Water birth has been growing in popularity. April Tobin Nelson, MS, APRN-CNM, Nebraska Medicine certified nurse-midwife, is a passionate proponent.

“I gave birth to both of my babies in the water, and after the first time, I knew I’d never do it any other way,” says Nelson. “It’s a calmer, more comfortable experience that gives you greater sense of control over the entire birth experience.” 

Nebraska Medical Center began offering this option to mothers, with the exception of high-risk births in 2023. The labor suites now offer jacuzzis and showers in all birthing rooms. Larger portable tubs can also be brought into the birthing room, which provide more room for the mother to move around and change positions.

Hydrotherapy has been used to assist in labor for many years, notes Nelson. Water can be very therapeutic. It assists with pain management by helping relieve muscle cramps, aches and pains and provides enhanced relaxation. Oxytocin, a hormone that helps promote positive feelings, is also released during water immersion. This helps regulate contractions, reduces anxiety and improves comfort.

Water birth goes one step further than hydrotherapy in that it allows the baby to actually be born in the water. “If you think about it, the baby is living in the uterus in amniotic fluid for nine months,” notes Nelson. “When they are born in the water, well oxygenated babies have a natural dive reflex that promotes swallowing rather than breathing. Once their head emerges from the water into the air, they are stimulated to breathe. Water birth mimics in utero conditions, offering a calmer, more gentle transition to life outside the womb.”

According to multiple studies, there are many benefits to waterbirth, says Nelson. These include:

• Less pain and improved relaxation and comfort.
• Decreased risk of perineal lacerations or episiotomy.
• Decreased use of pain medications.
• Decreased use of Pitocin.
• Reduced length of labor.
• Decreased length of third-stage labor.
• Increased rate of spontaneous vaginal birth.
• Increased patient satisfaction.
• Increases a woman’s sense of autonomy and control.
• Decreased anxiety.

“I’ve never had an unhappy waterbirth mother,” says Nelson.

Jessica Schultze, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, has had two water births and is one of those satisfied mothers.

Schultze’s first child was delivered via C-section while living out of state. She had a natural vaginal birth for her second child. After moving back to Nebraska, her third child was delivered vaginally at Nebraska Medical Center, as water birth was not an option at the time.

“Childbirth is such a wonderful, empowering experience,” says Schultze. “And while each of these experiences was special, water birth takes it one step further.”

Schultze’s first water birth experience occurred with her fourth child, whom she delivered while living out of the country. “Water birth is very intuitive,” she explains. “The contractions are more comfortable, and it’s such a warm and soothing place to be during labor. It seemed so much easier, relaxing and calming. My husband was right next to me, and all my kids were there. It was unbelievably special.”

When Schultze moved back to the United States and became pregnant with her fifth child, Nelson reached out to her to let her know that water birth was now an option at Nebraska Medical Center.

Schultze knew immediately that’s what she wanted to do.

“The thing that made this extra special is that since Jessica’s first child was delivered via C-section, many hospitals identify her as a higher-risk pregnancy and exclude her from being a candidate for water birth,” explains Nelson.

One of the biggest risks for a trial of labor after cesarean section is uterine rupture. “However, we use waterproof monitoring equipment that allows us to continuously monitor contractions and fetal heart tones to detect any sign of rupture,” says Nelson.

“It was an amazing experience,” says Schultze. “It was a short labor. I got in and started pushing, and Margaret was born about 30 minutes later. The wonderful thing is that not a single person touched me or my baby during labor or the birth. It was all me.”

“Water birth is really a beautiful thing,” says Nelson. “I’m so glad we are able to offer this option to mothers. It is truly an empowering experience.”