Your baby spends nine months swimming in a warm, watery environment. Home birth supporters feel that transitioning the bay from one warm, wet environment to another is more calming and soothing and thus helps to prevent complications, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Waterbirth International points out that laboring in water can help women to relax and effectively manage pain. If it's your first water birth, it might put your mind at ease to practice potential birth movements and positions before the big day.
Step 1
Talk with your midwife, doula or ob/gyn about your decision to water birth. Make arrangements with your care provider to practice birth movements and positioning scenarios in the water. Involve your partner if possible.
Step 2
Choose a pool to conduct your exploration. Check the water temperature to make sure the temperature is less than 97 degrees, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Hot tubs and whirlpools can get too hot, which can affect blood pressure and fetal health.
Step 3
Go to a section of the pool where the depth is consistent with your birthing pool's depth. Practice basic movements, such as rocking your hips back and forth. Learn to position yourself so you feel different levels of weightlessness. This can help to relax you and ease pain.
Step 4
Practice movements that you intend to use during labor to deal with contractions and facilitate labor progression. Find a comfortable reclining position as well as a comfortable position on your knees. Practice leaning against the pool side walls. Perform breathing exercises and other pain management tools you intend to use to practice how they'll fit with your water birth positions. Practice movements and positions that you might use while you are laboring. Let your midwife or doula guide you through several potential positions.
Step 5
Practice ways for your support person to help you. Michelle Collins, certified nurse midwife, recommends having your partner behind you to help hold you up and support your squatting or pushing positions. Practice sitting with your elbows on your partner's knees or with your partner's arms around your chest.
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