 | Hi - I have a beautiful baby girl who is now a year and half old. She was born in Cozumel, Mexico where I had been living for several years. (I am an American citizen) She is a water baby!! I have a couple of friends who were living there, one American and one Canadian who both opted for water birth - both did a water birth for their second child, both in their own homes. The Canadian woman is a good friend and was the original owner of the birthing pool that I used. She is studying to become a mid-wife, and although she has not completed her studies, I trusted her completely to be my birthing partner! Before I even became pregnant, I watched the video of one birth and knew in my heart that that was exactly what I wanted. When I found out I was pregnant, I went to my friend and asked her to be my mid-wife. The pool had since been donated to the doctor I chose to use, and he was completely open-minded about having my friend work along side him for her benefit and mine! We worked out a plan that would either allow me to use the pool in my own home, in my friend's home, or in the doctor's clinic, depending on how I felt at the time and if the doctor was available. I had a healthy pregnancy and had no fear of this beautiful method. I didn't do much studying, I didn't do any kind of birthing class, I just listened to my heart and my friends and everything turned out just perfect. I had a short labor - only five hours - and took no drugs except for a quick shot of something to make my LAST contraction last longer so that I could push my baby out. My contractions were so short that they were not helping me at all! She had crowned already, and knowing she was so close I didn't think that a tiny bit of chemicals would hurt. They put an i.v. in my hand and took it right back out and 2 contractions later, she was out. I WOULD HAVE ANOTHER WATER BIRTH IN AN INSTANT. It was extremely relaxing, I was able to be as mobile as I wanted - I could get up and walk around as I pleased, be on all fours, rest back on the side of the pool, let my limbs float - it was great. The benefits, I believe, are that your oxygen flow is better because of the bouyancy (sp?) of the water (which is better oxygen flow for the baby, as well), the body is more relaxed, and it's comfortable! Warm water?! It's like soaking in the tub! But I think the most beautiful part of it was that I was the first one to hold my baby - I brought her up out of the water and held her to me. We sat in the water for about 40 minutes while we bonded, I cut the cord, and then got out of the pool to deliver the placenta (Dr's choice). My friend who delivered her baby at home in the pool experienced a beautiful birth, too - even more so because her husband was in the pool with her. He sat behind her and helped her through her contractions, and they snacked and talked and laughed and kissed through her whole labor, and at one point had to get OUT of the pool because her labor stopped because she was so relaxed!! The water birth method is just lovely - and I'm sure there are more than the 3 beautiful stories that I know of first-hand! If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to try and answer them for you. Linda |
PREVIOUS MESSAGE
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION