Using Water During Labour

How to use Water during labour

It’s not just for drinking! Have you thought about using water during your birth? Now I don’t necessarily mean are you planning a water birth itself. Water births are lovely and amazing but sadly only available if you are having a home birth in our community. If you are having a planned home water birth you’ve undoubtedly already done your homework! But have you considered simply using water from a shower or bath during your labour to help ease your pain? A lovely warm shower can be absolutely magic to ease the sensation of contractions.

Most hospitals in our area have lovely Jacuzzi tubs available for labouring women and honestly, they rarely get used!

Let’s explore when and how you can use water to your advantage during labour.

In early labour, a warm shower or bath may be just enough to relax muscles and mildly distract you while your contractions are coming infrequently or are just strong enough to annoy you but not really getting your baby anywhere yet.

In active labour, a removable shower head can be used to shower your lower back or abdomen to provide relief from muscle fatigue and as well provide a positive distraction. Contractions don’t feel great, but warm water running over your body does! This tricks the mind into letting you experience the bad feeling of the contraction at the same time as the good feeling of the water. This releases ‘endorphins’ the body’s natural pain relievers and helps lessen the ‘feeling’ of the contraction. This allows you to cope better and for longer.

A bathtub works in the same way but with the added bonus of using buoyancy to alleviate extra aches and pains. And don’t be fooled by an IV or fetal monitoring belt if you are in the hospital. You can still get in the tub! In the hospital, midwives or nurses can wrap an IV so that it doesn’t get wet. Most hospitals now use monitoring belts and dopplers to monitor a baby’s heartbeat that is waterproof (just check with your care provider).

During Transition (the hardest part of labour when your cervix is almost fully dilated) water may be the only tool you have left in your toolbox to get you to the finish line. When labour is at its peak, warm water can be soothing and calming to help focus your body and your emotions on the task at hand, delivering your baby. Ask your partner to get in the tub or shower with you and comfort you until it’s time to push! Make it a pool party!

Like what you’ve read? Looking for more tips to get you through labour? Check out our “Natural Pain Management for Labour” Class

Author: Maggie Hilton, RN Maggie entered nursing as a career with the intent to help women and their families bring their babies into the world. She has worked as a labour and delivery nurse, supporting women and their families through the birth process. As a former co-owner of Balancing Birth to Baby, Maggie has also taught hundreds of families childbirth education classes and has taught maternal nursing courses, including Natural Pain Management at a local Community College.