I was able to have a natural childbirth experience with my first child. Though my labor lasted about fourteen hours, I never felt as though the pain was unbearable or that I needed any medication to take off the edge of the contractions.
However, labor with my second child was a different story. Almost from the start, labor seemed more intense and painful than my first one had been. I was in for my check up the afternoon I went into labor and my doctor told me that I was already four centimeters dilated. I was so excited and thought for sure my second labor would be even easier than my first. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case.
I stayed home as long as possible before going to the hospital, it seemed as though labor was intensifying quickly and I assumed I had already dilated another two or three centimeters since my doctor’s appointment. When I got to the hospital I was very disappointed to find that I had only progressed to five centimeters. The thought went through my mind that I might have to have medication for pain after all, but I decided to take some time in the tub to see if the water would help my labor. I soaked in the tub and talked to my husband for about forty-five minutes. When a contraction started I would cup water in my hand and let it run on my belly while I hummed. Every five minutes or so my husband would add more hot water to the tub. I found the heat to be incredibly soothing and comforting. When I got out I asked the nurse to check me again, and found I had gone from five to eight centimeters just in that forty-five minutes I was in the tub. That progress gave me the mental boost I needed to get from eight to ten without ever requesting medication for pain. All in all, I labored for four hours at home to progress one centimeter, then labored for two hours at the hospital to progress five centimeters!
I strongly encourage women reaching the end of their pregnancies to plan to make water part of their labor plan. Whether you decide to give birth in a tub or to just use it as pain management during labor, you will find that warm water relieves stress and tension and makes labor more endurable. If you are planning a hospital birth, ask if any of the birthing suites have a bathtub in the room. Some hospitals provide a few suites with tubs and a few suites with showers. When you call to let the hospital know you’re going to be coming in, request a room with a tub if they have one available.
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For related articles, see:
Let’s Talk About Water Birth: Fluid Pain Relief
Deciding Where to Have Your Baby