Can I Have a Water Birth in Wichita?
Can I Have a Waterbirth in Wichita?
Water births can sound pretty dreamy as far as labor and delivery goes, especially when we see professional birth photography featuring beatific moms lounging in the warm water as they pull up their baby. Not only is it relaxing, but it also may help ease labor pains! We frequently receive questions from local parents wanting to know if they can have a water birth in Wichita hospitals, so here's the rundown on Wichita water birth.
Is Waterbirth Available in Wichita Hospitals?
Unfortunately, there are currently no special procedures or facilities for water birth at Wesley Medical Center, Wesley BirthCare Center, or Via Christi – St. Joseph. Each labor and delivery suite at these hospitals is outfitted with a regular sized shower and bathtub with jets, but these really aren't large enough to deliver in. Additionally, based on their training and experience, most of the OB-GYNs delivering at these facilities prefer to catch babies on land! Most of them are totally cool with you taking baths and showers during labor though, as long as you and baby are healthy and handling labor well.
Where Can I Have a Water Birth in Wichita?
For low-risk moms, having an out-of-hospital birth attended by a midwife (whether at your home or at a midwifery clinic) is currently the best way to ensure that you can have a water birth. You can purchase a birth pool online, such as the Birth Pool in a Box, or some of the local Wichita midwives may have birth pools that you can buy or rent. Your midwives can advise you on water birth safety, temperature and usage guidelines, and help you decide if water birth is right for you.
Born Midwifery is a freestanding birth center in Wichita which offers the choice of a birthing tub.
The Fruitful Vine Midwives in Wichita, KS also offer a home-away-from-home birthing suite within their office, which is equipped with a tub for labor and birthing. Wichita Birth Assistance is another great midwifery option with several midwives who deliver babies and offer waterbirth at this birthing suite as well.
How Can I Have a Similar Experience in the Hospital?
If you've already planned on delivering in the hospital, due to personal preference or medical necessity, you can still enjoy a relaxing and comfortable birthing experience by hiring our doulas to attend you. We will support your desire for hydrotherapy by helping you labor in the tub or shower, and using cool or warm washcloths on you. When the time comes to get out of the tub to deliver, we will help you stay calm and focused. We'll also help ensure that your room temperature is comfortable for you, dim the lights, and surround you with your favorite calming scents, sounds, and textures to bring the gentle, homey atmosphere to you.
Where Can I Learn More About Waterbirth Safety and Research?
We enjoyed this article from Evidence Based Birth, which collected all the known research on water birth to date in order to find out what we can about the pros, cons, benefits and risks, and safety considerations regarding giving birth in the water.