What to Expect During a Water Birth: Benefits and Considerations

Water birth brings together comfort, nature, and calm in a way that many families find deeply satisfying. Laboring and delivering in warm water offers a gentle alternative to a traditional hospital birth, and at The Birth Center of New Jersey in Union, New Jersey, our experienced midwives support you in creating the birth experience that feels right for you.

If you’re drawn to the idea of water birth, understanding what happens during the process and what makes it beneficial can help you decide if this approach aligns with your vision for bringing your baby into the world.

How water birth works

Water birth means you labor and deliver your baby while immersed in a warm birthing tub. The process is simple: You enter the tub when active labor begins and, as long as the water feels helpful to you, continue laboring and giving birth in this soothing, supportive environment.

You control how you use the water during your birth. Some women labor in the tub and move to land for delivery, while others stay in the water for both labor and birth. At The Birth Center of New Jersey, our midwives honor your choices and support you in using water in whatever way serves you best.

Why women choose water birth

Water birth offers several advantages that make labor more comfortable and help your body work with the birth process.

Water eases pain naturally

Warm water provides effective pain relief without medication. The warmth and pressure of the water ease the intensity of contractions, and many women find they need less or no medical pain management when laboring in water. Your body can relax more fully, which helps labor progress smoothly.

You move more freely

The buoyancy supports your body weight, making it easier to move and adjust your position during contractions. This freedom of movement helps you work with your body’s natural rhythms rather than against them. You can shift positions freely, finding what feels right as your labor progresses.

Your baby experiences a gentler transition

Your baby moves from the warm, fluid environment of the womb into warm water, creating a gentler entry into the world. This transition can make those first moments after birth peaceful for both of you.

Water birth reduces medical interventions

Water births naturally reduce the need for medical interventions during labor. The pain relief and relaxation water provides mean many women don’t require medications, and the natural progression of labor in water often eliminates the need for assistance during delivery.

Water birth safety and monitoring

Water births are safe for healthy, low-risk pregnancies when attended by trained professionals. Your midwife monitors you and your baby throughout labor, checking vital signs and fetal heart rate regularly, while respecting your space and preferences. The monitoring is attentive but unobtrusive, allowing you to stay focused on your birth experience.

Certain situations make water birth inadvisable, including:

• Complications during pregnancy
• Specific medical conditions that require closer monitoring
• Carrying multiples
• Preterm labor
• Certain infections

Your midwife discusses your health history and pregnancy with you to determine if water birth is safe for your situation.

What happens during your water birth

You enter the birthing tub when active labor begins and the warm water feels most helpful to you. The water stays at a comfortable temperature, between 97–100°F. You move and position yourself however feels right, using buoyancy to find relief during contractions.

Your midwife remains close by, providing continuous support and monitoring while respecting your space and preferences. When your baby arrives, they gently move from the womb into the warm water. 

Babies don't breathe underwater; they continue receiving oxygen through the umbilical cord until they rise to the surface. Your midwife guides your baby up through the water, and they take their first breath as they emerge.

You lift your baby to your chest immediately for skin-to-skin contact, just as you would with a land birth. Those first moments of bonding happen right there in the warm water, with your baby against your skin.

At The Birth Center of New Jersey, our birthing suites include specially designed tubs for water birth, and our midwives are experienced in supporting families through this gentle approach to delivery. 

We believe in empowering you to make informed choices about your birth, and we're here to answer your questions and address your concerns throughout your pregnancy. To learn more about water birth or discuss whether this option is right for you, call our office at 908-627-4455 today or book an appointment online.