Water birth delivery

1. Water birth delivery

2. INTRODUCATION
 What is birth?
The act or process of giving birth to a baby by a mother .
WATER BIRTH
Water birth is a process in which during immersion in
labor, a person gets into a tub or pool of warm water
during the first stage of labor, before the baby is born. In a
water birth , a person remains in the water during the
pushing phase and actual birth of the baby. Than the baby
is brought to the surface of the water after the baby is born.
A water birth may be followed by the birth of the placenta
in or out of the water. This is also known as hydrotherapy.

3. DEFINITION
 Water birth is a process of giving birth in a tub of
warm water. Many women find that sitting or
floating in water during labor helps them to relax
and manage pain.

4. HISTORY
 Water birth was first reported in 1805 in France,
and became more popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
During the 1980s and 1990s interest in water birth
grew in the UK, Europe and Canada. More water
birth champions emerged in the form of obstetrician
Michael Rosenthal, registered nurse and child birth
educator “Barbara Harper” in the US, plus midwifes
and educator “Dianne Garland” in the UK.

5. Continue…..
These pioneers helped increase confidence in
birth pool practice by sharing their experiences
and promoting the use of water, and making sure
guidelines for labor and birth in water were safe.

6. Stages of labour
 First stage of labour :
 During the first stage of labor, the water temperature
should be comfortable for the woman and not above
than 37.5◦c. the water temperature should be checked
hourly and recorded in the maternal handheld records.
 Maternal temperature should be checked hourly in if
the women feels too hot she should leave the pool until
she has cool down.

7. Continue…..
 Women should be encouraged to drink adequate cool
fluid while in the pool to prevent dehydration.
 The depth of the water should be at least, upto the
woman's axilla when she is in a sitting position. This aids
bouyancy and promotes movement, which aids the
progress of labour and increases maternal control. This
will also give enough depth should the women choose to
give birth in the water.

8.  Second stage of labour :
 during the second stage of labour, the water temperature should be
maintained at 37- 37.5◦c.
 The water must be deep enough for the baby to be born completely
submerged under water.
 During second stage progress of the emerging head should be observed
with a mirror. slow crowning and birth of the head should be encouraged to
minimize perineal trauma.
 The hands off method of birth should be practiced. This will minimize the
stimulation to the emerging baby.
 The cord should never be clamped or cut while baby is still under the water.
The women or midwifes reach down and support the baby as it emerged.

9. The baby should be brought to the surface, face
uppermost ,and care taken to ensure the cord is long
enough to allow this. Following the birth rest the
baby’s head above the water keeping the body in
water, skin to skin with woman . This will keep the
baby warm and promote skin to skin contact.
Once the baby’s head has comes out of the water it
must not be submerged again.
Clearly document weather the baby was born under
water and the condition of birth.
Continue……

10. Third stage of labour:
During the third stage, the condition of the woman
and baby allows, there is no need to clamp the cord
untill the placenta is delivered.
Umbilical cord should be cut within 3 – 5 minutes.
The mother may wish to remain in the pool for the
third stage of labor and there is no evidence to
contraindicate delivery of placenta in the water.
However the blood loss should be carefully observed.

11. Continue…….
The estimated blood loss should be recorded as less
then 500mLs or greater then 500mLs.
Suturing should be delayed for 1 hours due to water
saturation of the tissues unless bleeding is excessive
and prompt suturing is required.

12. Position of water birth delivery
Squatting position
Sitting position
Kneeling position
Hand and knee

14. Benefits of water birth delivery
 A more relaxing birth experience .
 A shorter labor.
 No need for analgesia.
 Feeling more present in the birth experience.
 Higher rates of normal vaginal birth.
 Possibly lower rates of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH).
 Water causes the perineum to become elastic and relaxed
, reducing the incidence and severity of tearing
 No need for episiotomy and stitches.
 Immersion in water often helps lower high blood
pressure caused by anxiety.

15. Continue……
Benefits of warm water:
Helps to relieve labour and delivery pain.
To promote relaxation , boost blood supply to
the uterine muscles and increase endorphin
release.
Warm water is beneficial because it healing
property.

16. Continue…..
Benefits for the baby:
Provides a similar environment as the amniotic sac.
Eases the stress of birth.
Providing reassurance and security to the baby.
It is also believed that water babies are cries less and
more calm and more alert.

17. Risk of water birth
Risk for mother:
 Vaginal bleeding or placenta previa.
 Risk of water embolism, which is when the water
enters the mother’s blood stream.
Risk for baby:
 Infection
 Asphyxia
 Seizures
 Chances of umbilical cord will be damaged or tear
 Water aspiration

18. Contraindication
High risk pregnancy
Multiple pregnancy
Diabetic mother
Herpes infection
Skin infection
High fever
Vaginal bleeding
History of Shoulder dystocia
History of caesarean
Post partum hemorrhage in excess of 1 liter.

19. THANKYOU