Are water births dangerous?

[Lou0219]

I’m considering a water birth some info says there is no risk to drowning where as others say there is a chance of the baby taking their first breath under water. So confused 😐 any stories if you had a water birth?

Thank you x

Not in my experience and I’ve had three of them and all went swimmingly ().

Where did you hear about first breath underwater.....I have never ever heard this and does not sound credible.

No. The baby is in fluid inside you getting oxygen from the umbilical cord. They won't try to breath until they are in the air.

I'm pretty sure that baby doesn't breathe until they meet air at the surface--otherwise they would be drown in womb in amniotic fluid?

Two successful water births here - which also went swimmingly!
Baby is still on the umbilical cord and is in water inside you, I don’t think there is any risk?

Sorry x post spoons

I would also add that if you deliver in a safe environment eg not at home on your own without any medical assistance, then you would be monitored and assessed for risk factors. There are some factors mainly relating to your health that would exclude a water birth being an option for you (it’s easy enough to find out what is deemed as a high risk pregnancy). I would advise against random google searches and stick to the NHS site for advice.

Chaise yours made more sense than mine anyway!

As long as the water is the correct temperature the baby won’t be aware that it’s not still in the amniotic fluid and won’t attempt to breathe is my understanding, for me it went fine. Do speak to your midwife though and ask for info rather than relying on internet randoms like me!

3 water births here, 2 of which were home births! All 3 were a-ma-zing! Wish I could relive them!!

That’s not my experience, no. Personally, I highly recommend water births - the water was bloody amazing pain relief! My understanding is that, if delivered into the water, the baby won’t breathe until it’s lifted out of the water into the air. My midwife told me to ensure that my hips and pelvis stayed in the water to ensure the baby met the water first on his arrival into the world. But, I second the poster who said speak to you midwife if you unsure rather than rely on doctor google or personal experiences on here.

I had a successful water birth at home 15 years ago.

I did lots of reading and research.

First midwife told me she wouldn't support me as she herself had had a near drowning accident herself. She was actually awful and I wrote a complaint about her.

I got lots of help and advice from the radical midwives' website - I don't know if it's still going?!

We had meetings with the Head of Regional Midwifery who travelled miles to our local hospital to meet. She was so supportive and helped so much.

It was an amazing experience for my husband and me. Our baby was born in water safely with minimal monitoring and minimal fuss.

The two midwives who did attend were very good.

I know a neonatal consultant who hates them.... presumably she's looked after some babies who didn't get the memo about not breathing underwater