I was watching a show on TLC I believe about women giving birth. On the show I saw that women have a number of options from natural childbirth to C-section surgery to have children. On the show I also saw something that puzzled me. I saw a few women choose to give birth in a tub of water or submerged in water. What is the point of giving birth this way? Is there any advantages to it? The only thing I noticed which was different is that the children born in water didn't cry and the ones born other ways cried a lot. Does anybody know?
Advocates of water birth believe that it provides a more comfortable birthing experience for the mother and a gentler transition for the baby. Since the water is heated to body temperature, the baby is not immediately thrust into a much colder, harsher environment than the womb. Although water births are still something of a statistical rarity in America, they are becoming more accepted.
Texas Women's Hospital in the Texas Medical Center (in Houston) won't do them. Too much of a liability or so they say.
My sociology teacher at high school had one. She even showed us pictures. She just had partner, friends and a midwife with her, at home. No doctor.
Who cares...........Just be lucky that you dont have that happen to your body......OUCH......I watched my son come into this world......I have to admit, afterwards it made me think and appreciate what my wife went through
I've had so many Soci teachers always preach about non-hospital births being so great and how the stats show that non-hostpital birth rates are better than hospital birth rates. One was embarrased by a student bringing in some medical journals that showed brith rates were lower in hospitals becuase ALL high risk births are done in hospitals, whereas low risk births can easily be taken care of outside the hospital. But when you removed the high risk births from the equation it was actually safer to have babies in a hospital. I know that I wouldn't be alive if I had not been born in a hospital. There were complications and I had to be born by emergency C-section, I would have died (and so would have my mother) if we just had a midwife or where at home. Anyways, I've heard lots of these Soci teachers say its better for women to have babies while squatting, not laying down, and the only reason they lay on their backs in hospitals is becuase its easier for the doctors. Anyone know if this is true?
In a word, yes. Actually, I'm not sure if it's "better." It's just easier. If a woman is squatting, gravity is working in her favor. If she's lying on her back, it makes her job more difficult.
My wife has brought up the idea to me (shes 2 mos pregnant). I have been meaning to do my own research on this. Maybe I should start and report back to this thead.
Why don't women give birth while sitting on the toilet? Take care of the squatting and the water at the same time...
