Water Birth

Water birth is a method of giving birth, which involves immersion in warm water. Proponents believe that this method is safe and provides many benefits for both mother and infant, including pain relief and a less traumatic birth experience for the baby. However, critics argue that the procedure introduces unnecessary risks to the infant such as infection and water inhalation.

Benefits

For the baby

Childbirth can be a strenuous experience for the baby. Properly heated water helps to ease the transition from the birth canal to the outside world because the warm liquid resembles the familiar intra-uterine environment, and softens light, colors and noises.

For the mother

Pain management

water birth is an effective form of pain management during labor and delivery . Water birth is a form of hydrotherapy which, in studies, has been shown to be an effective form of pain management for a variety of conditions especially lower back pain (a common complaint of women in labor). In an appraisal of 17 randomized trials, two controlled studies, 12 cohort studies, and two case reports, it was concluded that there was a definite "benefit from hydrotherapy in pain, function, self-efficacy and affect, joint mobility, strength, and balance, particularly among older adults, subjects with rheumatic conditions and chronic low back pain," . When compared with conventional pain management techniques for labor and delivery (e.g. anesthesia and narcotics), hydrotherapy is also possibly a safer alternative. In studies, epidural anesthesia (EDA) is correlated with an increased rate of instrumental (e.g. forceps in childbirth) delivery rates and also cesarean section rates . Full immersion in water promotes physiological responses in the mother that reduce pain including a redistribution of blood volume, which stimulates the release of oxytocin and vasopressin , the latter which also increases oxytocin blood levels . The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews has found that "the statistically significant reduction in maternal perception of pain and in the rate of epidural analgesia suggest that water immersion during the first stage of labour is beneficial for some women. No evidence was found that this benefit was associated with poorer outcomes for babies or longer labours." It has also been found that in waterbirths the buoyancy of the mother and the baby allow for a gravitational pull. This pull not only opens up the mother's pelvis but also allows the baby to descend more easily.

Intact perineum/decreased episiotomy

Water birth is believed to aid stretching of the perineum and decrease the risk of skin tears. Support from the water slows crowning of the infant's head and offers perineal support, which decreases the risk of tearing and reduces the use of episiotomy, a surgical procedure which can cause a number of complications. Indeed, there is a zero episiotomy rate in the waterbirth literature . Moreover, "perineal trauma is reported to be generally less severe, with more intact perineums for multips, but in some literature about the same frequency of tears for primips in or out of the water,"
Risks and concerns

A large-scale study of waterbirth showed a decrease in perinatal mortality (1.2 per 1,000 for waterbirth vs. 4 per 1,000 for conventional birth during the same period) . While of the 150,000 recorded waterbirths worldwide between 1985 and 1999 problems comparable to non-water births did arise, "there are no valid reports of infants deaths due to water aspiration or inhalation".

A review of the literature on water birth suggests that any controversy in the medical community stems from OBGYN and pre-natal care providers who generally support water birth, on the one hand, and pediatric specialists who criticize water birth, on the other . While this is by no means a universal divide, it appears to correlate with the "do no harm" credo. statement on water birth explains that because to date there is no adequate randomized controlled study to demonstrate any benefit to the newborn (only concern over possible complications), when parents are informed about water birth, risks (rather than benefits) should be stressed . However, on the other hand, studies have shown that laboring in water does offer significant benefits to the mother (as cited above).

Another concern is that the water could increase the risk of infection. In a randomized controlled trial of the effects of water labor in Canada, no difference was noted in the low rates of maternal and newborn signs of infection in women with ruptured membranes. Due to the rigorous protocols for cleaning birthing tubs between labors (especially in hospitals), there is little (if any) risk of transferring bacteria from infant to mother or mother to infant. there were no instances of bacteria cultured from the birth pool itself. While Pseudomonas bacteria (common in tap water) were present, even those infants that tested positive for the bacteria needed no treatment for infections. the water of a birth pool following birth after filtration and more rigorous cleaning procedures (that had been put in place as a result of the study finding contamination between births) were instituted, high concentrations of E. coli and coliform contamination were found, along with staph and P. aeruginosa.

Slowed labor

Due to the documented relaxing effects of water[citation needed], laboring in water is sometimes associated with a decrease in the intensity of contractions, and is thus thought to slow labor. While home birth experts (e.g. Harper, RN) argue that this must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, some hospitals have adopted a "5 centimeter" rule, allowing women to enter the tub only once the cervix has already expanded to 5 centimeters .

Maternal blood loss

For care providers who are inexperienced in delivery in water, it may be difficult to assess the amount of maternal blood loss. While well-developed methods of determining maternal blood loss in water do exist, many providers prefer to deliver the placenta "on land" for this reason .

On the other hand, some doctors and midwives see that waterbirths have actually been known to reduce the amount of blood loss. The water surrounding the mother actually lowers the mother's blood pressure and heart rate. Mothers still lose significant amounts of blood through the passing of the placenta.

Drugs for High Blood

High blood pressure or hypertension is closely linked to increased heart attacks and strokes. Causes of high blood pressure, among others, the hardening and clogging arteries. Diseased blood vessels become narrow, so that the heart requires a greater pressure to pump blood to the blood vessels.

Some natural medicines that can reduce abortion and even cure high blood diseases, among others:

1. Daun Salam (Syzigium polyanthum)
Benefits: reduce koesterol and high blood pressure, lowering high blood sugar levels.

2. Seaweed (Laminaria japonica)
Benefits: normalize blood pressure, lowering high cholesterol, prevent atherosclerosis.

3. Cucumber
Benefits: potassium levels high mineral useful for reducing high blood pressure, and is useful also to reduce kidney stones

4. Cantaloupe
Benefits: Same as cucumber is rich in potassium content, both to reduce high blood pressure and also good for kidney problems / bladder
Some fruits / plants that have the same content with cucumbers / cantaloupe: peaches or peaches, strawberries, raspberries, turnip leaves and wheat grass.

5. Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.)
Benefits: reduce high cholesterol, lowering high blood pressure, lower blood sugar

6. Temu Hitam (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.)
Effect: the circulation of blood clots, and dilute, neutralize toxins in the body.

7. Garlic
Benefits: reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol, destroying blood penggumplan

8. Onions
Benefits: Having the same benefits of garlic