The birth of a child is always a great joy for new parents and their relatives, and, of course, for doctors. There are many different birthing techniques. This may be a caesarean section with epidural or general anesthesia, natural vertical or horizontal childbirth. Also recently it has become popular to use another technique. It is about her that will be discussed in this article. You will learn what childbirth in water is, you will be able to get acquainted with the pros and cons of this manipulation. A mandatory reservation will be the conditions for using this method of the birth of a child.
Water birth
In Moscow every year there are more and more people who want to try this particular method of delivery. It is worth noting that most of these women have already given birth once. They want to compare sensations and find out which technique is better.
Water births (in Moscow and other cities of the Russian Federation) are carried out by two methods. The first onelies in the fact that the expectant mother is on land until the cervix is fully dilated. The essence of the second method is that the woman in labor stays in the water throughout the contractions and attempts.
Conditions for this manipulation
Water birth in a maternity hospital can only be performed under certain conditions and there are no contraindications for the woman in labor.
A woman must be absolutely he althy, free of infections and various problems with blood vessels and heart. Also during pregnancy there should be no complications or threats. Fluid temperature should be between 36 and 37 degrees.
It is worth noting that every two hours the water should be changed. Otherwise, bacteria can multiply and, as a result, infect the mother and fetus.
A direct contraindication to such a procedure is a caesarean section.
Water birth: advantages and disadvantages
Like any other manipulation, this procedure has its pros and cons. If you want to give birth at home in the water (or use similar services in a medical institution), then you should first carefully study the pros and cons. Only then can a decision be made.
Pros of natural water birth
Water birth reviews are in most cases positive. Doctors also note that this is rather a whim of the expectant mother and an opportunity to pay tribute to fashion. However, experts do not deny the advantages of this procedure. Let's try to understand them in detail and find out why they are so good.water birth.
Reduce pain
It's no secret that the process of having a baby is quite painful. It is worth noting that the bulk of the discomfort is observed during contractions.
Water helps the expectant mother to relax. A person immersed in a liquid does not feel the mass of his body. It is because of the decrease in the earth's gravity that the dulling of the feeling of pain occurs. It is worth noting that, in theory, childbirth would be even easier in s alt water. However, this method is not yet practiced by doctors.
Improve tissue elasticity
After a long stay in the liquid, the human body is filled with water. In this regard, there is an increase in skin elasticity.
Statistics show that during the birth process carried out in water, the frequency of ruptures of the soft tissues and muscles of the expectant mother is significantly reduced.
Facilitation of the passage of the fetus through the birth canal
Water during childbirth can be a kind of lubricant. If a woman has an early outflow of amniotic fluid, then it will be difficult for the baby to move through the birth canal. In this case, delivery by immersion in liquid will come in handy.
Water will create a sliding effect, and the baby will be able to quickly follow the path and be born.
Plus for baby
During the birth process, the baby experiences tremendous stress on the brain, visual and respiratory system. Water in this case will become a kind of preparatory stage for the child. On thethroughout the entire period, the baby was in the womb in this particular liquid. A familiar environment will reduce stress and ease the process of entering the human world.
Disadvantages of water birth
Water birth also has its downsides. They must always be remembered. So, in some cases, there may be a serious threat to the life of the mother and child. Let's figure out why childbirth in water can be bad.
No practice
The main disadvantage of this process is the lack of practice among people whose duties include helping women in labor. Most maternity hospitals try to adhere to the classical methods of delivery. The appearance of a child in the water can be called a curiosity, despite the fact that this method was described several decades ago.
Due to the lack of skills of doctors and obstetricians, the process may be carried out incorrectly or in violation of sanitary conditions.
Possibility of infection
As mentioned above, during the mother's stay in the water, the fluid should be replaced every two hours. Some women can give birth for a very long time. If the water has not been changed according to all the rules, then there is a possibility of infection.
It is after two hours that bacteria begin to develop in the water. It could be staphylococcus or streptococcus. Also a very frequent guest in this kind of liquid is Escherichia coli. All these microorganisms do not pose a great danger to the woman in labor. However, if the fetus is infected, irreparable complications can occur.
Maternal vascular problems
During childbirth, a woman loses a lot of blood. This happens at the birth of a child's place. That is why it is so important to remove the newly-made mother from the water before the placenta passes. Otherwise, water molecules can get into the smallest vessels and form a blood clot in them.
Such a complication may be completely invisible at first, but in the future it can become a serious threat to a woman's life.
Occurrence of complications during childbirth
Sometimes complications can arise during pushing. Most often, this is placental abruption, ruptures of the perineum and internal organs, incorrect position of the child, cord entanglement, and others. In this case, the doctor needs to control the process of the baby's passage through the birth canal. In water, this is quite difficult.
Surgical intervention may also be required during delivery. In such urgent moments, all actions must be carried out very quickly. Any delay can result in completely unexpected consequences. When a woman in labor is in the water, it is very difficult to act quickly. This is an undoubted disadvantage of such manipulation.
Probability of fluid entering the respiratory tract of a newborn
When a baby is born, the first thing he does is start breathing. The lungs at this moment open and begin to work. When in water, there is a chance that the liquid will enter the infant's respiratory tract. In this case, there is a serious threat to the life of the crumbs. In the absence of a qualifiedhelp, everything can end very badly.
Lack of timely assistance
Because water births in hospitals are not common, some women choose to stay at home throughout the labor process. It is worth noting that this is quite risky. If there is no competent doctor and obstetrician next to you, then everything can end rather badly. When complications arise, it is not always possible to quickly get to a medical facility.
Summing up
Water birth has become very fashionable lately. However, you should always consider your options. If you are not confident in your abilities and desire, then you should abandon such experiments. Trust competent specialists who will do everything right.
If you are in doubt, then it makes sense to consult a gynecologist leading your pregnancy. The doctor will tell you in detail about this manipulation and give his recommendations. Be responsible in choosing the way your baby is born.
