The Advantages & Disadvantages of a Water Birth

An increasing number of women are choosing to spend at least some of their labour immersed in water. For some, this means a few hours in the bath at the start of their labour, and for others it means delivering their babies in a birthing pool. Birthing pools are now a common sight in birthing centres in the UK, and some women even choose to hire birthing pools for use at home. Water births are less common in the US, though many women still choose this option when planning a home birth.

If you are currently writing your birth plan, you may be considering water birth as an option. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages or water births:

The advantages:

  • The warm water can provide relief from the discomfort of labour, and may even be used instead of medical pain relief
  • It doesn’t prevent the use of other medicines, you would still be able to use certain forms of pain relief in the pool. Speak to your healthcare provider to find out more
  • The water can have a calming effect, allowing you to relax during labour which can help labour to progress
  • The water can support your weight, meaning you may find yourself free from the aches and pains of late pregnancy
  • The water can support your weight, leaving you better able to change position and stay upright
  • The pool around you can help you to feel more private and protected. Your healthcare provider will still be able to reach you if needed, though the barrier may help you to feel more in control during labour
  • The calming effect of the warm water can help to lower blood pressure
  • Giving birth in water is thought to reduce the risk of vaginal tearing

The disadvantages:

  • There are some forms of pain relief that are not compatible with the pool, so you may need to abandon the birthing pool if you want to have one of those pain relief options
  • If you get into the pool before labour is underway, there are concerns that you could slow down the onset of labour
  • Birthing pools are not available in all birthing units, you will need to check with your healthcare provider whether you will be able to have one on the day
  • If you are planning a homebirth, you will need to hire a pool yourself which you will need to budget for
  • Not all women experience the pain relieving benefits of water, some simply feel disappointed when they get into the pool

Are you considering a water birth?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

5 Tricks to Help You Through Labor

If you’re hoping to have a natural birth, it’s a good idea to plan in advance how you want to manage the pain of labor. While these methods won’t rid you of the discomfort of contractions, they will help you get through. And that’s really all you need to do – get through one contraction at a time.

Try a new way of breathing – take a deep breath in through your nose and blow it out your mouth, relaxing your muscles on the outbreath. Focus on your breathing, not your contractions. Try counting as you breathe in and breathe out to the same number or imagine the air coming in as one color and going out as another, more relaxing, color. At the peak of a contraction, it might be necessary to change the pace of your breathing (not many people can maintain slow, deep breaths through pain). To practice this, start by placing your hands on your abdomen and breathe in as if the air is going the whole way to your hands, then breath out again. Now place your hands on your chest, and imagine the breaths in only going to that level – this is the level of breathing you might need at the hardest part of each contraction. Once the peak has passed, you can go back to the abdominal breaths.

Get a hand massage – let your birth partner support your hand and focus on his or her touch. He or she can make small circles all over your palm, stroke from wrist to fingertips, massage each finger separately, or squeeze your whole hand tightly. Use some massage oil to improve the effectiveness of the movements, and to keep your skin from getting chapped. Choose scented oil for the additional value of aromatherapy.

Follow the maze – consider placing a maze or labyrinth image on the wall, and as the contraction starts, work your way through it visually. If you’re laboring at home, you can even set up a labyrinth to walk if you have enough space inside or outside.

Color away your tension – coloring books aren’t just for kids! Find a book of mandalas or patterns, choose colored pencils or felt tipped pens, and color to your heart’s content. Coloring allows you to enter a meditative state, and can ease stress and help you maintain focus. You may even be able to find a book meant just for the purpose of childbirth.

Shake your booty – dance through your contractions. Put on some energizing music and sway your hips or put on some slow jams and dance closely with your partner. The movement will help baby move into a favorable position for birth, and will help you lessen the pain of each contraction.

No one method will work throughout labor, so plan to use more than one. What other methods can you think of to help get you through one contraction at a time?

Written by Michelle, lactation consultant, Lamaze instructor, writer and editor, and mom to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

How Does an Epidural Work?

Epidural is the most commonly used form of pain relief during labour in the US. A catheter is inserted into the epidural space in the membrane surrounding your spine. This tube is then used to deliver continuous medications for pain relief throughout labour. An epidural usually delivers a mix of an anaesthetic and a narcotic. An epidural decreases sensation in your lower body, but doesn’t cause numbness. An epidural enables you to stay conscious throughout labour.

How is an epidural administered?
You will be asked to sit at the edge of the bed, or lie in a curled position, for the epidural to be inserted. A numbing injection will be used to prepare the insertion site. Once the area is numb, a needle will be inserted into your lower back.

The catheter will then be fed through the needle and into your back. The needle will then be withdrawn, and the catheter will be taped into place to prevent it from coming out. Once it has been taped down, you will be able to lie back down on the bed.

You will be given a test dosage of the medicine to ensure that there are no problems, and once this has been confirmed you will be given a full dose. Your baby will need continuous monitoring if you opt for an epidural, and your blood pressure will need to be checked regularly.

Can I have an epidural?
Not all women are able to have epidurals. You will be advised against having one if you:

  • have very low blood pressure
  • have a bleeding disorder
  • have a blood infection
  • have a skin infection on your lower back
  • have had previous allergic reactions to local anaesthetic
  • are on certain blood thinning medication

When can I have an epidural?
You should be in active labour before you have an epidural. This means you must be at least 4cm dilated and having regular contractions. You can have an epidural fitted at any point during active labour, until your baby’s head is crowning. Then it is considered too late to start an epidural, but if necessary you will be offered other forms of pain relief.

Advantages of an epidural
The advantages of this form of pain relief are:

  • it is considered to be a very effective form of pain relief
  • the dosage and strength can be increased or decreased easily as required
  • you will be awake and alert during the birth

Disadvantages of an epidural
There are some disadvantages to this form of pain medication, including:

  • most epidurals restrict your movement and mean you are unable to stand or walk during labour, and this may restrict the birthing positions you can try
  • you will require an IV and regular blood pressure checks
  • your baby will require continuous fetal monitoring
  • women with epidurals tend to have to push for longer during labour
  • an increased risk of assisted delivery by forceps or vacuum extraction
  • in a very small number of women, epidurals may affect breathing, or cause nerve damage or infection

It is impossible to predict how you will experience labour. You may be crying out for an epidural after five minutes of active labour, or you may find relaxation breathing alone gets you through the birth. Keep your mind open to an epidural, but you may like to delay it until you feel it is truly necessary.

What pain relief are you planning to use during labour?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Pain Relief During Labour

Before the birth of your child, it’s important to sit down and think about the type of birth you would like. Would you like to have your baby in hospital or at home? Do you want to use a birthing pool? What type of pain relief would you like to have available? You will need to consider all of these things when you write your birthing plan.

You should discuss your birthing plan with your healthcare provider and birth partner, so that they know how to best support you on the day. Of course, it is not a definitive plan, and you should be open to change on the day. While you may love the idea of a natural birth, on the day you may find yourself asking for drugs. Alternatively, if you plan to have an epidural immediately after the first contraction, you may surprise yourself by coping fine without.

Since you can’t predict in advance how you will feel during labour (even if you have given birth before, remember, all births are different), it makes sense to be read up on all the pain relief options available to you. That way you can make an informed decision on the day, even if labour isn’t quite what you were expecting.

Epidural

This is the most commonly used form of pain relief used during childbirth in the US, as many as 66 percent of women opt for an epidural. An epidural provides continuous pain relief during labour. A thin hollow tube is inserted into the epidural space near the base of your spine. Once in place, a combination of narcotics and a local anaesthetic will be administered. An epidural should provide good pain relief, but may restrict your movements during labour.

Systemic medications

Systematic painkillers are used to dull pain, but will not eliminate it. Systemic drugs are delivered by IV or injected into muscle, and will affect your entire body. You will remain conscious while on systemic medications, but may feel sleepy. This form of pain relief is often described as ‘taking the edge off’, and may help you relax during labour. Systemic medications cross the placenta and may affect your baby, because of this, the amount you can take is limited.

Spinal block

A spinal block is a one-off injection into the spinal fluid. This provides fast pain relief that lasts just a few hours. Spinal blocks are often used for women who decide they want an epidural too late, or for when labour is progressing at speed. The major disadvantage to a spinal block is that it can inhibit the pushing stage and lead to a longer labour.

Combined spinal/epidural

This new technique offers fast and continuous relief. For the first hour or two, you may still be able to move around during labour, so this is a good option if you are hoping to stay mobile to help your labour progress. A combined spinal/epidural will reduce sensation which could cause problems during the pushing stage and lead to a longer labour.

Water birth

As well as helping you to stay mobile and upright during labour, birthing pools are said to provide pain relief. The warmth of the water can help to ease discomfort, and the support from the water may help you to move position easily during labour. Your healthcare provider will need to assess whether you are a suitable candidate for a water birth, and then you will need to choose a birthing centre that has pools available.

Natural birth

If you’re hoping to give birth without drugs, you may find relaxation techniques useful. Breathing exercises, meditation and hypnobirthing are all great tools to help you keep calm and focused through contractions.

What pain medication are you planning to use during childbirth?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Will I Swear During Labour?

In contrast to the births shown in movies, not all women swear during labour, in fact many become very quiet. In almost a trance-like state, some women silently progress through labour, and others hum loudly during contractions. Some women let out a low groan, and others swear like drunken sailors. Whatever you do, it’s fine, just do whatever helps you to feel comfortable and in control.

Some women report using words they’d never usually dream of saying aloud, and feeling quite embarrassed about it afterwards. There’s no need to feel embarrassed about your foul mouth, you won’t have been the first labouring woman to curse in front of the midwife – and you certainly won’t be the last. You can always apologise for your language at the end, if you’re feeling mortified.

You shouldn’t worry about swearing, humming, singing or anything else you might be doing during labour. You should focus on the task at hand, and do whatever feels natural. While some women may find silence helps them to focus on breathing through the contractions, others find that jumbling together a mix of expletives helps them feel more in control of the situation. Do whatever you need, after all, people probably aren’t going to start arguing with you while you’re in the throes of labour.

It’s unlikely to be your midwife who gets the brunt of your potty mouth; it will probably mostly be hurled at the dad-to-be. Again, you can always apologise afterwards. Although, if you’re lying with your legs in stirrups as the midwives check your tender area, you probably won’t be feeling too sorry for your husband or birthing partner as they sit on their comfy chair cuddling your new baby.

Scientists at Keele University found that swearing can actually have a painkilling effect, especially for people who don’t usually swear. Swearing accelerates the heart rate, mimicking aggression and triggering the “fight or flight” response. This natural response lessens perceived pain due to physiological changes taking place in the body. So there you go – now you have an excuse for calling your husband or birthing partner all those horrible names!

For most of my labour, I stayed quiet but I did let out a little swear word when my husband tried to take away the gas and air during the second stage of labour (what was he thinking?!). So, in answer to “Will I swear during labour?” – maybe, if it feels right to you!

Did you hum, moo, groan or hurl abuse? And, most importantly, did it help?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.