Laboring in water provides you with the privacy and autonomy that promotes more comfortable birthing.
Maybe you can remember a time where you didn’t feel well, felt discomfort or maybe just really fatigued…soaking in a warm tub provides the relaxation to relieve our physical and mental discomforts.
Our bodies are 60% water, so it just makes sense that water makes us feel better!
Benefits include:
- Ease of movement with greater mobility due to buoyancy
- Relaxation during and between labor surges
- Safe and effective pain management
- Reduction of blood pressure
- A sense of control and privacy
- Facilitation of cervical dilation
Investment: $425 (includes birthing tub rental, your own tub liner/hose/bucket for sanitation purposes and staff on call for your birth)
Franqui's Experience
The Orchid Nest prepared me and my husband for birth and postpartum! I couldn’t have gone through labor without my Doula -Julie. She remained calm when I was anxious. She guided me when I didn’t see the path. My husband and I part-took in the available hypnobirthing classes, comfort measures, and “I had a baby now what?” classes. They prepared my husband and I immensely to bring new life into our world. I also took advantage of Orchid Nest’s prenatal yoga to help prepare my body for labor. During labor I used a blow up water tub. The water tub was set up in the hospital by my doula. It was so helpful in relaxing me. It helped me relax and focus on my breathing. Even though my labor was strenuous I can honestly say that I experience a great birth due to Orchid Nest’s influence and teaching. All the Orchid Nest doulas are highly trained and are eager to serve families! You will not be dissatisfied with their services! ~Franqui Mari FAQ
Birth Tub
Water should be maintained and monitored at a temperature that is comfortable, usually between 92-100 degrees Fahrenheit (32-38 degrees Celsius). Water temperature should not exceed 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) as it may lead to an increase in the core body temperature, which in turn may cause the baby’s heart rate to increase.
You can use the pool to find the most comfortable positions to labor and/or give birth. The depth of the pool removes some of the gravity and really allows your body to move more fluidly. Having a birth pool does not mean that you will need to or want to have a water birth. The benefits of labor in water alone are worth the investment!
Even you are planning to use an epidural, a labor tub may help you get further into your labor before getting your epidural. Epidurals are best used after dilating to 6 cm.
If you are planning an unmedicated birth, we recommend once you are in active labor, meaning when surges are around 3-5 minutes apart and the cervix is dilated to 5-6cm. Sometimes getting in the tub too early, may cause labor to weaken or stall. That being said, each person and labor is different so use your best judgement.
Research studies have demonstrated that water is an effective tool to assist irregular surges to become more consistent or to use water immersion instead of Pitocin for a stalled labor. This reaction is due to an increase in Oxytocin levels and a reduction of stress hormones.
It’s your birth, so it’s your choice! Some choose to be nude and others wear a bikini top.