For a while, water birth was very popular in pregnant mother groups, not only sounding very tall, but also many stars or film and television dramas have scenes of water birth.
For example, in the movie "Beijing Meets Seattle", there is a plot of water birth. Jiang Wenwen, the 2014 synchronized swimming world champion, also chose to give birth in the water to welcome his baby daughter. In 2019, Xie Yilin also posted a photo of her giving birth in the water on Weibo.
For a time, water birth attracted much attention and respect.
But our advice is not to blindly follow the trend, but to choose carefully.
Water birth is simply produced in water. The mother-to-be lay in a large bathtub, the baby was born completely in the water, and was immediately carried out of the water after birth, and the mother also came out of the bathtub before the placenta was delivered. The other steps are essentially indistinguishable from traditional childbirth.
As early as 8,000 years ago, there are records of water births in ancient Egypt, and it is accurately recorded in France in 1805. So water births are not new. It has only recently become a seemingly "high-end" way of childbirth on the mainland.
It is undeniable that water birth has some advantages that other forms of childbirth do not have:
First, the woman gives birth in water equal to or slightly above the body temperature, which can help the woman relax her body and reduce the pain caused by childbirth.
The buoyancy of the water itself has a certain supporting effect, and the gentle impact of the water flow can make the maternal pelvic floor and leg muscles more relaxed.
Soaked in warm water, the human skin local blood vein expansion, muscle relaxation, can promote the expansion of the maternal cervix, enhance the elasticity of the perineum, thereby reducing the risk of perineal tearing to a certain extent.
Despite the many advantages of water birth, it is still a controversial production method, both domestic and foreign.
The research data of authoritative institutions can only prove that water delivery has an effect on the first stage of labor before the full opening of the uterine orifice of pregnant women, that is, the first stage of childbirth (to be delivered), which can reduce pain and shorten the course of labor. However, there is no clear clinical evidence for the second stage of labour to help with childbirth in water.
And water births also have certain risks, and not all women are suitable.
In a survey of 4032 outcomes of birth in water, water births were shown to have the potential to trigger rare but serious and potentially fatal complications in newborns, such as infection and respiratory distress, as well as risks such as aspiration of water in newborns and cord rupture.
Of the 4032 cases surveyed, 2 newborns had missampled water and 5 had umbilical cord ruptures. These complications are also described in case reports, as well as maternal and neonatal infections, abnormal neonatal thermoregulation, neonatal respiratory distress, near-drowning or even drowning, epilepsy, and perinatal asphyxia.
The medical community also has different opinions on water birth, and the debate has always existed.
In conclusion, the safety and efficacy of water delivery has not been fully evaluated and demonstrated.
And not all pregnant women are suitable for childbirth in water. Experienced doctors also do not recommend water delivery as a routine clinical method.
Mothers who are able to give birth in water need to have the following requirements:
1. The best age for pregnant women is 20-30 years old;
2. Pregnant women are willing to give birth in water, and their physical condition and fetal health status are all assessed and shown to be normal;
3. Pregnant up to 38 weeks, the fetus has reached full term and should not be too large, moderate weight, about 3000 grams;
4. The fetal position is normal, and the fetal heart sound and fetal supervision are also normal;
5. The amniotic fluid of pregnant women is not polluted;
6. The weight of pregnant women is well controlled during pregnancy, and there are no internal diseases and various complications, and the perineal conditions are better;
7. Pregnant women do not have infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and syphilis.
If the birth canal of the pregnant woman is not wide enough, the cervix is too thick or there are complications during pregnancy, or the fetus is overweight, pregnant with multiple pregnancies, etc., it is not suitable to give birth in water. If persisted, it can cause immeasurable harm to both pregnant women and children, and even death.
In addition, even if the expectant mother is suitable for water delivery, she is also prepared for antenatal preparation, but for medical institutions that provide water to be delivered, there must be strict requirements, and strict clinical rules need to be formulated.
The water tank as a place of delivery must be constant temperature, customized, and disinfected. The water used in childbirth also needs to be sterilized and purified without the slightest negligence.
As a medical staff assisting pregnant women, they also need to undergo professional training to effectively help pregnant women reduce the tension and pressure caused by the pain of childbirth and help pregnant women give birth safely.
If you still decide to give birth in water after careful consideration, you must understand the situation of the hospital and the background of the medical staff in advance, communicate and communicate in advance, and communicate appropriately with other mothers who are ready to give birth in water.
The most important point is to read each document carefully before signing it.
Old people often say that a woman giving birth to a child is like taking a turn before the ghost door closes. The most important thing in childbirth is safety, and people need to remain calm and choose carefully, rather than blindly following the trend.