Labouring in water is beneficial to a woman in many ways. The buoyancy provided by the water gives much greater freedom of movement and the warmth provides relaxation for hard-working muscles. Universally women who give birth in water say that they are highly likely to choose water for future births.

Both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives support women labouring in water.

According to recent studies women who laboured in water:

• Are less likely to need their labours augmenting with drugs.
• Are more likely to cope without pharmaceutical pain relief.
• Are likely to sustain less perennial trauma.

More information about water birth can be found at: HomeBirth

One common misconception is that some babies will try to breathe immediately after birth and therefore are at risk of drowning if born in water. To read Paul Johnson's comprehensive explanation (first published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) of why this does not happen click here. Birth under water – to breathe or not to breathe.

Nicky and Mandy are fully trained and experienced in water birth, this is not the case with all midwives some of whom are not trained in water birth and may ask you to leave the water to actually give birth. We have a professional, portable, birthing pool (seen in the pictures on this page) and provide individual liners for each client.