26/06/2026
As World Water 💧 Birth Week comes to a close, I wanted to share a little of my own birth story. 💛
When I was in labour with my second baby, I spent most of my labour using a TENS machine. It was helping, and I hadn’t planned on using the bath at all. In fact, I’m really not a bath person. I never have been.
But at one point in labour, something shifted. I remember instinctively turning to my doula and saying, “Can you fill up the bath for me?” It wasn’t something I’d planned or even really thought about. It was just this deep inner knowing that the water was where I needed to be.
So off came the TENS machine, and into the water I went.
The moment I sank into that warm water, I felt my whole body soften. The warmth wrapped around me, the buoyancy took the pressure off, and everything suddenly felt calmer and more manageable. My contractions didn’t disappear, but they felt easier to work with. I could move more freely, relax between surges, and simply be with my body.
Looking back, getting into the water was one of the most comforting and instinctive decisions I made during my labour.
One of the things I love most about birth is how often our bodies guide us if we’re given the space to listen. Sometimes it’s changing positions. Sometimes it’s making different sounds. And sometimes it’s simply knowing that the water is exactly where you need to be.
Whether you choose to birth in the water or simply use it as a comfort measure during labour, warm water can be such a beautiful tool. For many women, it provides a sense of calm, privacy and relief that can make all the difference.
Happy end of World Water Birth Week. Here’s to trusting our bodies, honouring our instincts, and remembering that is no one “right” way to birth—only
the way that feels right for you. 💙💦
Words by Moran Liviani
Video found on: Water Birth International
Midwife Lindsey Meehleis
