One of the possibilities that the current of respected childbirth has brought with it (thinking about this as offering the woman a positive, respectful and humanized birth experience), and less medicalized, is the use of obstetric bathtubs for the time of dilation . The benefits that hydrotherapy offers during this stage of labor can become so significant that more and more women are choosing to use it and more hospitals are preparing to offer it to their patients.
As stated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Immersion in water during the first stage of labor may be associated with shorter labor and less use of spinal and epidural analgesia and may be offered to healthy women with pregnancies. without complications between 37 0/7 weeks and 41 6/7 weeks of gestation “.
However, doctors also affirm that in the absence of evidence about the benefits of giving birth in water, it is best to do it outside of it due to the complications that may arise.
What are the benefits of soaking in an obstetric bathtub?
Soaking in warm water can be very effective for comfort and pain relief during labor. The water provides support and buoyancy that allows women in labor to relax and take advantage of the feeling of weightlessness it provides.
Soaking in warm water during labor can decrease feelings of stress , cause the perineal muscles to relax, and reduce pain by increasing the body’s production of pain relievers (endorphins).
What are the benefits of dilating in water?
- It can significantly decrease labor pain.
- It can reduce the need for medications and interventions (mainly epidural).
- It can increase the feeling of control in labor.
- It can provide a feeling of weightlessness, relieving feelings of muscle fatigue and stress .
- It can speed up labor naturally.
- It can help relieve muscle tension and increase feelings of well-being between contractions.
When is it advisable to get into the bathtub?
We must always wait until we are in labor, that is, when we have regular contractions (approximately every five minutes) and last approximately one minute, to enter the warm water. At that time the feeling of relaxation that water produces can improve our levels of oxytocin and help in the progress of labor.
If we do it too early, the feeling of being immersed in water can be so relaxing that labor can slow down . Before getting into the bath, we should always consult with our doctor about the right time to do it.
Are there any restrictions for immersion in water during labor?
There are some situations in which it is not recommended to dilate in a bathtub during labor because it may incur some risk to the mother or the baby:
- If the mother has a temperature higher than 37.5 ° C
- If you have an infection at the time of delivery
- If the pregnancy is less than 37 weeks
- If there has been significant blood loss in pregnancy
- If labor doesn’t progress normally
- If the mother has hypertension.
- If you have diabetes (even if it is controlled with insulin).
- If you have epilepsy.
- If you have already had an epidural.
I must admit that I am very curious about this type of practice and that if I had the opportunity, I would not hesitate to try it . I think it is important to explore and support research on all the possibilities that can be offered to a woman to make childbirth more humane.
At the moment, through the Spanish public health, this service can be accessed at the Valdepeñas Hospital (Ciudad Real), the Torrejón University Hospital (which has a complete and respected delivery program), the Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital, Vital Álvarez Buylla de Mieres (Asturias), the Hospital de Poniente del Ejido, Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella, Málaga), the Hospital Maternal and Child Carlos Haya in Málaga, the University Hospital of San Cecilio in Granada, the Hospital La Inmaculada de Almería , the Infanta Margarita de Cabra Hospital (Córdoba) and the S. Juan de la Cruz Hospital, Úbeda, Jaén.).
In Babies and More | How long do the phases of labor last?
Image | Tacklen
