Someone who gave birth in such a bath is Eline Harlaar. Her son Gijs is now three and a half months old. “I had a contraction before I got into the bath and when I got into it I got more breaks between contractions,” she tells EditieNL. “I liked that it was in a private setting, with my own midwife and maternity nurse.”
–
–
Eline decided to buy a bath because she wanted to give birth at home. She once worked in obstetrics herself and always heard positive experiences about a birth bath. So she really liked it. “In bed, where I was lying before, I couldn’t give myself any more position. It immediately felt a lot better.” Eline does make a comment: “I have no experience with giving birth without a bath, so I can’t compare it well.”
–
–
Alternative
Such a bath is nothing new, but midwifery practice ‘t Hart has been actively working on it for a year, in response to the pressure on birth care. And such a bath has many advantages, knows François Hesseling, obstetrician at the practice. “An official delivery bath has a relaxing effect, contractions are better absorbed and a pain-relieving hormone is released,” he tells EditieNL. “In addition, the transition of the child between the abdomen and the outside world is better. The child is then more relaxed.”
–
–
There are several ways to numb the pain during a home birth, says Hesseling. Think of morphine, an epidural or a device that gives shocks to mask the pain. “A birthing bath is more of an alternative,” he says. Although it seems to be gaining popularity, at least at ‘t Hart. “The number of women who give birth in a bath is increasing. With us, several women give birth in a birthing bath every month.”
–
–
muscle strain
So why does such a warm bath work as pain relief during childbirth? “Muscle pain and heat go well together. When there is heat, the blood vessels in your muscles open,” says pain expert Maarten Mensink. This in turn ensures better blood circulation and the removal of waste. “From that perspective, it can also help with childbirth. Everything tightens up, they are really huge muscle cramps. If you then offer that heat, it can reduce the cramps and pain.”
–
–
However, the water must be very clean, otherwise complications can arise. “Think of an inflamed uterus or an open vagina,” says Mensink. Warm water can also help with other types of muscle pain, especially when it comes to superficial muscles. That can even be a lot of fun. “Swimming in a tropical swimming paradise can help. Then you combine warm water and stimulate a pump function so that your blood circulation goes even faster.”
–
–
‘A temporary solution’
A warm bath is also a good way to relax. That also affects pain. “If something makes you incredibly happy, such as surrounding yourself with warm water, it has a positive effect on pain,” continues the pain expert. Although we should not see a warm bath as the holy grail when we are in pain. “For muscle aches or cramps, a warm bath can help, but in other cases it’s just a temporary solution.”
–
–
