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• March 7, 2013 2:39 p.m.

  Attention anyone who is using a jetted bathtub. You must use a cleaner like Oh Yuk to thoroughly clean the jetted tubs plumbing lines. The tubs have about 15-20 feet of plumbing lines that are full of warm stagnant water. The lines are full of biofilm that contains mold and bacteria. Bleach, vinegar, disinfectants etc., will not clean the crud from the plumbing lines. If a cleaner like Oh Yuk is used, the tub should have the same low bacteria levels as the source/tap water because the plumbing lines will be nice and clean. If you doubt this, check studies by the University of Bozeman's Center For Biofilm Engineering and how regular cleaners like sodium hypochlorite (bleach) will not remover biofilm. Or check Texas A & M's study on jetted tubs and bacteria. Again, if cleaned properly you should be safe.

  - Bill

• March 4, 2013 5:27 p.m.

  Emmie, thank you for sharing. I don't expect everyone to agree with everything on the blog. Part of its' purpose is to stimulate discussion and hear all points of view.

  - Mary@Mayo

• February 26, 2013 7:48 p.m.

  You talk about the dive reflex yet, the dive reflex only happens in cold water. If warm water is used to provide pain relief, how can this reflex prevent a baby from drowning (at least you acknowledge it is possible they drown) but, you still seem to imply the dive reflex normally prevents this. You talk about how easily feces can be scooped out of the water with a fish net but, say nothing of the fact that you cannot possibly scoop out all the dangerous micro-organisms that come with it resulting in an unsanitary environment that could transmit infection. In one of your comments to another reader you say that you think some day the Mayo will allow women to birth in water. All this adds up to what I would call a “soft” endorsement. Healthcare providers who don’t take a hard line against pseudo-scientific “treatments” are failing in their responsibility to patients and giving these patients a false sense of security that unproven or even dangerous practices are medically advised. You should be more upfront about telling women that there is no scientific evidence to support the benefit of birthing a child in water (over simply laboring in water) and there is scientific evidence of the harm it can cause—In fact the American Academy of Pediatrics has come out with a report opposed to it. I expect to see this nonsense from questionable celebri-docs on TV but, not from a reputable institution like the Mayo Clinic. I am dissapointed.

  - Emmie

• February 21, 2013 9:28 a.m.

  Emmie, I think you may have misunderstood me. I did not advocate water birth, I advocated that women who were interested in water birth or immersion during labor learn as much as they can about it and discuss it with their health care provider. There may not be enough scientific research to say absolutely that water birth is safe or not safe. I think the most important thing to remember is that water birth happens and it happens often. Here at Mayo, we do not currently do water birth. We do water immersion for labor and have guidelines to help determine who can be in a tub and who cannot. I would ask you to re-read my blog with these things in mind.

  - Mary@Mayo

• February 19, 2013 10:15 p.m.

  Water birth is not safe. It can transmit infections to the baby (from feces in the water etc...) and babies can and have drowned in water births. Why is it that even the Mayo Clinic itself doesn't allow women to deliver in water? Could it be that it is unsafe and would be a liability for the hospital to engage in a practice that is new age, experimental and not supported by scientific evidence? I'm disgusted. I really thought I could trust the Mayo Clinic website to give sound medical advice. I feel sick that this "professional" is posting her dangerous opinions for patients to read. Good luck with your marketing efforts to attract women to your hospital with your support of unsound alternative ”medicine”.

  - Emmie

• May 2, 2012 4:57 a.m.

  In my opinion the MOA lotioacn should be targeted at three things:1. Convenience if it's a simple test that could be done there instead of in Rochester, offer it. Follow-up with Rochester Dr's. via telemedicine. etcetera.2. Getting the younger demographic involved this lotioacn should be highly attractive to young people (who frequent MOA). Getting teens, and even children, to start taking ownership of their health is crucial. The earlier the better. Some parents don't know how to coach their children towards a healthy lifestyle. The Clinic has the tools to help with that.3. Issues that impact a large portion of the population obesity, smoking cessation, etc. I love the idea of nutritional information on the various eateries within the mall to help consumers make educated choices while shopping. Having walking routes mapped would also be helpful. Readily available help for smoking cessation would be great as well. A lot of people don't want to make an appointment just to go in for help in this area. Having it available on a walk-in basis may make it easier for people to kick the habit especially the younger smokers.Best wishes as you embark on this new endeavor!!

  - Marah

• February 23, 2012 3:11 a.m.

  I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl at puget sound birth center at 18. I chose to to have a water birth and it turned out to be the easiest most wonderful experience ever. I had a TENSE unit on my back to numb the pain without any need of medicine as I waited through out the first half of the day. Finally in the tub nothing strapped to me and no medicine at all- I let my body float relaxed in the warm jacuzzi tub- the warm water cradling my very heavy belly and after 8 quick minutes after my water broke -inside the tub- my beautiful baby girl was out and I had no tearing. At all! I got to avoid the needles and extreme pain of birth and still had a natural birth! :] I am now expecting a handsome son within the next few weeks and I will definitely be having another water birth. Hospital births in the uncomfortable bed are just not my ideal way to welcome such a joyful moment. I now think of the wonderful first moment of meeting my child (and not any traumatizing or painful memories) thanks to the waterbirth.

  - Gisell

• February 9, 2012 8:20 p.m.

  I came across this site tonight in my search for 'Mayo and labor tubs'. I am having my 8th child, my 5th to be born with the wonderful midwives at Mayo Clinic. Mary delivered my fourth and fifth children. I am incredibly excited about the chance of laboring in the tub..and the possibility of delivering in the tub (if the higher-ups can be convinced of it's safety before it's my turn to deliver in Sept!) I had my first mw appt today. I'm so thankful for the midwife care at Mayo!

  - Andrea

• August 30, 2011 6:59 a.m.

  i called yesterday after reading about the clinical review topic (' waterbirth imodern obstetricc") in the flyer sent out for the meeting in Nov. We have been doing water births here since 1996- close to 500 now- and every few years a new opponent rears its head. Currently it was a peds nurse from u of iowa, reviewing charts at our hospital. But most questions are raised by peds who have no idea how they are done. We have had no bad outcomes to date, and i am committed to continue as long as im in practice. We are compiling out data for iowa city's return visit in november, and hoped if you were doing waterbirths, they would back off a little. The comments posted about the difference in experiences are typical of our ladies- some of whom have had 3 births in our tubs. thanks for keeping this option in the forefront

  - kathe lehman CNM

• April 29, 2011 11:14 a.m.

  Eve, you were given misinformation about the midwives at Mayo. We do care for women in labor and do the deliveries as well as post partum care and follow-up. I will be speaking with others in the department so this won't happen again. It is true we do not do water birth. I believe there will come a time when we do but not any time soon. Since we started doing labor immersion we have had very positive response from the women using the tubs. They have been willing to move from the tub for the birth. It may seem a little disconnected to have to do the moving for the birth, but right now it is working for the women and that is the most important consideration. If you thought it would help you, I would be glad to talk with you.

  - Mary @ Mayo

• April 28, 2011 11:58 p.m.

  I toured your birth center after it was built, and they told me that you still do not do water births. You may sit in it to labor, but no birthing. Seems like a waste. I asked for a midwife, they told me they do not do births. I am will be driving to the twin cities for my next birth where they have many more options!

  - Eve

• April 25, 2011 12:47 p.m.

  Eve, I'm very sorry to hear you had such a difficult experience. The old Labor and Delivery unit did not have any opotions for water immersion during labor. I can only imagine how disappointing it would be to think if you had been due a month later you would have had different options. I did want to let you know that there is a nurse-midwife service for low risk pregnancy here at Mayo. The midwife patients are followed throughout their pregnancy, labor, birth and post partum. I'm sorry you didn't know about us before now.

  - Mary @ Mayo

• April 24, 2011 11:40 p.m.

  What amazes me is that this post is here...Mayo Clinic, just built a new birth center after I had my daughter in September of 2010, boasting hydrotherapy, however they do not let you birth in tubs...in fact your options are very low and mayo clinic...I would never have another child there again. They boast all these articles about natural methods, water, midwives...there are no midwives during deliver only students, residents and there attending. The doctor actually told me at 40 weeks during a triage check when I was obviously in labor, the only way he would admit me is if I took an epidural and pitocin, oh and if I was looking for a natural birth I was in the wrong place! The stopped my labor at 40 weeks...needless to say like I said before, never again at Mayo!

  - Eve

• April 22, 2011 1:09 p.m.

  I chose to have a hospital waterbirth for my second child, and would highly recommend it. While there are some clinical situations that prohibit waterbirth in the hospital setting, and they will vary by institution, finding a waterbirth-friendly location is well worth the effort in the event you choose to try it. I arrived at the hospital in active labor and after my first exam revealed I was 9 cm dilated, the midwife broke my water to check for the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid. It was negative and I got into the warm, calming, soothing physical therapy-type freestanding tub. With the assistance of my midwife, my child was born gently and calmly after only 3 pushes, and I needed no stitches, a dramatic difference from my first birth. My recovery time was practically non-existent, and my midwives remarked how I made their jobs seem too easy. Ask around, do your research, and if you are interested in trying waterbirth, put in the effort to find a provider and facility that will support you. They may be hard to find, but it is well worth it!

  - Jayme

• April 7, 2011 6:55 a.m.

  I had a water birth 24 years ago and it was the most amazing experience of my entire life. I had never even heard of it, but was inwardly lead to it. I found a midwife that supported it, bought a cattle trough, put it in my dining room, hooked a garden hose to my washing machine for warm water, and settled into a life-changing experience on a warm, drizzly day while my husband cooked a big pot of spaghetti in the kitchen. While I wouldn't call labor easy, there was a marked difference between the pressure I felt when in the tub vs. outside of the tub. And the comfort of being at home, with familiar sounds and smells, surrounded by people who love me, was icing on the cake! My baby was so relaxed that her palms were open and she didn't even cry for several minutes...she just emerged.

  - Sherry

• February 17, 2011 12:31 p.m.

  There are a bunch of number crunchers in the UK that look at studies about all kinds of health care treatments. They throw out the studies that aren't well done, and they try to get a bunch of similar studies together so they can compare the numbers -- because a study with large numbers of people is more trustworthy than one with a smaller number. They put out a book called "Guide to Effective Care in Childbirth," and that book mentions water birth. The version I have is quite old now, but it says they didn't have enough information yet to recommend waterbirth or to discourage it. (Their standards of proof are pretty high!)They did recommend that waterbirth babies be brought to the surface right after they're born, and that the water temperature be kept in a certain range because it can be harmful it it's too warm. They also said that a vast majority of mothers who have experienced water birth would want to give birth like that again. I've had 2 water births and hope to have another!

  - Elizabeth

• February 10, 2011 10:35 p.m.

  I have given birth twice, my second child was almost born in water. I say almost because I had so many bowel movements during my time in the tub that eventually I had to climb out in order for the water to be replaced (right at the beginning of second stage labour, too)! Having said that though, I spent a great deal of time in the water as I was dilating and it was so lovely to be supported by the water, which was also warm enough that it relieved some of the intense pressure in my pelvis & lower back during contractions. I also had no need for stitches at all, since the water helped to soften my perineal area - recovery was very quick post-birth (compared to my first, where I was hobbling around painfully for a couple of weeks)! I am pregnant with my third baby, and am definitely going for a water birth again, when the time comes. If you have the option, do it!

  - Anahita

• January 20, 2011 1:35 p.m.

  My partner is originally from England where the mother of his first child gave birth in water. He said it was amazing that his daughter came out with the natural instinct to swim. He's quite disappointed that water birth is not an option anywhere near us here in the U.S.

  - Rachelle

• November 30, 2010 12:46 p.m.

  I have birthed three babies on dry land (in bed), and had one water birth. HANDS DOWN, the water birth was the easiest, despite the fact that it was my longest labor. I have done the research and know the statistics associated with the benefits of water during labor...but even the statistics don't do it justice. It is heaven in a tub :) I'm also a doula and HIGHLY recommend hydrotherapy to all my laboring clients!

  - Sonia

• November 30, 2010 10:05 a.m.

  Interesting post! I had no idea that pediatricians or family med docs might end up being the barrier to my ability to birth in the water. And you mention the possibility of baby drowning (or nearly drowning). How often does this happen? That seems scary, but are there concrete examples or statistics to help us understand what the ACTUAL risk of that happening is?

  - Sue