Water birth creating ripples in the city

Childbirth doesn’t necessarily mean a long, arduous, and painful experience,  insist city gynaecologists. Several mums-to-be are now looking at a rather unconventional but less painful method — water birth.

Priyanka Bhatia, 35, opted for water birth in 2006 for her daughter, Yoana. “I did not want a caesarean,” said the Khar resident. “When I learnt about water labour, I decided to go for it.”

According to Bhatia, the warm water soothes the body and helps one relax thus making childbirth a less painful. “Though I was initially sceptical, it worked out well for me,” she said.

In 2004, Deepa Calcuttawala, a resident of Santa Cruz, gave birth to her first child while sitting in a tub of warm water. “During my second child’s birth in 2008, I opted for hydro-labour,” said Calcuttawala.

In hyrdo-labour, the woman is made to sit in a tub filled with warm water after she enters active labour that is when her cervix is approximately 3 to 4cm dilated. The baby is delivered outside, which makes it different from water birth.

The cost of water birthing is a little more than a normal delivery. For instance, if a normal delivery costs about Rs20,000 then a water birth will be around Rs30,000. Dr Vikram Shah, a gynaecologist at Ashwini Hospital, Shivaji Park, said that water-assisted labour or hydro-labour  is now gaining widespread acceptance.

“I did my first water delivery two years ago,” said Shah. Since then he has performed three water deliveries but over 30 hydro-labours. Dr Sheetal Sabarwal, gynaecologist, Tulip Women’s Healthcare Centre, Khar, has performed about 50 water deliveries in the past five years and about 80 hydro-labours. “Water labour reduces pain by about 60 to 70% and facilitates the process of birthing to a large extent,” she said.

According to Sabarwal, many families are more comfortable with hydro-labour as they feel that giving birth in water may harm the baby. “Though their fears are completely unfounded, we must respect their wishes,” she said.

Dr Anita Soni, gynaecologist, LH Hiranandani Hospital, started performing water births in 2004 but soon stopped due to logistical reasons. “But many of our patients still want to use water for pain relief,” said Soni. “In the last month, out  of 30 women who came to our LDPR [a room used for labour, delivery, recovery and post-partum] at least half opted for the water tub.”

Apart from easing the discomfort,  the warm water eases the vaginal tract, relaxes the muscles and also increases blood circulation. “Some patients even listen  to soothing music while in the water,”  said Shah.