" I love the water and spent all my time at the beach growing up, " recalls mother Ronnie. Ronnie learned about waterbirth many years ago, and when she first became pregnant with Allegra, she immediately began to search for a medical group and hospital that would allow her to give birth in the water.

Modern waterbirthing has been around for decades. Today, although it is hardly commonplace, waterbirth has become an increasingly popular birthing alternative for women who want to experience a less invasive, calmer, and more soothing labor and childbirth.

The benefits of waterbirth are many. For women, the water is relaxing and promotes labor and eases pain. As a woman’s anxiety is reduced, she is able to focus on the process of childbirth, and there is less need for pain medication. Also, less trauma for the mother results in less trauma to the baby, who is born into an environment more closely resembling his mother’s uterus. The baby receives oxygen from the placenta and umbilical cord until he is lifted up and handed to his mother.

Although Ronnie had never met anyone who had given birth in the water, she felt sure that it was something she wanted to try: " It was my instinct that it would be the best thing for me, " she says.

Ronnie studied hypnobirthing – a self-relaxation technique – in order to prepare for a drug-free labor and notified her midwife and Deaconess-Waltham Hospital of her desire to have a waterbirth.

Nevertheless, late in her pregnancy, Ronnie had to be induced because of low amniotic fluid. Ronnie’s desire for a waterbirth prevailed, and once her labor was underway, she was taken off the medication and was able to go into the tub for three hours of active labor, followed by Allegra’s birth.

" I had always been fearful of giving birth, " recalls Ronnie, but – during the waterbirth – " I wasn’t afraid at all . . . It seemed more natural and comfortable to me. Very quiet. "

Ronnie also enjoyed sharing the experience with her husband, Paul.

" My husband thought it was great. He was behind anything that would make me more comfortable . . . [and] he loved that he got to be in the tub the whole time. "

Most importantly, Ronnie loved the experience for Allegra. Ronnie recalls that the water was very clean, and that Allegra did not have to be suctioned after the birth. Instead, Ronnie held her and poured warm water on her to keep her warm. It was " a very gentle birth for her, " adds Ronnie.

Midwife Shannon Brophy believes that it is important for women to take a relaxed attitude toward formulating a waterbirthing plan. Brophy attended homebirths – including many waterbirths – in the Greater Boston area for twelve years.

Brophy points out that a waterbirth does not have to be all or nothing.

" Some women might want to just labor in water and not birth in water, " she says. Also, a woman does not need to spend all of her time in the water. She can walk around until the more active part of labor. She can choose to be in the tub on her own, or she can invite her partner, family member, or friend to join her.

" A woman can tap into her own intuition as to what will work at the time, " Brophy adds.

Brophy considers waterbirth absolutely safe. Midwives rely on less invasive monitoring, primarily using an underwater Doppler to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Monitoring is not really an issue, says Brophy, because " people planning a waterbirth tend to want a low intervention birth. "

Waterbirth is also safe because, as Brophy points out, a woman can change her mind at any time. If there are any " red flags " indicating a potential problem during the labor, a woman can simply switch to a regular birth.

Brophy considers waterbirth a beautiful and natural way to give birth. " I think it’s a safe thing to do and a nice thing to do, " she adds.

Many waterbirths take place in freestanding birth centers that are a cross between home and hospital. These centers are usually staffed by nurse midwives and are often affiliated with a nearby hospital. Such centers encourage and accommodate a woman’s desire to give birth underwater.

The North Shore Birth Center in Beverly recently began to offer women the option of waterbirth. Linda Anne L’Abbe, a certified nurse midwife and the director at the center, is excited by women’s interest in waterbirth and by the aqua doula tub that her center offers these women.

The aqua doula tub is a small pool designed specifically for waterbirth. The water is deeper than in a whirlpool or regular tub, and so " there’s more buoyancy and relaxation, " says L’Abbe.

" It’s incredibly different to watch someone in labor in the aqua doula tub, " she adds. " The volume of water envelops the woman. "

How does a woman plan a waterbirth at North Shore? Women must go the center for all of their prenatal care. The center has a waterbirth protocol, which means they have a specific set of guidelines determining who is safely eligible to have a waterbirth. Sometimes, women are allowed to labor in the water, but not deliver.

Births are monitored through the use of a Doppler. The center does not allow medication, nor do the midwives use a fetal monitor during labor, because they believe that any woman who needs continuous monitoring should be in the hospital.

L’Abbe is excited about all that waterbirth offers women. " Women love the weightlessness and the relaxation " of the water and the sense of calm and quiet that it offers them. L’Abbe hopes that there will be a trend toward more women experiencing the joy of waterbirth, but acknowledges that " you’ll see it more with midwifery care than with physicians. It’s more hands off. "

Ronnie Schejtman still has not met anyone else who has given birth in the water. She hopes that, as more women discover this birthing alternative, they will be willing to try it.

" Go in open minded, " encourages Ronnie. " Go in the tub. See if you can stay in. You can always get out. Why not just stay in and see how it goes. "

As for Ronnie, if and when she becomes pregnant again, she is determined to again give birth in the water. Deaconess-Waltham recently closed its obstetrics unit but, says Ronnie, " I will definitely travel to a place that will allow me to have a waterbirth. "

Excellent Web sites:

http://www.waterbirth.org/

http://www.birthbalance.com/

http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/

A few of the facilities that allow and support waterbirth:

The Birthplace at Wellesley, Wellesley, MA

North Shore Birth Center, Beverly, MA

The Cambridge Birth Center, Cambridge, MA

Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, Melrose, MA

Catherine Piela is a freelance writer living in Marblehead.