Water birthing can help you achieve a natural, drug-free birth. Here’s what one mom discovered about natural childbirth, and why she’s decided to have a water birth for her first baby.
This post is part of the Pregnancy: A Natural Phenomenon series.
Guest Post by Brenda of Triple Braided
Two years ago my best friend had her first baby. She was the first of my close friends to have a baby, so the birthing lingo was completely new to me. I knew some of the basics–C-section, epidural, and water-breaking–but other than that I was lost in the dark when it came to birthing babies. All I pretty much thought was that you get pregnant and nine months later you deliver a baby. The end.
Then she told me she was having a water birth. And she went on to explain what water births entail – no drugs.
Now even though I did not know a lot about delivering babies, I knew that if I ever had the blessing of having a baby I wanted drugs! I think at some point in my younger days I even said, “I sure do wish it was like in the olden days when they just knocked you out to have a baby!”
The bottom line: Pain was not an option.
Then my best friend had a water birth. She told me every detail. I even saw pictures. (Yes, we’re that close.)
She did not sugar-coat the pain involved in delivering her baby naturally. In fact, right after the delivery she said that she didn’t know if she’d do it again. It was that painful.
Then baby number two came along. And she did it again.
I still was not convinced.
Until I got pregnant.
I started asking my friend more details about this whole water birth thing, particularly the reasons she chose it. She explained that she was going to another doctor at the beginning of her first pregnancy. This doctor flat out told her that she would probably not be able to deliver over a six pound baby because of her small frame. He told her she could try to deliver the baby naturally, but she would be an “out of control mother in labor.”
My friend was offended. She admitted that he was a good doctor, but just more of a surgeon with the mentality of a surgeon, used to doing C-sections, than a natural baby delivery doctor.
Basically that doctor’s philosophy is that pregnancy is a medical condition that needs to be treated.
So she went to another doctor. And yes, she delivered that 8 pound 10 ounce baby girl right there in the water! Without any drugs. But with a lot of pain.
In my research of birthing babies, this is some of the information I have learned, and my reasoning for planning a natural, water birthing experience.
What I’ve Learned about Childbirth:
- A lot of times inductions and C-sections are scheduled out of convenience for the doctors, hospitals, and parents–not as a medical necessity.
- This helps the hospital make more money by being able to schedule births and possibly fit more into a day.
- Babies’ growth at the end of their term is important. Vital organs are still developing. Nature knows when the time is right for delivery.
- Inductions, C-sections, and epidurals are more expensive.
- Epidurals can prolong labor, increasing the opportunity for complications and increasing the possibility for a C-section.
- Childbirth is not a medical condition, so it’s not necessary to treat it as such.
Image by eyeliam
Why I Am Planning a Natural, Water Birth
- Childbirth is natural. God gave women the ability to birth babies.
- Your body goes into another physiological and mental state when birthing a baby, so even though the pain is still there, your body is prepared to deal with it in a variety of ways.
- I want the most natural experience for my child with no added risks.
- I want my child and my body to dictate what is needed in childbirth, not the doctors and hospital.
- There are a variety of pain management techniques that can be used including a birthing tub.
- The baby moves into an environment that is more like the inside of your body. There is not as much shock for the baby.
- Water births many times reduce or even eliminate tearing.
- Water is helpful in aiding the process by being in a sitting position and using gravity and buoyancy. Water also provides relief in many ways.
- If water can be a positive pain management aid, then why not?
But more than anything, a natural birth is an opportunity for me to see God’s strength show up within me and for me to grow my faith by knowing that I can do the unthinkable only through Him.
Because at this point in my pregnancy I am healthy, I see having a natural birth as a gift with a safety net. A safety net waiting to catch the baby and me with an induction or epidural or C-section if something does not go ideally. And after going through my husband’s heart transplant, I know that medical events do not always go as planned. It is my plan, but God’s plan will prevail, and that’s the one that will bring Him glory.
Do you want more information and stories about natural births and water births? Here are some resources:
Water Birth: Why We Chose this Route by Intentional by Grace
Samuel’s Birthing Story by Intentional by Grace
A Tale of Two Births: Medicated VS. Natural Hospital Births by The Humbled Homemaker
How to Achieve a Natural Birth in the Hospital by The Humbled Homemaker
For help with preparing for a natural childbirth, check out the #1 bestselling online childbirth course, Mama Natural Birth Course. It will empower you to have the natural birth you want…and you can watch the course in the comfort of your own home! You may also like Mama Natural’s FREE introductory video on 8 Keys to a Natural Childbirth.
What are your thoughts on water birth?
After years of living a discontented single life, Brenda laid down her dreams and began focusing on the only One who can truly give her the desires of her heart. A few years later she found herself laying down her dreams again as her new husband underwent a heart transplant. Now she encourages other women to live a life surrendered to Jesus through every season – singleness, marriage, and motherhood – at her blog Triple Braided and on Facebook. She is also learning to be a mommy for when she welcomes her first baby in October!
Check out the other posts in this series!
Cheryl
Circumstances (no hot water) dictated that my first home birth not be a water birth. My 4 hour labor made me think that it would be too much of a bother for the others until my very last. I had the opportunity and decided to do it. I am so very thankful to have experienced a water birth; it is like nothing else. The amount of pain was nominal compared to the others (which was certainly doable) and I was in wonder having to be reminded to push his shoulders out as I gazed at his opened eyes under water and stroked his beautiful head…I now wish I had “bothered” to set up a tub for the others…
Erin
Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂
Brenda @TripleBraided
Cheryl, this is so encouraging! Reading your experience makes me even more sure of planning for a water birth! 🙂 Thank you!
Brooke
I have had three water births and am planning another for December. 🙂 One was in a birth center with a jacuzzi big enough for my husband to climb in and hold my feet while I pushed. One was in a (too) large blow up kiddie pool at home and the last was in the small birthing pool my midwife has open for her patients to use. All were very different experiences and I am so glad I chose to do water births with each! The water really does help with the pain and seems to slightly slow the contractions down just enough deal with them more easily. If you are doing a homebirth make sure to test your water heater to make sure you have enough hot water to fill the pool! I know this from experience. You don’t want people boiling water on your stove to get the water temperature right while you are sitting in the pool! 😉 (my fault on this one- I was desperate to get in because of the pain and told my midwife the water was fine. I got in and started shivering! ) In the small pool I was able to catch my own baby- one of the most exciting moments of my life!
Erin
It sounds like you had an amazing experience! I loved catching my second (although I wasn’t in the water) as well!
Brenda @TripleBraided
Brooke, we have to purchase our own water tub. We’re having the birth in the hospital, but they don’t have tubs yet. From all the wonderful comments, I think it’s worth it! I am so excited about catching her and putting her right on my chest! Thank you for your encouragement!
Kara
Both of my children were born at home. My daughter was nearly born in the toilet (my midwife said she couldn’t be born there) as that was the most comfortable place I found. My son was born water birth. There was a huge difference. The water really helps with the pain (it doesn’t removed it like some water birth proponents say). I did like the birthing pool so much that I am planning to have another water birth in Dec. with number 3.
Erin
Congrats on #3! I hope to labor some in the tub this time around!
Brenda @TripleBraided
Kara, congrats!! I love your encouraging experience stories! Thank you!!
Saira
I wasn’t sure I wanted to labor in the water, but wanted to have the option at the end. I am so glad I did! I went to a birth center and had the freedom to move around as I needed to, and only got into the water at the end. Being in the water helped me move as I needed to when I felt weak. No tears or rips and no drugs. Strangers constantly stop me to comment on how “alert” he is, and I believe lack of drugs directly relates… and the water helped me do that!
Erin
It’s so good to hear of your great experience! 🙂
Brenda @TripleBraided
Saira, this is so encouraging! Thank you!! I love that it helped with not having any rips or tears. 🙂 I am praying for that with me!
Jami Leigh
How wonderful Brenda! I too was planning on a water birth but the nearest birthing center is too far away 🙁 So I am planning on a natural birth BUT now that we know we are having twins there is a MUCH higher liklihood of needing a C section. I am really struggling with this and am praying that my babies are healthy and don’t need a C section. The only problem is, you don’t really know what’s going to happen with twins until you get into the delivery room. It is all in God’s hands now and I am trying to be at peace with that.
Erin
You will do great, Jami! 🙂 So excited for you!
Brenda @TripleBraided
Jami, you are so right. With any birth it is completely in God’s hands. I am really encouraged to be able to have a water birth, but I am trying to keep it in perspective that God knows the story He is writing, and I will have to be o.k. with whatever that is. My friends have suggested getting A LOT of opinions from several doctors because a lot of times it comes down to doctor philosophy rather than medical need. It’s definitely not impossible to have twins naturally 🙂 So happy for you and your babies!! That is so wonderful!!
Erica {let why lead}
You’ve definitely done your research! That’s great! You go girl!
Brenda @TripleBraided
Thank you, Erica! Y’all will definitely hear the results! 🙂
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
A water birth is such an intriguing idea! It’s not an option for me right now, but I have always loved the thought of it.
Erin
I think so, too! I would love to have one…but it’s not an option in my hospital…I may labor in the tub, though!
Hannah
I had a water birth last August, and I cannot imagine doing it any other way! It says in the Psalms that God is the one who brings a baby from the womb! So true! No doctor can dictate whether you are able to deliver your baby or not, it’s God who gives life and made you able to deliver a baby!
I actually look back on the day I gave birth to my son, and I am excited for the next time I can have a water birth, it was that beautiful! It goes right hand in hand with my wedding day as being the most wonderful day of my life!
Erin
What a wonderful experience! Thanks so much for sharing, Hannah! 🙂
Saira
I had my water birth May 2012, and it looks like I’ll have the chance to do it again April/May 2014! 🙂 Now I’m off to call the midwife 😉
Julie Ann Filter
I have had five home births (first baby was in the hospital) and all five were water bound with one that landed on the bed (my last baby). I adore water births and think they are the most amazing thing ever. After my initial birth experience in the hospital and the emotional scars it left I experienced an amazing amount of healing after the birth of my second, which was the most beautiful water birth. I have historically had pretty long labors, so the water allowed me to feel like I was floating in the water, just completely relaxing my entire body and allowing my uterus to do all the work. It was amazing. Each baby thereafter has presented a different birth experience, but water has always been such an amazing blessing to me. I will always encourage a woman considers it, if she can, as an option for birth
Erin
Thanks for sharing your story, Julie Ann!