Benefits of Using a Birthing Pool

If you do not view anesthetics and analgesics in a favorable way, you might consider a birthing pool. Also called water birth, it is just like normal delivery only that it is done with the mother immersed in water. Previously, this has been widely considered pseudo-science but it has gained wide acceptance because of increased number in studies done in both in the US and UK which confirm its benefits.

Pools are now offered in maternity suites and hospitals using safe and medically approved methods. If planned properly, it can also be done at home with the assistance of a midwife or a doctor. Water birthing is not only for low-risk pregnancy but with medical guidance, it can be performed in high-risk pregnancy as well. Below are the benefits which you can achieve using a birthing pool:

Easing of pain. The University of Southampton, a prestigious institution in the UK, once conducted an experiment with 99 participating mothers. 49 mothers delivered in a birthing pool while 50 went through the traditional medical setting. Two-thirds of the participants who gave birth in the hospital required pain-relieving medication while only half of mothers who used birthing pool needed epidural analgesic for relief. This shows that water has a soothing and relaxing capacity which reduces the occurrence of pain. Another explanation is the production of pain-easing hormones endorphins and oxytocin, which were induced by immersion in water.

Reduced or complete absence of tearing of the perineum. Immersion in water makes the perineum more relaxed. This effect reduces tearing even for first-time mothers. Consequently, this helps mothers avoid stitching or episiotomy.

Relaxed environment for delivery. Buoyancy and the refreshing warmth of the water creates a sense of relaxation, lightness, and ease in mobility. Relaxation allows for better contractions and an easier delivery. It also helps the mother focus more on giving her child a successful birth. Mary Newburn of the “National Childbirth trust” adds that using a birthing pool eases the first stage of labor, which helps for a faster delivery. How is this made possible by relaxation? The study found that stress causes the production of hormones which slow down the rate of giving birth. Relaxation, on the other hand, increases the production of hormones which aid in successful delivery.

Fewer drugs are administered. As explained earlier, using a birthing pool reduces the need for heavy doses of pain relievers. Additionally, it helps in increasing contractions which makes contraction-inducing drugs unnecessary in most cases. With fewer drugs, there is lesser chance for complications weeks or months after childbirth. Moreover, you would no longer have to pay for drugs which you do not have to purchase anyway.

Feeling of privacy and security. Water creates the sense of privacy which eases anxiety and restriction. This allows a mother to behave instinctively and more freely. A birthing pool can also be set up at home with careful planning and aid from a medical professional. This option adds the benefit of giving birth at home, which makes the mother feel more relaxed, in control, and emotionally secured.

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