Preparing for a Water Birth

Before you finally decide that water birth is for you, you need to examine your own motivations and expectations for wanting a water birth. Ask yourself what made you decide on a water birth and why.

Also examine how you would feel if your baby were not born in water, for whatever reason. Get in touch with your feelings, fears and motivations.

Some women are not comfortable being naked in front of other people. You can birth with a loose fitting t-shirt, camisole or tank top.

And then trust your decision.

Choosing a birth pool

• Big enough to sit in comfortably
• Deep enough for water to come up to armpit level, for adequate degree of buoyancy.
• For birthing, the water actually only needs to come up to below breast level, so that baby can go to the breast straight after birth if so wished.
• Ensure that tap adapters supplied with pool fits your water connectors, being either tap or shower.
• Rental period should cover at least 1 week before and after due date.
• Find out what the water capacity of the pool is – then check the water capacity of your geyser.
• Do a test run to see how long it takes to fill your pool.
• La Bassine Birth Pool Rental

The Birthing Room

• The floor should be strong enough to hold the pool when filled with water.
• The room should be large enough to allow access to the pool from all sides.
• Heat the room to personal comfort.
• Have heated towels and blankets available for mother and baby. (Heat them in your washing dryer)

Water

• Your water supply should be clean, pure enough to drink.
• Do not add any essential oils.
• Water temperature should be around 36-37°C.

When to get in the pool

• Do not get into the pool without the midwife being present.
• Wait until you have a strong desire to be in the water.
• Best to wait until your contractions are strongly established.
• If the contractions slow down when in the water, get out, go to the loo and move about to get the contractions going again.

Eat and Drink

• Drink when thirsty.
• Eat light, easily digested food when hungry.
• Don’t starve yourself thinking that you will get sick.
• Eating and drinking during labour has shown to reduce time in labour.

Birth Positions

• Experiment with kneeling, squatting, leaning, sitting or lying comfortably.
• Some women prefer their partners to be in the tub as well.
• Try out floating or inflatable pillows.

Debris in the Pool

• Use a sieve to remove any clots, mucous, faeces or vomit from the water as soon as possible. (Very seldom happens!)
• Don’t spend a lot of energy on this, it seldom happens.

How long should the baby stay underwater?

• Once the baby’s body is born, the mother or midwife will lift the baby out so that his body get’s into contact with the air.
• The baby’s body can stay immerged in the water.
• Baby’s head must stay above the water level. Baby’s head should be covered with baby beanie to stay warm and not loose heat.
• Baby can stay with mother in the water as long as baby is fine and not getting cold.
• Mother can start breastfeeding whilst still in the water if she so wishes.

When does the baby start breathing?

The baby does not breathe until after its face leaves the water and its skin comes into contact with the air or it is stimulated. Until then and after, the baby receives oxygen through its umbilical cord.

The delivery of the Placenta (afterbirth)

It is preferred to birth the placenta out of the water to reduce the risk of bleeding.

The midwife will have a stool that you can sit on to deliver the placenta or a bowl will be placed in the toilet so you can sit on the toilet.

Make sure you are covered in a heated blanket to stay warm.

The placenta usually comes away naturally after about 10 to 20 minutes after birth.

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