Over a year and a half ago, I attended my first birth where I supported a mother with water labor in the hospital setting. It's a little extra work on my end, but I've been hooked since that first time and haven't looked back since! About half of my doula clients choose to try out laboring in the birth tub and for good reason. Deep water immersion in a labor tub decreases labor pain and increases comfort & relaxation. I love creating a cozy, comfortable little nest around the tub so laboring mothers can relax and feel safe, cushioned from the often cold and clinical hospital setting.
What IS hydrotherapy, anyway?
The technical term for using water for pain relief is hydrotherapy. When it comes to birth, hydrotherapy is just a fancy word for using water to help you feel better in labor. This can mean using the shower or bathtub, either laboring at home or in the hospital. It can also mean use of what's known as a birth / labor tub - basically a glorified kiddie pool, but a professional grade one that won't pop and is made specifically with laboring mothers in mind.
What are my local hospital options if I want to use a labor tub during my birth?
Crestwood Medical Center and Madison Hospital both support families who want their doula to bring in a labor tub for use during birth (though OBGYN Associates in Madison does not support their patients in this option). Labor tub use here in Huntsville does come with a few stipulations:
1. This is for water labor, not water birth. Mothers must push and deliver "on land."
2. The mother's OB must approve use of the tub in labor.
3. This can be used with women who are not using epidurals.
What are the main benefits of water labor?
Simply put: water feels amazing when you're in labor. I'm speaking from personal experience; during both of my unmedicated births I used a birth tub and got a lot of relief and comfort from it. Some mothers call it water immersion the "liquid epidural" because of the immense relief it can offer during birth. Being immersed in water in a labor tub helps in a few ways:
Pain relief: Some mothers experience this the instant they step into the water. Again, it's the liquid epidural!
Relaxation: Most of us associate a warm bath with relaxation. Being cushioned by warm water just feels great, which helps your body relax. During birth, the more you can relax the more smoothly labor will go and the less pain you will experience.
Buoyancy: The water counteracts gravity and keeps that baby belly from weighing you down. It's also much easier and more comfortable to move around because of this. There are all kinds of great positions you can be in laboring in the tub.
A safe space: The labor tub can feel like a cozy little cocoon, safe from the medical environment around you.
Hydrotherapy is low risk and you have total freedom and control over how you use it; you can get in or out of the tub as you wish. It's a great option for mothers seeking to birth without pain medication.
What does Sacred Haven offer for hydrotherapy?
I use a professional grade Birth Pool in a Box Eco Mini birth tub. Use of this tub is offered at-cost ($100) for my birth doula clients.
This service includes:
A hygienic option for water labor, with each mother having a fresh set of equipment for her birth
Setup of tub during labor and takedown after the birth is over.
Support in using the tub during labor to increase comfort.
If you're interested in learning more about the hydrotherapy support offered by Sacred Haven, please contact me for a free consult.