LABOR & BIRTH POOL RENTALS

                                                         Water for Labor & Birth

                                     Easier for Mom~ Better for Baby















Benefits for the mother laboring in water:

  • She is more able to relax her pelvic floor muscles and allow her cervix to open.

  • Allows the muscles of her uterus and womb to work more efficiently, and to rejuvenate better between
    contractions.

  • Her relaxed muscles will require less oxygen, so more is available for  baby.

  • There is a rise in the levels of endorphins. These are the body's 'feel-good' hormones and help reduce pain.

  • There is a rise in the level of the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates contractions, leading to quicker dilation and a
    shortened labor.

  • There is a reduction in the levels of 'stress hormones' such as adrenaline, which can make labor more painful and
    slower, and cause feelings of anxiety.

  • Deep water immersion reduces the effects of gravity allowing the women to assume different positions easier

  • Extra buoyancy helps the mother to move freely in instinctive ways that help the baby move down further in the
    pelvis.

  • Between contractions she will be able to rest easier in the comfort of the warm water.

  • The tub creates a sanctuary that she and her partner (if desired) own all to themselves.

  • Warm water relaxes and softens the perineal tissues, making them more elastic and better able to stretch without
    tearing as the baby's head crowns

  • Water immersion can lower blood pressure and increase blood flow to the uterus allowing it to work more
    efficiently  

 For the baby born in water:

  • A more relaxed mother and gentler birth allow for easier immediate bonding

  • Increased oxygen to baby  when mom’s muscles are relaxed

  • A gentler transition from the warm watery womb to dry outer surroundings

  • Studies show some babies cry less when born in water

  • Baby is born clean and right into mom’s arms

  • Babies are born very aware with easier mobility
Second time mother completely relaxed with
her husband in their own private warm water
sanctuary.   Baby crowned only moments later
Our tubs are:
- Large enough to fit two people
comfortably.
- Deep enough for mom to enjoy total
immersion.  
-Spacious to allow mom to maneuver easily
-Comfortable padded floor and sides sturdy
enough to sit on.  
-Keeps water at desired temperature and
has massaging jets if desired.  
For labor & birth
pool rentals please
contact:

sasha@womblove.com

Please include
baby's due date,
address and phone
number for accurate
pricing.

For more info check
out these links!

waterbirth

homebirth safety

local midwives

Local Birth Centers:
Birthwise
Austin Birth Center

OB's supportive of     
    waterbirth

Email me for more
info:

sasha@womblove.com

How to Prepare for a
Joyous Waterbirth


Prepare Your Mind
Examine your motivations, incentives, and expectations. Ask yourself why you have decided on a
waterbirth. Is it something you are doing for yourself, or because someone else expects you to? Are you
strongly drawn to the idea of labor and birth in water? Can you picture yourself in that situation, feeling
comfortable and confident?
It is best to remain flexible and let go of rigid expectations that you must birth your baby in any certain
way. Examine how you might feel if, for whatever reason, your baby is not born in water, and try to find a
way to be comfortable with that possibility. Plan and prepare for the waterbirth you want, and also allow
yourself the luxury of making your final decision, about whether or not to be in the tub, at the time of birth.
That way everyone stays flexible and knows that you plan to follow your instincts and do whatever feels
really right to you.
Get in touch with your birth fears and work on diminishing them by gathering information and educating
yourself as much as possible. Most important, develop and trust your intuition. Always remember that a
woman's body knows how to deliver a baby and that millions of years of evolution are on your side!


Modest?
Some women are not comfortable with nudity. Since they may associate being in a bath with being nude,
they may not feel at ease in the tub even though they might want a waterbirth. This situation need not be a
barrier to having a waterbirth, since its very easy for a modest mom to just slip into an oversized t-shirt or
nightgown before she enters the tub.


Tubs
The tub should be big enough to sit in comfortably and deep enough for the water to come up to armpit
level, so you can get a comfortable amount of buoyancy.
Do a test run by timing how long it takes to fill the tub, so that you already know this when your labor
starts. Depending on how quickly you are progressing and how quickly the tub fills, you may want to start
filling the tub when labor begins.

The Water
The water should be clean: if it is pure enough to drink, it is pure enough to give birth in. The water
temperature should be between 95-101 degrees F, depending on your preference. Adjust the temperature to
what feels most comfortable to you. If the water is too cold, you will lose body heat as you try to keep
warm and you may end up tense and shivering. If the water is too hot, you may feel drowsy and overheated.

The Birthing Room
The floor should be strong enough to support the weight of the tub when it's full. The room should be large
enough for the midwife to set up her equipment.

What to Eat and Drink
Drink to thirst. Ask your partner to remind you to drink at least a half pint of water every couple of hours
to avoid dehydration, which can result in fatigue and a poorly functioning uterus. Eating and drinking during
labor has been shown to reduce the total length of labor by as much as 90 minutes. Eat light, easily
digestible food.


When To Get Into the Tub
Wait until you have a strong desire to be in the water. It's best to wait until your contractions are strongly
established. Some recommend waiting until you are at least 5 cm dilated, since you want to save the pain
relieving effect for the time when you need it most - at transition.
If labor slows down when you are outside the water, try getting into the tub, since that might stimulate
labor. If your progress slows down while you are in the tub, get out and move around a bit, to stimulate
labor. Often it is the CHANGE of environment that gets labor moving again. Once labor is on track again,
you can get back into the tub if you feel like it.


What About Debris in the Water?
Use a fish net to remove any mucus, blood clots, feces, or vomit from the water as soon as possible. But
don't spend lots of energy worrying about this. Remember that Dr. Rosenthal says "The solution to
pollution is dilution."


Birth Positions
Experiment with a variety of different positions while in the tub. Try kneeling, squatting, sitting, or lying
outstretched. Some women prefer to have their partner in the tub with them to hold them and act as an
anchor, others prefer to be in the water alone.

How Long Should the Baby Stay Under Water?
Discuss this with your birth attendants ahead of time. Many people feel comfortable with the time that it
takes for the mother to reach down and pick up the baby herself (called rapid emersion). Any longer than
that is not necessary. Although some people prefer slow emersion, remember that the great benefits of
waterbirth are achieved as soon as the infant comes into the warm water.

How Does the Baby Breathe?

The baby begins to breathe after its face comes out of the water and its skin and cord come into contact
with the cooler air. Until then, the baby receives oxygen through the umbilical cord, as it has done
throughout the nine months of pregnancy.

What About the Placenta?
Some mothers want to stay in the tub after the birth and bond with the baby. Because of this, they may
also choose to deliver their placentas in the tub. This should be discussed with your birth attendant ahead
of time, since some are not comfortable with this approach. If the placenta is slow to come, then get out of
the tub!

Will Mother Get an Infection From the Water?
Dr. Michael Rosenthal reports that there have been no incidences of infection in close to 1000 births that he
has attended. This may be due to the fact that in labor and delivery the action is moving down and out, not
up and in. The concentration of bacteria in and around the vagina is actually diluted by the water.
(Daniels, 1986; Lichy, 1993; Harper, 1994)


Thanks to Andrea Eastman of the Gentle Birth Alternatives Home Page for her help compiling this section.