The Birth Center

The Waterbirth Suite

Learn more about waterbirth
Visit www.waterbirth.org

We chose bamboo shades, white orchids and natural woods to decorate the room in order to create a natural feeling, spa like atmosphere. The cool blue color of the walls is refreshing and invigorating, yet calm and relaxing. The design of the room was built around the two beautiful Georgia O'Keefe prints in the room. We love the idea of an opening flower as imagery for birth.

The Waterbirth Suite has been tiled with natural stone ceramic tile thanks to a very generous Birth Center Family. The tile floor makes the room feel open and airy, allows for easy clean up, and adds to the spa-like feel of the room.

We purchased our tub from Waterbirth International, the pioneers in waterbirthing. The tub is large enough to fit two adults comfortably. Partners are always welcome in the tub if they remember to bring their suit! There are two beautiful prints about the tub donated by Hunter Clarke-Fields from her series "Birds in Flight."

The bathroom in the water birth room has also been completely renovated! The old jacuzzi has been replaced by a floor to ceiling tiled stand up shower. There is a new toilet and pedestal sink. It is a lovely place to clean up and refresh after the hard work of birthing.

The Waterbirth Option

"Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water, yet in dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard, the gentle overcomes the rigid"
--Te Ching 1021

Support in water is one of the most beneficial things that can be offered to a woman in labor. The water provides a calming influence and a peaceful relaxed atmosphere. Women report that they enjoy their labors and find that the water allows complete freedom of movement and deep concentration.

Known benefits of water labor and water birth

• Facilitates mobility and enables the mother to assume any position which is comfortable for labor and birth

• Speeds up labor

• Reduces blood pressure

• Gives mother more feelings of control

• Provides significant pain relief

• Promotes relaxation

• Conserves her energy

• Reduces the need for drugs and interventions

• Gives mother a private protected space

• Reduces perineal trauma and eliminates episiotomies

• Reduces cesarean section rates

• Is highly rated by mothers - typically stating they would consider giving birth in water again

• Is highly rated by experienced providers

• Encourages an easier birth for mother and a gentler welcome for baby

Placing a pool of water in a birth room changes the atmosphere immediately. Voices get softer, the mother stays calmer and everyone becomes less stressed.

The effect of buoyancy that deep water immersion creates allows spontaneous movement of the mother. No one has to help the mother get into a new position. She moves as her body and the position of the baby dictate. Movement helps open the pelvis, allowing the baby to descend.

When a woman in labor relaxes in a warm deep bath, free from gravity’s pull on her body, with sensory stimulation reduced, her body is less likely to secrete stress-related hormones. This allows her body to produce the pain inhibitors-endorphins-that complement labor. Noradrenaline and catecholamines, the hormones that are released during stress, actually raise the blood pressure and can inhibit or slow labor. A laboring woman who is able to relax physically, is able to relax mentally as well. Many women, midwives, and doctors acknowledge the analgesic effect of water. Thousands of these mothers state they would never be able to consider laboring without water again.

Borrowed from www.waterbirth.org
Please visit this website to learn more about waterbirth and gentle birthing options.