Yeah, cause… you know… that’s why labor starts. The kid can’t hold his breath any longer in that *big sack of water* he’s been living in… so labor kicks in and as soon as he’s out he’ll just breath in whatever is around.

There’s this great thing that babies have inutero to keep them from drowning in amniotic fluid. It’s called an “umbilical cord”. It’s quite miraculous. Perhaps you’ve heard of it.

It would be nice if these folks had at least read an article… Just one 5-page paper on the subject?

But the ignorance on this doesn’t surprise me. Among the general population (assuming US), how many babies are actually born in water? HB is around 1%, of which a fair number, but probably not even the majority (?) are born in water. Some hospitals allow waterbirth or water labor and “accidental” waterbirth.

So what’s the total? Maybe 1% at most? 0.5%? Less?

Um, okay doctor… Perhaps you should do your research before you open your mouth. Let me help you out here:

For those of you wondering about water births and what prevents babies from breathing underwater:

There are four main factors that prevent the baby from inhaling water at the time of birth:

1. Prostaglandin E2 levels from the placenta which cause a slowing down or stopping of the fetal breathing movements. When the baby is born and the Prostaglandin level is still high, the baby’s muscles for breathing simply don’t work, thus engaging the first inhibitory response.

2. Babies are born experiencing mild hypoxia or lack of oxygen. Hypoxia causes apnea and swallowing, not breathing or gasping.

3. Water is a hypotonic solution and lung fluids present in the fetus are hypertonic. So, even if water were to travel in past the larynx, they could not pass into the lungs based on the fact that hypertonic solutions are denser and prevent hypotonic solutions from merging or coming into their presence.

4. The last important inhibitory factor is the Dive Reflex and revolves around the larynx. The larynx is covered all over with chemoreceptors or taste buds. The larynx has five times as many taste buds as the whole surface of the tongue. So, when a solution hits the back of the throat, passing the larynx, the taste buds interpret what substance it is and the glottis automatically closes and the solution is then swallowed, not inhaled.

I’m planning a water birth and I’ve heard this from so many people! (No healthcare professionals, though.) I never understand it. What do they think baby has been doing for 9 months? And do they really think there is some sort of barrier alarm that says “out of the vagina, take a breath”? I really am baffled by it. My mother asked me, and I asked her if she thought my baby was going to try to breathe while still in my vagina. She gave me such a look and said “you don’t have to be sarcastic.” I’m really just at a loss.

This guy’s not delivering your baby, right OP? *shudder*

Um, perhaps I can provide you with some reading material Doc? Because I think you may have missed the part where babies grow in a fluid filled sack and “breath” it in and out regularly for practice. And if you don’t cut the cord, the baby is still getting oxygen.

Golly, I’ve been present at the births of a LOT of zombies, including my own son!

i am considering a water birth for my upcoming baby. my midwife recommended it and said thats mostly what they use for pain relief instead of drugs. so there is no danger of the baby being in the water a few minutes? would anyone like to post links that would be helpful for me? i am just starting to learn about water birth. thanks!

So I totally understand why my sixteen year old babysitter asked me how a baby born in water doesn’t drown.
But a doctor?

Wow. When my son was 2 he was at the waterbirth of my youngest son and he grasped the concept of the baby not needing to breathe immediately because of the umbillical cord.

In fact I didn’t even get in the pool much til I was ready to push. I spent most of my labour shopping, eating and sleeping. And spent transition walking round and round in a circle in my mum’s little spare bedroom. When she walked in and found me doing that she said “maybe its time you got in the pool”… Who knew zombie babies were so cute!

To be fair, some babies are brought straight to the ER and placed in NICU because they have been born under water and breathed it in and aspirated the water.

If you don’t want the baby to inhale water, don’t cut the cord the instant the baby has emerged. There is no “Wow, my face has passed through a vaginal (or artificial abdominal) opening, I must gasp for air” reflex in the human body. The umbilicus is a conduit not just for nourishment, but for oxygen. Just like it is for forty or so weeks of in-utero development on the part of the baby.

Sheesh.

I’m so tired of seeing this old canard. It goes with doctors who want to say, “I’m so friendly and crunchy, I’ll let you do what you want! Until I walk in the door to ‘deliver’ your baby, that is.” So waterbirth, squatting or getting on all fours to push, freedom of movement, etc are okay, so long as the doctor isn’t there to see it. Vaginal birth of a ten pounder: “Look how open minded I am, I let you birth vaginally!” (We would have done that anyway, Doctor.) Food and drink: “Other doctors still follow the ‘nothing by mouth’ dictum, but I’ll let you have whatever you want, so long as you keep it light. Lemonade, broth, Jello, maybe yoghurt or a smoothie if it’s early – but nothing too heavy, you’ll probably vomit it up anyway, and there’s always a chance you’ll need a c-section, and you’ll aspirate your own vomit on the operating table. Speaking of which, I don’t force my patients to have IV’s, but you will need a hep lock…” (SIGH)

thanks telula!!

Oh, the stupidity! It hurts, it hurts!

Upon reading just the title, I knew it had to be about water birth. I hear it alot too. because thats my chosen method for birthing my future child. I read alot, can never read enough!! It makes me sad though, commin from a Doc…