How Will A Midwife Help With Your At-Home Water Birth?

Every woman has the right to give birth in the way she feels most comfortable. For some women, that means giving birth in her own home in a water tub. This type of birth is called a water birth, and it has the benefit of allowing the woman to be able to relax and have a little more control over her own birthing process. However, there are still some very real and important reasons to have a midwife attend your at-home water birth. To help you better understand the importance of a midwife's presence, here are some of the key things a midwife will do during the birth.

1. Provide and tend to the birthing tub.

Sometimes a midwife will bring the birthing tub, and other times you will be asked to provide it yourself. In any case, your midwife will help fill the tub and make sure the water is the correct temperature. They'll add warm water as needed. When you're in labor, this is the last thing you'll want to do; you can just relax and let the water soothe you.

2. Monitor your progress in labor.

Especially when you are giving birth for the first time, it can be hard to know how far things have progressed and what you should be doing at each stage. A midwife will monitor your labor progress for you so that you know when to get in the tub, when to start pushing, and so forth.

3. Watch for any signs of trouble.

The majority of women who give birth in a water tub with the help of a midwife have a healthy, normal experience, but there is always a chance that something will go wrong. Your labor may not progress as quickly as it should. The baby may not be in the right birth position. If something like this happens, the midwife will notice the signs and can make sure you get the proper medical attention — whether that's from a nurse who comes to your home or from you visiting the hospital.

4. Help you settle in after birth.

After you do give birth and deliver the placenta, your midwife will typically stay around for a few hours and help you and your new little one settle in. They'll clean up the tub so you don't have to worry about that. They'll help you start nursing, swaddle your baby, and so forth.

A midwife can provide so much important help and care during your at-home water birth. If you are pregnant and want to give birth in this way, start meeting with midwives soon so you can find the perfect one for you.

To learn more about water birth, contact a home health care service.