I am often asked if I am willing to assist in a water birth. As a midwife, I am totally comfortable with water birth. Most of my clients use water therapy of some kind during labor and about one fourth to one third actually deliver in the water.

Water Birth was first made popular over 30 years ago with research done in Russia and France. The basic premise of a water birth is that for 9 months, the baby is in a bag of water inside the mother and birthing into a like environment is a gentler birth for the baby and less stressful for the mother. Reducing stress reduces fetal complications. There are many excellent websites with more information available on the advantages of birthing in water (see my links page). There are also many good books on the subject, including "Gentle Birth Choices" by Barbara Harper, RN.Some mothers choose to labor in water and then birth on the bed. Others choose to labor and deliver in the water. I believe water brings wonderful benefits to a laboring woman. But just like any other comfort measure, it is best to remain flexible. Every labor is different and it is always best to keep all your options open.