Maternity
The information in this leaflet is to help you make an informed decision about your birthing choices. If you need any further information, or have any questions that are not addressed here, please use the contact details at the end of the leaflet and speak to your midwife or obstetrician.
Introduction: ‘a gentle beginning for a new life’
Water birth is an option that some women choose for labour and/or birth. It can support comfort, relaxation and a more physiological birth experience.
For women with an uncomplicated pregnancy at term, using water in labour is considered a safe option.
Your midwife will support you to explore whether it is suitable for you.
What is a water birth?
A water birth means labouring in a birthing pool and, for some women, giving birth to the baby in water.
Water can be used for:
What are the benefits of having a water birth?
There are several benefits to giving birth to your baby in the water:
What does the evidence say about benefits and risks?
To support informed decision-making, we use national guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations.
Compared with giving birth out of water, research shows that water birth has shown to be associated with:
There is a small increased risk of the umbilical cord snapping before it is clamped
For healthy women with an uncomplicated full term pregnancy, complications are rare.
There are a few potential disadvantages to having your baby in the water or using the water birth pool during labour. These include:
What we do not yet know: Evidence is inconclusive about whether water birth affects the risk of baby death (during or shortly after birth).
This means we cannot say there is a difference between water and non-water birth for this outcome.
Will I be able to have a water birth?
We will do our very best to help you achieve your birth choice. However, it may not always be possible to have a water birth for a variety of reasons. These include medical reasons and the availability of the pool room.
These include:
We also have a birth pool on delivery suite which is designed for women who are Consultant led and would like to have the option of a waterbirth.
We have a wireless telemetry machine that can be used for continuous monitoring of your baby whilst in the pool. A discussion prior to or at the time of birth with the multi-disciplinary team is advised and ongoing assessment of current condition completed.
There may be other reasons why you are advised by your midwife during labour to leave the water birth pool, for the safety of you or your baby.
Your community or hospital midwife or obstetrician will discuss with you if you are suitable to have a water birth during your pregnancy.
Monitoring during a water birth
While you are in the pool your midwife will check your:
Your baby’s heartbeat will be monitored using:
Water temperature should be maintained at 37°c (ideally nearer 37°c to reduce potential fetal distress) and to not exceed 37.5 c. This will be checked hourly.
Your midwife will encourage you to drink extra water throughout labour to prevent dehydration.
Pain relief options in water
You can use:
If you need stronger pain relief such as pethidine or an epidural, you will need to leave the pool. Pethidine can make you feel drowsy, so it is not safe to remain in the water after it is given. If you have pethidine and its effects wear off, you may be able to return to the pool if you still wish to and it remains safe to do so.
Useful things to help during your water birth
The following items are useful when having a water birth:
Why may I be asked to leave the water birth pool?
You may decide to leave the water birth pool at any time, this is your decision.
The midwife may ask you to leave the water birth pool in the following circumstances:
Your midwife will discuss these reasons with you.
You will also need to leave the pool to use the toilet.
What happens when my baby is born?
Once your baby is born, you will be given the choice of whether you, your birth partners or the midwife guides your baby to the surface of the water.
Do not worry: your baby will not swallow the water during this process. This is because the temperature of the water surrounding your baby in the womb will be like the temperature of the water in the water birth pool (approximately 37oC). Your baby will take its first breathe only when he/she reaches the surface of the water and the cold air stimulates them to breathe.
Once your baby has been born, the head must not go back into the water to prevent them from inhaling water. Babies born in water tend to have their eyes open and be very calm. Sometimes, your baby may take a short time to become pink. This is because the birth has been very gentle and is normal.
You may birth your placenta (afterbirth) in or out of the water birth pool. Your midwife will discuss this with you during labour.
We hope that we can help you to have the kind of birth that suits you.
Your choice matters
We will support you to make the decision that feels right for you.
Sometimes plans need to change if safety concerns arise, but you will always be:
Can I find out more?
You can find out more from the following websites:
Water births and labouring in water: questions answered
Immersion in water during labour and birth
If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on (01384) 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.
This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.
Originator: Maternity Documentation Group. Date reviewed: April 2026. Next review due: April 2029. Version: 5. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/00889