A Water Birth At Home - Is It Right For You?

Water births are becoming more popular today as more women shout its praises. Water has a very calming effect.

There are so many cesarean sections being performed today; and research shows that most of these are unnecessary and therefore putting moms and babies at increased risk.  Choosing the way you will give birth is empowering, it allows a woman to decide the best and most safe way to bring her newborn into the world, one of the most important and memorable events of her life. 

Water births are usually accompanied by midwives (in a hospital, this would be a Certified Nurse Midwife, at home, a Direct Entry or "lay" midwife). They involve less invasive actions such as episiotomies since tissues tend to stretch and relax more in water. There is not the stress of constant fetal monitoring which inhibits a woman's movements and makes her uncomfortable, but rather baby is monitored periodically using a hand held Doppler ultrasound device. Mother and baby never separate during water births, and in the case of home birth, the entire family can participate, not just the father.

On the flip side, check with your insurance company to ensure they cover home birth expenses, and the midwife's fees, unless you're prepared to pay out of pocket (incidentally a home birth even without insurance is often less expensive than hospital bills with insurance).  A water birth at home will require the parents to file the birth certificate on their own. You may also want to rent a water birth tub, although many parents opt to use a kiddie pool, such as the one pictured above.

There are many sources of information on home water birth that will help you decide if it is right for you and yoter births, and in the case of home birth, the entire family can participate, not just the father.

On the flip side, check with your insurance company to ensure they cover home birth expenses, and the midwife's fees, unless you're prepared to pay out of pocket (incidentally a home birth even without insurance is often less expensive than hospital bills with insurance).  A water birth at home will require the parents to file the birth certificate on their own. You may also want to rent a water birth tub, although many parents opt to use a kiddie pool, such as the one pictured above.

There are many sources of information on home water birth that will help you decide if it is right for you and your baby.  While water births can be a wonderful experience for you as well as calming and peaceful for the child; you will have to be a low risk in order to have a home birth. Another option if the idea of water birth makes you nervous is to use the water for labor only to help ease contractions and reduce pain, and to leave the tub when you have reached the pushing stage of labor. More information: water birth facts