Bengaluru: With the push towards vaginal deliveries to avoid unnecessary C-sections (caesarean sections), pregnant women in Bengaluru are increasingly exploring natural birthing options. One such method gaining popularity is water birth, with several hospitals setting up dedicated centres over the past two years.Recently, a 42-year-old woman, who had her first child 11 years ago, delivered her second baby in water at a private hospital in the city. Her labour lasted just four hours. Doctors say when offered the option, many women readily agree, largely due to its ability to reduce pain — something they attribute to rising awareness.“I think people are becoming more aware of this method of delivery of late — maybe through online information or media reports. There’s a lot of visibility now, with people sharing their experiences, and that makes it more relatable. People are realising that these options are available in India as well,” said Dr Sireesha Reddy, senior consultant – obstetrician & gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Hebbal.“Some women who have had normal deliveries earlier try water birth later and describe it as magical. First-time mothers also opt for it and go through the experience with a lot of determination. I remember one woman who had a 30-hour labour journey using natural methods. Her endurance was incredible, and when she finally delivered in water, she was completely elated,” she added.Sneha Shah, consultant women physiotherapist and water birth practitioner at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, said: “I would say water itself has been a very effective tool for coping with labour pain. When a woman enters the water, the buoyancy makes her feel lighter — there is a sense of reduced heaviness, and she is able to move more freely. We usually maintain the water temperature at around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lukewarm and very calming.“She added water births also minimise the need for interventions. “When the woman is inside the water, surgical incision like episiotomy are generally avoided. The water also supports the perineum (soft tissue at the bottom of pelvis), which helps prevent severe tears,” Sneha said.Not just private facilities, the National Midwifery Training Institute (NMTI) at Vani Vilas Hospital has also been offering water births for the past six months. “Apart from the birthing process, it has also been used to alleviate pain in a labouring woman. However, we have not had too many women there yet as the awareness levels are low among the kind of patients we get,” said Dr Savitha C, medical superintendent.Dr Savitha added staff have begun creating awareness among patients. “Water birth is a non-pharmacological pain relief method and makes the birthing experience more soothing,” she said.Doctors caution that water birth is not advisable for women with high-risk pregnancies. “We also pay a lot of attention to water quality, especially given challenges in a city like Bengaluru. We use a specialised filtration system to ensure that the water is free from bacteria like E coli, and in many ways, the quality is even better than drinking water,” Sneha explained.Inset: What is water birth?Water birth is a method of childbirth where a woman labours, and sometimes delivers, in a pool of warm water. The warm water helps ease pain, relax the body and promote a more natural, low-intervention birthing experience.
