The topic of water labour may not be that common in Malaysia. Many Malaysians women still prefer the traditional way of giving birth rather than going for water birthing.
Is it because they are not exposed to water birthing and lack information about it? So, what does it mean by water birthing or water labour?
Water birthing is actually the act that occurs when the mother is immersed in the water and stays in it until the baby is fully delivered and it actually has many terms, such as water labour and water delivery.
According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, there are still few hospitals in Malaysia that offer the method of water birthing for pregnant mothers. Most hospitals under the ministry do not provide this service because there are still worrisome incidents that may follow this practice.
Before we, as mothers, decide on doing this method, we should first look into the pros and cons of it.
The Pros of Water Labour
One of the main advantages of going through water birthing is that it promotes a sense of relaxation to the mother. This can help reduce pain labour experienced by most mothers who went through normal delivery.
Therefore, it helps lessen the consumption of pharmacological analgesias like epidurals and narcotics. Other advantages of water birthing also include less pressure on your back and reduce the case of injury.
The Cons
However, water birthing also has its disadvantages. The disadvantages that can occur during water birthing is that mothers are at a higher rate of first and second degree of perineal tears which is the area from your vaginal opening and also your anus.
Although it is said that water birthing can help babies easily adapt to the outside world, babies can still suffer from water aspiration. There can also be possible exposure to infection because of the unclean water supply.
What Should I Do If I Want To Proceed With Water Labour?
Now that we have already known about the advantages and disadvantages of water birth, parents should know of the proper ways of going through water birthing.
i. Find certified hospitals or birth centers.
The most important thing is to find certified hospitals or birth centers, so that you are unlikely to be exposed to unwanted complications like the inability of birth centers to provide hot and clean tap water.
ii. Proper and appropriate equipment
They also must have the appropriate equipment to handle any emergencies and monitor the condition of mothers and babies.
iii. A certified medical practitioner.
Most medical practitioners in Malaysia are also not exposed to the procedure of water birthing in med school, so expecting couples should really research this thoroughly.
iv. The condition of mother and baby
Another important aspect that they should consider is whether the mother is eligible and healthy enough to go through water birthing. Mothers with medical conditions like obesity and hypertension should not opt for water birthing as it can result in complications that are hard to control.
Hence, you have to make sure that you follow all the criteria before you decide on water labour to ensure the safety of your baby and yourself.
Remember, you must always practice precautions first in doing things. Good luck mummies!