Creating the perfect birth plan includes choosing your birth location and environment wisely. Finalizing the vision for a water birth comes with a lot of insight from your providers and support team. We created a list of safety precautions during a home water birth to offer our support for your plans.

Water Birth Pool Cleanliness

The cleanliness of the pool itself and the water are essential factors to consider before, during, and after engaging with the birth pool. The risk of infection is high at various points in labor, and a dirty pool liner or unclean water increases these risks tenfold. Consider the quality and care of the birth liner and water contents.

It’s best to invest in a brand-new liner that lays in the birth pool just before the water goes in. Ensure the water is clean and maintain that cleanliness throughout labor. A support team or overseeing provider can use a net to fish debris out of the pool to help along the way. And ensuring the hose and connections are new and clean can support the water’s integrity during filling.

Water Temperatures

An astounding benefit of water birth is increased relaxation. The warmth and nourishment of the water and its anti-gravitational effects help birthing parents focus on proper breathwork and power through contractions with ease. But if the temperature of the birth pool is off, these benefits become more challenging to achieve.

Water that’s too cool may eliminate relaxation efforts, whereas water that’s too warm can increase heart rates for both the parent and the baby. Invest in a birth pool thermometer to keep track of the water temperatures and ensure they stay at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.7 degrees Celsius.

In-Place Monitoring Measures

Monitoring measures are a significant safety precaution that all birthing parents must consider during a home water birth. This will often include a team of professionals and supportive individuals who lend a hand during the labor and delivery process.

It’s common to have a certified midwife overseeing prenatal care, and this same midwife will oversee the labor and delivery. These individuals are educated and trained to use monitoring devices on the birthing parent and the baby. If you’re not seeing a midwife, consider hiring one who can attend a home birth.

Exit Strategy Plans

Staying in the water may sound like your best plan, but there may come a time during labor when you need to exit the pool and go against the intended plan. It’s worth noting that you must remain flexible during the birth.

Work with your overseeing professional and support team to curate an exit strategy so that you and the baby are safe and the transitions are smooth if you need to exit.

Cascade Health Care carries a diverse collection of waterproof fetal dopplers to equip all medical professionals with appropriate monitoring devices. We’re the right partner for any midwife needing new equipment.