MOTHERS who have undergone water birth describe it as one of the best delivery options as it is calm and does not involve drugs.
Haslinda Abdul Halim, 43, who delivered her fifth child via the method after giving birth to four children in the conventional way, says opting for a water birth has changed her perception of delivery and empowered her.
She says the method has many benefits, including pain relief, less tearing, and a calming effect on mother and child.
Haslinda, a housewife from Shah Alam, had her birth plan approved by her gynaecologist prior to settling on a water birth.
“I had maximum privacy in the water birth room, and was attended to only by a midwife and my husband.
“I was allowed to move as much as I wanted to and had personal items with me to make myself comfortable.
“The relaxed ambience made me feel very comfortable. I felt respected and empowered.
“Additionally, I had minimal tearing because I did not have an episiotomy.
“This allowed me to walk comfortably, and I had no problems going to the bathroom, which I did after my previous deliveries.
“The mobility helped me attend to my newborn easily.”
She says women who choose to have a water birth must educate themselves on the procedure as there are misconceptions regarding the method stemming from a lack of understanding.
Haslinda says water contamination due to the presence of urine and faeces is not a concern as the mother is free to move around and use the bathroom.
“As for the risk of the baby swallowing contaminated water... by nature, babies live in water.
“They spend nine months in amniotic fluid. Instinctively, they will not swallow water.
“And, they are in the water for just a short time after birth.”
She believes that the ban on water births at private hospitals should be lifted to provide would-be mothers with the choice to experience a gentle delivery.
She says many women resort to unassisted home births because of previous traumatic experiences at hospitals.
She says the Health Ministry should get input from experts, such as midwives and gentle birth groups, when working on the guideline on water birth.
Restaurateur Grace Soh Shih Ying, 40, from Kuala Lumpur, says she initially had many questions on water birth before going through it, but after delivering via the method, she found it to be a more natural process.
“Water birth is very calming for the baby as the transition is less traumatic. Babies born in water are calmer and cry less.
“The delivery of my first child was vacuum-assisted and my second, forceps-assisted.
“My third was delivered via caesarean section because the baby was in a breech position.”
Soh, who attended a hypno-birth course before the birth of her third child, then opted for a water birth for her fourth.
“It was a totally different experience. I could not wait to get into the water.
“It was relaxing, calming and empowering, and I felt in control and confident.
“I gave birth within a mere two hours. I even enjoyed the process.”
A would-be mother, who wants to be known only as Zahra, intends to deliver her second child via water birth, as she had done for her first.
“I gave birth to my daughter four years ago via water birth.
“I caught her in the water and put her on my chest for breastfeeding. It felt amazing.
“I read that water birth is the best solution for women with scoliosis, which I’ve been suffering from since I was a teenager.
“After doing some research, I learned that the warm water reduces back pain during labour. For me, it really did!”