Water birth seeks to do two things: provide a warm, comforting environment for the laboring person and provide a calm immediate environment for the new baby.

Water provides a calming influence and a peaceful relaxed atmosphere. Water-born babies are often quieter when they surface, making a calmer transition to extrauterine life.  The following are some of the known benefits of being submerged in water during labor:

∗ Enables the laboring woman to move freely
∗ Reduces blood pressure
∗ Provides significant pain relief
∗ Promotes relaxation
∗ Facilitates labor
∗ Conserves a laboring woman’s energy
∗ Gives the woman a private protected space
∗ Reduces perineal trauma
∗ Reduces desire for pain medications
∗ Is highly rated by mothers
∗ Is highly rated by experienced providers
∗ Encourages a gentler welcome for baby

At The Birth Center of St Pete, we offer water labor and water birth options in both the home and birth center setting. Both birth rooms at our birth center have tubs for hydrotherapy and birth; our downstairs room has a large built in tub and our upstairs room uses a professional grade, inflatable birth tub. There are also two showers available for water labor at the birth center. When choosing a home birth, there are several options for water labor and birth including tub rental and purchase or using existing tubs if they are large enough.

We encourage you to research water birth and bring your questions to discuss with the midwife.