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Twelve years ago, if I was to mention waterbirth to someone on the street, or a pregnant couple I was working with, most would not know what I was talking about. Now, in 1997, after two International Waterbirth Conferences, media exposure from two segments of 20-20, 60 Minutes, two programs of the Phil Donahue Show, an accidental water birth in a bathtub mentioned on the Oprah Winfrey Show, a Good Morning America segment, America's Talking; Alive and Wellness highlight, numerous articles and countless parents choosing this alternative approach to childbirth, water birth has become a household term.
In 1985 you could count on one hand the number of books and video tapes available on the topic. Now, you'll need your other hand, both feet, a friend's set of limbs and possibly another set of limbs from the community of people, to count the information available. Bibliographies, medical protocols, world wide web are overflowing with information. As with everything that's alternative and unfamiliar, it takes time for the studies to be calculated and presented in the medical journals.
The Society of Obstetricans and Gynecologists of Canada is preparing to release what may be the most comprehensive guidelines for the management of normal pregnancy and delivery in North America. The 78 page guidelines, to be distributed to all Canadian physicians practising obstetrics, represent an update of SOGC's existing antenatal guidelines. 1 The SOGC guidelines endorse waterbirths with instructions for safe practice, which primarily involves lifting the baby's head out of water as soon as it is born.
Sheila Kitzinger's "Letter from England: Is Water Birth Dangerous?" in the Birth Journal 22:3 September 1995 is an excellent review of the first International Conference on Waterbirth, Exploring the Issues, which took place in London, April 1-2, 1995. This conference attracted over 1,500 participants from 36 countries and reported on at least 19,000 births. Janet Balakas of the Active Birth Movement, Beverly Lawrence Beech of the Association for Improvements in Maternity Services, Jay Ingrey of Splashdown Waterbirth Services and Sheila Kitzinger organized the conference.
The second International Conference; First North American Conference on Nurturing Women: Integrating Water into Maternity Care, held in Greensboro, North Carolina on April 12-14, 1996 was organized by Joanne Zaleski with Wake Area Health Education Center, Barbara Harper with Global Maternal/Child Health Association, Inc, (GMCHA), North Carolina's ACNM, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources and Maternal Child Health Division. There were 403 participants, and eight countries represented.
There is a projection date for a third International Conference scheduled for Spring of 1997 in the United States and a fourth Conference in 1998 back in London.
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Dr. Michael Rosenthal, formerly the obstetrician at the Family Birthing Center in Upland, Southern California reported at both conferences on his 10 years experience and 948 water births. Dr. Rosenthal brought the concept of waterbirth into a medical setting in the United States in 1985. "Only nine percent of women had drugs for pain relief, compared with approximately 80 percent in hospitals with a similar patient population in the area. The cesarean section rate was under 10 percent but 34 percent at the adjacent community hospital and 86 percent of women with previous cesarean sections gave birth vaginally." 2
Studies presented at the Conferences revealed that fewer babies needed resuscitation, fewer went to the intensive care nursery, fetal heart rates were significantly more likely to be abnormal on land than in water, women needed fewer pain-relieving drugs when in water, and episiotomy rates were reduced from 38 to 19 percent. 3
Dr. Faith Haddad, a consultant obstetrician at the Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth, London, discussed water births that had occurred since 1987. Data gathered in 1993 and 1994 contained vital information confirming that water reduces the use of analgesia, helps to keep perineum's intact yields healthier babies and can accelerate the second stage of labor. Dr. Haddad stated that 76 percent of the women studied, used water during labor and birth.
Water labor and birth has been known to help lower blood pressure, reduce edema, help reduce asthmatic responses. The water also enables a women to organically discover her birth position.
Paul
Johnson, a physiologist and specialist in fetal breathing riveted
attention as he spoke at the first Conference about what happens
before and immediately after birth. In his research, the main factor
involved with the first breath is the chemoreceptors in the larynx.
During pregnancy, the lungs, of the fetus, "breathe" off and on
(fluid moves through them). About 48 hours before labor, the prostaglandins
in the fetus increase and "fetal" breathing stops. The baby continues
to receive oxygen only through the placenta until specific chemical
changes trigger the breathing after birth.
When the baby is born into water, water goes into the larynx, the chemoreceptors are stimulated and this in turn triggers the dive reflex, inhibiting breathing, slowing heart rate, and reducing the need for oxygen. The glottis is closed, swallowing occurs instead of aspiration and the baby continues to receive oxygen from the placenta. In other words when the newborn is born into water, it continues to experience fetal circulation. The baby does not attempt to breathe under water.
As the baby emerges from the water and experiences the change in air pressure, the chemoreceptors in the larynx are stimulated, there is a change in the PH of the cerebrospinal fluid, and the respiratory center in the brain is commands the baby to breathe. The placenta continues to supplies oxygen through the cord for a number of minutes while this transition takes place. Other factors, such as changes in light, sound, temperature and gravity affect the breathing as well.
In all the studies presented at both conferences, there was never a report of fetal or maternal death or infection due to the water labor or birth. Some medical caregivers believe the water dissipates the bacteria. The key is to make sure the tubs are cleaned with a strong bacterial agent and a chlorine bleach rinse. Bensilkonium spray (diluted 4%) is used after the scrub. Bacterial cultures should be taken monthly and any debris that accumulates while the mother is in the water must be strained out as quickly as possible with a disposable fish net.
Contraindications for the use of water for labor or birth include anticipated birth complications anticipated, thick meconium in amniotic fluid (as there would be a need for perineal oronasal suctioning,) any obstetrical risk that would be cause for transfer to "high risk" unit, fetal distress, membranes ruptured and the amniotic fluid consistency and color not known, prolonged rupture of membranes (selectively greater than 24 hours with a maternal temp). 4
The use of water is not just another technique. It provides direct phisological benefits to mother and baby by increasing comfort and reducing medical interventions. And babies like it. A father of five who's last two babies were born under water, swears his waterbabies looked happier and calmer at birth than his "airborn" babies.
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FOOTNOTES
1. Medical Post, Vol 32 (5), 1996, page 1. "Healthy Beginnings...Guidelines
for care during pregnancy and childbirth."
2. Birth Journal 22:3 September 1995, Sheila Kitzinger's Letter from England: Is Water Birth Dangerous?
3. Analysis of first 501 water births a t hospital in Bensburg, Germany. First International WaterBirth Conference, London, April 1-3, 1995.
4. Prodedures and Protocols for Hydrotherapy for Labor and Birth for use @ Harris Regional Hospital, Sylva, NC, July 1995.