Which specialist performs water birth?

The midwife monitors you and your baby, helps you use the pool safely, and supports position changes, breathing, and pushing. The maternity team checks temperature, hydration, fetal wellbeing, and labour progress according to local practice. Water birth may not be suitable if complications arise, monitoring is concerning, or the pool cannot provide the required level of care.

Discuss your birth preferences during antenatal visits and ask whether your chosen facility has a birth pool and trained staff. Review situations that would require leaving the water, such as heavy bleeding, abnormal fetal monitoring, or a need for urgent treatment. Pack practical items for changing after birth and make sure your support person understands the plan.

Call your maternity unit for heavy bleeding, reduced fetal movement, severe or constant abdominal pain, fever, or waters that are green or heavily blood-stained. During labour, tell the midwife immediately about dizziness, breathlessness, feeling faint, or a sudden change in pain. The team may ask you to leave the pool so they can assess or treat you safely.

Am I a suitable candidate based on my pregnancy and medical history? Who will be present in the pool room? What monitoring is available, and what circumstances would change the birth plan?