Bath birth

Giving birth in the bath is experienced as positive by many women. The water has a relaxing effect, so that you produce more endorphins. This ensures that you can better cope with the contractions. In addition, the warm water acts as a natural form of pain relief. It can also relieve the pain with pelvic complaints or back pain, among other things. The best time to take a bath is around 5 centimeters dilated, or when the contractions become very strong and painful. The effect of the warm water is then the greatest.

In the bath you can take different positions to absorb the contractions and to push. The squatting position is ideal for pressing, because your pelvis then makes the most space. It is often not possible to squat for a long time on dry land, but it is much easier in the bath because you have no gravity under water. After birth, the baby can remain under water for a while, but when he or she starts to make breathing movements, the midwife or you yourself will lift the head above the water. You can then sit in the bath for a while to recover and admire your baby extensively.

If you would like to give birth in a bath, an ordinary bathtub in the bathroom is probably not suitable. In many cases it is not big enough to give you the space you need. In addition, your midwife must have the space to guide you from different angles. If you want to give birth in a bath at home, you can rent or buy a special birthing bath. All Puur midwives have experience with bath deliveries.

Delivery bath: BUY OR RENT?

In some cases it is cheaper to buy a delivery bath, for example if you still have a big wish to have children. With a subsequent delivery, you only have to buy a new inner cover and hoses for the water supply and drainage for hygienic reasons.

Filling a bath takes about 45 minutes, so if you gave birth quickly the first time, you should start filling on time. A pump is included to quickly empty the bath after giving birth.

The rental of a bath is approximately 165 euros for a period of 5 weeks (namely from 37 weeks up to and including the 41st week). For one-time use, renting is the cheaper option, but if you think you will use it more often, buying may be better. On websites such as www.oerbron.nl and www.bevallingsbaden.nl you can read about giving birth in a bath and you can order a bath.

WHEN NOT IN THE BATH

A bath delivery is only possible if everything goes well with you and your baby. In fact, with every medical indication, such as prolonged ruptured membranes, fever and meconium-containing amniotic fluid, giving birth in the bath is not recommended.

When the midwife decides she can't examine you properly in the bath. For example, if you are unable to assess the number of centimeters dilated in the bath, you will have to get out for a while. So you should always have a bed on blocks. Not every obstetrician gives birth to the placenta in a bath. So you may need to lie in bed for about 10 minutes after the baby is born for the placenta to be delivered.