The Benefits of Water Birth: An Empowering Way to Give Birth

If you’re exploring your birth options, you’ve probably heard about water birth. It’s a choice that more and more parents are making – and for good reason! Laboring and birthing in warm water can be a soothing, empowering experience that supports your body’s natural ability to bring your baby into the world.

With benefits ranging from pain relief to a more peaceful transition for babies, there are plenty of reasons why you may opt for a water birth. In this article, we’ll discuss those benefits as well as the research that backs them up. 

What are the benefits of water birth?

Many benefits of water birth come from water’s calming and relaxing properties, but they go much further. Let’s take a closer look at some of the potential benefits of water birth and why you may consider it for your own delivery.

Greater Confidence

Labor is an emotional journey – it brings up feelings of excitement, anticipation, and sometimes even fear and doubt. Many birthing parents who were feeling discouraged and considering a Cesarean have found that laboring in water gave them the strength and confidence to opt for a vaginal birth.

The warm water in a birth pool or tub helps ease tension and provides a sense of calm that helps get through the final stages of labor. It’s like having a natural support system that promotes relaxation to ease you into the birth process and trust your body. 

Protective Against Episiotomies and Reduced Risk of Tearing

One of the biggest concerns many people have about birth is perineal tearing or episiotomies (a surgical cut made to the perineum) - and a water birth can help protect against both! 

Midwives rarely perform episiotomies, and even in settings where they’re more common, water birth significantly reduces the chances of needing one. Some studies also show that birthing in water can lower the risk of severe tearing, since warm water immersion softens tissues and allows them to stretch more gently as your baby is born.

An Iranian study that compared the birth experience of water and land births, found a 23% lower rate of episiotomies in water births than land births. Meanwhile, a Chinese study comparing both delivery methods, found similar results, with better rates of perineum integrity and episiotomies for water births compared to land births at 25.00% vs. 8.33% and 1.67% vs. 20%, respectively. 

More Natural Comfort, Less Need for Pain Medication

If you’re hoping for a natural birth, a water birth tub can be one of your best tools to help you get there! In fact, one of the biggest reasons parents choose water birth is that it helps them manage labor pain naturally. 

Warm water is an incredible pain reliever. It eases contractions, reduces muscle tension, and allows for increased relaxation. People who labor in water are far less likely to request an epidural or use IV pain medications. They’re also less likely to transfer to a hospital for medicaion, making water birth a great option for home birth. 

The same studies cited above also found this to be true. In the Chinese study, reported pain levels were significantly lower in the water birth group, while in the Iranian study, there was less use of artificial oxytocin (0% vs. 94.3%), and less use of any pain medications (3.8% vs. 100%) in water births compared to land births. 

Labor is intense, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The buoyancy of the water makes it easier to change positions and take pressure off the joints, which can make contractions feel more manageable. Plus, there’s just something about warm water that signals your body to relax and let go of tension so your labor can progress smoothly.

Could Help Shorten Labor

While every birth is different, some evidence suggests that water birth may slightly shorten labor. When you’re relaxed and supported, your body is more likely to work with contractions instead of tensing against them. This can help labor move along more efficiently, which is always a plus!

Lower Blood Loss

Another amazing benefit of natural water birth? It’s been linked to lower blood loss after delivery. 

A 2022 systematic review of 22 studies found that the risk of major postpartum hemorrhage in water births was significantly lower than in land births.

Because the water encourages a gentler, more controlled birth, many parents experience less postpartum bleeding. It’s just another way water birth helps your body transition smoothly into the next phase of your journey.

Considering a water birth in the Portland Area? We’re Here For You

If water birth sounds like the right fit for you, it’s worth looking into your options early. If you’re planning a home birth, having a trained provider who supports water birth can make all the difference. Your midwife or care team can help you prepare for a water birth in Portland so that when the time comes, you can step into that warm water feeling ready and supported.

At the end of the day, giving birth is about finding what works best for you. Water birth is a beautiful, gentle way to bring your baby into the world. If it feels right for you, it’s absolutely worth exploring!

To learn more about water births, make sure to check out our article, How Does a Water Birth Work? And if you’d like to learn more about our process and our approach to pregnancy, feel free to schedule a consultation.