Water Birth

Most women who labour and or birth in water love the experience. Very few get out of the pool to give birth. The warmth is soothing to the contractions and the depth and buoyancy enhances mobility. It is not a new concept and there are reports of women giving birth in water throughout history.



Women need to feel safe in labour and often find themselves in small dark areas. A birthing pool has the same protective feel. Women who have water births have less intervention, quicker easy labours and less damage to the perineum. Babies that are born in water appear less traumatised by birth. Indeed often they do not even realise they have been born until they get stimulated by their mothers with touch and speech. There is no evidence that there is any risk associated with a normal birth in water.

The Midwives at Kent Midwifery Practice are very experienced in home water birth. Helping women achieve a waterbirth is not an extra skill for a midwife but an intrinsic part of normal birth. We are happy to advise about the types of pools and further discuss the benefits of a water birth. Many happy clients are also happy to share their stories on the telephone.