Underwater Birth was once considered strange and dangerous, yet in other countries woman and midwives were experiencing the benefits with wonderful results for mother, baby and the birth team.

As a midwife, when I began learning about this method of birthing, I became very excited immediately; I was a fond and respectful follower of Dr. Michael Odent, for many years. When I attended a conference in England in 1991, I received any training that conference had on the subject, and I was certain when I got home that I was going to be doing underwater birthing from then on.

I wasn't hard to talk to mothers about this possibility, it seemed to come naturally and without question that that was part of the birthing plan. For many years I had woman in the shower during labor anyway, and found it very helpful. Getting in and out of the shower when desired, or suggested many women even putting a chair in the shower and staying in there felt really good to them.

I noticed that the birthing periods were shorter and the push stages easier, mothers were not exhausted but invigorated and ready to go thru the push stage. After this conference, it became very natural to graduate to this next stage and provide services for the benefit of the mother in labor.

Many women feel it is for the baby somehow, and it is, but mostly it if for the comfort of the mother in labor, and as I have said it will expedite labor tremendously, ease pain and keep mothers relaxed at a very deep level. From that time on almost all of my births at home have been underwater birthing experiences and I have never had a bad situation. I only have good things to say about under water birth.

The main question I have had to answer is: How does the baby not drown when he or she comes out. My answer to them is: The baby is completely sustained by the umbilical cord after birth for several minutes, and the baby will not inhale while in the warm water until the baby feel the atmospheric pressure of being out of the water, then the baby will take its first breath.

Babies almost always will open their eyes and look around and even sometimes, fall back asleep gently. That is where the saying comes from that it is good for the baby too I think.

It does provide for a kinder gentler birth for sure.

Written by Eveith Miller, midwife since 1971