Hydrotherapy & Water Birth

About Hydrotherapy and Water Birthing

All of the labor and birth rooms at Mount Auburn Hospital have options for hydrotherapy, either with a tub or a handicap accessible shower. We have tubs available in six of our eight delivery rooms.

Explore the benefits of warm water immersion hydrotherapy during labor and delivery at Mount Auburn Hospital.

Benefits of Hydrotherapy During Labor

You may labor in water even if you don’t intend to or can’t deliver in the water. All our birth care providers offer this option. According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, laboring in a birthing pool has several benefits:

• May resolve unusually slow labor
• May speed up cervical dilation
• Provides comfort
• Relieves pain
• Supports relaxation  

Can I Have a Water Birth Delivery?

At Mount Auburn Hospital, our certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) have the expertise to help you decide whether water birth is a safe option for you and your baby. You may be a candidate for a water birth if you have a low-risk, full-term pregnancy with a single baby.

How to Prepare for a Water Birth

If you and your birth care provider decide a water birth may fit into your birth plan, you can prepare by:

• Discussing any complications that arise during your pregnancy with your prenatal care provider
• Preparing for an unmediated birth by attending a childbirth education class such as Natural Childbirth or HypnoBirthing
• Staying healthy by eating well and getting recommended physical activity