As a midwife who advocates for and attends many water births I am coming to some realizations as of late regarding birth place and birth position. While I provide birthing tubs for all my clients, I no longer am as active at encouraging moms to get into the tub. When I began attending water births I was very diligent about helping moms who wished to birth in water to get into the tub for the birth, even if they did not seem to need the water. I thought I was just respecting their wishes. Recently however I feel that it is still important to offer or remind a mom that she wanted to use the tub, I am more inclined to support the place/postion mom is finding on her own.
When women are truly supported throughout their pregnancy and birth and are in a physically and emotionally safe place for the birth they almost always find their way. This is not the way that may be described in any book or video but the way that feels innately "right" for her. This year I have seen a mom who really wanted a water birth literally throw herself out of the tub right before pushing her baby out because she needed to feel "grounded". I have also seen a woman throw herself in the tub right as she started crowning, because that is what felt "right" for her. It is so exciting to see women following their deep wisdom to find the best place to give birth to their babies.
I continue to be a very strong supporter of water during labor and birth, but am finding I am an even stronger supporter of supporting women in order for them to find their own strength and their own path to their perfect birth.
Anyway, just something that has been bouncing around in my head this week.