and I called my assistant. An hour later she examined me and pronounced a verdict: “The opening is 9 centimeters.”

I spent some more time in the room, and when the opening was complete, I moved into the bath, which the midwife had already prepared for me. It was comfortable for me to squat in the water, across the bathtub. In the water, the midwife opened the bubble and I started pushing almost immediately after that. My son was born with the fifth push, and I didn’t feel any pain. The midwife did not take the baby out of the water immediately, but after he swam a little. After the midwife drained the water, I gave birth to my placenta. The baby and I were in the bath for a while, then the midwife cut the umbilical cord and took the baby away. When I left the bathroom, the baby was already asleep, treated and wrapped in diapers. My husband and children returned home in the evening, just as I was breastfeeding our new family member. They were very surprised at my cheerful state, because after the previous hospital birth I felt much worse.

Adeline, 23 years old : I wanted to give birth in water, like my friend. My husband and I agreed with a doula who performed a home water birth with a friend. Up to a certain point, everything went according to plan, just as I had imagined. But when the pain became unbearable, I could no longer control myself and panicked greatly. Water could not rid me of this pain or ease it. I remember that I screamed and asked to call a doctor, which greatly frightened both my husband and our assistant. The husband called an ambulance. By the time she arrived, I was no longer aware of it. My water birth at home ended in an emergency caesarean section “on land” in the hospital. The doctors said that we were still very lucky. Because of my narrow pelvis, I would not have given birth on my own, and everything could have ended badly. As it turns out, water birth is not as wonderful, safe and painless as it is described in fashion magazines.

By choosing to give birth in water, a woman takes responsibility for the life and health of her unborn child.

Whatever decision future parents make, they must remember that official medicine is opposed to water births due to the high risk of possible complications. The greatest danger lies in wait for the baby, who, instead of taking his first breath, may take a sip of water, which is fraught with the development of pneumonia and even death. When going for a water birth, the expectant mother must listen not only to her heart and body, but also to the voice of reason.

Contraindications

Before deciding to have a water birth, the expectant mother should undergo a full medical examination and consult an experienced gynecologist. The fact is that this method of childbirth has many contraindications. Among them:

Narrow hips of a woman in labor. With this anatomical feature, the risk of complications requiring immediate medical attention increases. Therefore, the obstetrician must constantly monitor the condition of the birth canal of the woman giving birth - and during childbirth in water this is impossible.
Large fetus or malpresentation. Again, complications are likely that cannot be controlled when the expectant mother is in the pool.
Premature rupture of amniotic fluid. There is an increased risk of water getting into the baby's lungs.

Water birth is strictly contraindicated for any pregnancy complications.

In addition to the above factors, there are diseases that are absolute contraindications to water birth:

diabetes;
cardiovascular disorders;
skin diseases in the acute stage (eczema, herpes, psoriasis);
epilepsy;
phlebeurysm;
nervous system disorders;
psychical deviations.