The Joy of Water Birthing
by Carmel L. Mooney

 Both of my prior labors and deliveries had, against my wishes and assertiveness, proven to be typical medical models led by others’ textbook values and opinions, complete with pitocin inductions. Both times, at different hospitals, I received little support in my birth pain and my preferred Bradley method of laboring.

Having my third and final child in a water birth with the support of a doula, seemed like such a magical yet sensible decision, empowering me finally to have my baby my way, yet offering a wonderful alternative to the highly interventive means under which both my other daughters had been born.

Over thirty-five this time, with slightly elevated pregnancy-induced hypertension like in my other pregnancies, I was determined to do it safely, yet my way, with no medical interventions and natural self-induction if necessary.

I spent hours on the internet researching websites, both medical and those of midwives and doulas, to determine my options. I knew knowledge was power, and I was not going to be powerless this time. 

After meeting other women who raved about water births, and watching a video, it only made sense. Water is soothing, healing, gentle, supportive, and nourishes life. 

I found a birthing center in Davis located on the back wing of a hospital, should an emergency arise. In the birthing center, they offered water birthing tubs, midwives, and doulas, eliminating much of my anxiety from my former experiences.

The last week of my pregnancy, my blood pressure intermittently rose as it had a decade earlier in my first pregnancy, so I began using herbs and natural remedies to lower it. I was more concerned about induction than the midwives were, but I could feel my anxiety mounting as my due date came and went. My slightly elevated blood pressure was a concern. A few days after the due date, I began self-induction techniques I’d learned from midwives all over the world on the internet. Using blue and black cohosh, pennyroyal tea, cumin tea, and castor oil all at once. I was determined! Thankfully it worked, and within hours I was in a slow gentle labor. I had successfully induced myself, just nudging nature a bit. 

A few hours later, my doula met us at the birthing center where I had labored slowly for nearly ten more hours. A wonderful asset to the whole experience, she even advocated for my adamant no-drug wishes, and reassured me when at one point my contractions slowed to the point that one midwife was suggesting a little help with Piticon to speed things up.  Luckily, nature did its thing, and suddenly things went into hyper drive. The staff scrambled to fill and ready the tub. As I went from seven to ten centimeters in less than an hour. 

My husband and I climbed into the warm tub just in time for me to push a few minutes and deliver a beautiful healthy daughter, who floated calmly and gently to the surface to be cradled in our arms in the tub, where we remained with her for nearly an hour, relaxing and bonding. 

Of all my three babies, Elizabeth (our water baby) was the calmest and least fussy infant by far. Nearly always cooing and happy as an infant, and sleeping through the night, even breast-fed by the age of three weeks. I whole-heartedly believe there is a connection to her wonderful, purely natural drug-free and nurturing birth. Even after we exited the birthing tub, we were allowed to bond uninterrupted for almost an hour. 

And as for me, I was out golfing three days after she was born, even leaving the birthing center less than 18 hours after delivery for a nice big breakfast at a local coffee shop, stopping to buy a new rocking chair on the way home.

Best of all, I did it my way and could finally prove to myself that I didn’t  need anyone else’s imposed views or help to have my baby. Now that’s the power and beauty of being a mother.

Carmel L. Mooney is a mom, travel writer, author, and radio talk show host. Her website is www.moneythewriteway.com
 

 

 

 

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