Years ago when we were studying sex education at school, I had been introduced to the concept of a water birth and it really appealled to me.  So when I was pregnant with my first child, and had a sympathetic midwife, I expressed my desire to have a water birth

My first daughter was born in the corner bath in the birthing centre at Canberra Hospital with the help of the Canberra Midwifery Program.  The pregnancy and birth (as far as baby is concerned) went very well.  It was a longish labour (16 hours) but kept reasonably under control.  However, afterwards - without any warning - I haemorrhaged and it was hours before it could get under control.

With my second daughter, I was allowed in the birthing centre again, though they were keeping a very close eye on me in case I haemorrhaged again.  I was allowed the option of a water birth again, but decided part way through the labour that it wasn't going to work for me this time (intuition!).  It was a much quicker labour (7 hours) and I delivered in the birthing room, but again I had a severe haemorrhage - though it was gotten under control a lot more quickly. 

I want to give you all this background so you can make your own judgements regarding the advice I would like to give regarding water births.

Some of the things you need to know if you have a water birth:

• The water in the bath needs to be kept at constant temperature of 37 degrees celsius (which I believe is about 98 degrees farenheit) so that when the baby is born there is no temperature difference between your body and the world they're coming into.
• Babies don't need to breathe air until about a minute or so after they are born, so there is no danger of your baby drowning by having a water birth.  They are still connected to the placenta and receive oxygen from that.  The reason most babies take their first breath the minute they are born is because they go straight from a warm environment to cold air (colder than 37 degrees anyway!) and it is a natural reaction (think what it's like if you dive straight into a cold pool!).
• You should not get into the bath for the birth until your labour is well established, as it has been shown to slow down labour if you get in too early.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having  a water birth:

Advantages

• A warm bath is much more comfortable for Mum.
• The warm water can help you handle the pain of  contractions.
• The introduction into the world via water can be much better for the baby.  They don't have severe temperature or sensation change from the womb.
• It can allow a stronger initial bonding with the baby because it is a lot less clinical of a situation.
• You don't have to worry about anyone playing catch as the baby won't fall on the floor due to the buoyancy of the water.
• It can be an easier clean-up after the birth because everything is contained in one place, and you and the baby are kinda getting washed as you go!
• Having a water birth can reduce tearing as you don't have the same pressures on your body as you do when gravity is doing all the work.

Disadvantages

• You may slow down the labour if you get into the bath too early.
• If the bath is not big enough, you may get cramped up (my experience).
• If you have a complication, like a haemorrhage, in the water, they will not be able to measure how much blood you've lost, and it can be more difficult for them to help you.
• You have to get out of the bath - dripping wet and getting cold - every time you need to go to the toilet.
• You can't have any form of pain relief in the bath (anything using electricity - such as a TENS machine - is, of course, a no-no.  And most birthing centres won't adminster drugs).  However, if you're like me, this may actually be an advantage because I didn't want to use any drugs and this method made sure I didn't.

I am glad I had a water birth for my first baby, and I don't regret in any way not having one for my second.  I personally would probably not have another water birth due to the fact I am likely to haemorrhage, but would certainly like to use the bath again during labour.

I don't want to influence anyone who is having a baby one way or the other. I just want to share my own experience and thoughts on it in the hope that you might have more information on the options available to you.

Good luck!