A Healing Hospital Water Birth Experience
From Trauma to Triumph
My second birth, a quick, redemptive hospital water birth was the healing experience I didn’t even know my heart needed.
I’m Beth Connors, a midwife, mom of three girls, and your birth bestie.
After a first birth that left me feeling overwhelmed, pressured, and unheard, my goal for baby number two was simple but powerful. I wanted a birth that reflected my values, honored my intuition, and protected my sense of autonomy.
And with intention, preparation, and the right support, that’s exactly what happened.
My Journey to a Healing Hospital Water Birth
If you tuned in to Episode 2 of Your Birth Bestie podcast, you heard the full story of my first birth. It was a whirlwind of interventions, rushed decisions, and lack of consent that left me feeling powerless. It was a traumatic birth in every sense of the word, and it shaped the midwife I eventually became.
Once I learned the evidence, the rights parents have, and the power of true informed choice, I realized just how differently things could have gone. So when I became pregnant with my second baby, I knew exactly what I wanted:
🩵 A provider who respected my boundaries
🩵 A birth plan built around my values
🩵 A peaceful environment
🩵 A supportive team
🩵 And the tools to advocate for myself confidently
I was ready to create a different story. And I did.
Preparing for My Healing Hospital Water Birth Experience
This time, I was supported by a compassionate group of midwives who honored my preferences from the very beginning.
At 40 weeks and 2 days, I went in for a check while gently contracting and feeling pressure. Just like in my first pregnancy, I was already six to seven centimeters dilated without active labor contractions.
But here’s where everything changed.
Instead of immediately whisking me to labor and delivery, I was given options.
I was given time.
I was given autonomy.
That single moment set the tone for the entire birth.
I chose another membrane sweep, went home for a bit, and later opted for an elective induction on my own terms. And because I had been accepted into a hospital’s water birth study, I was able to use the birth tub, which was a relief!
My Hospital Water Birth
Fast, Intense, and Fully Empowering
When the induction began, my midwife broke my water at my request (Note: this was a few years ago... looking back, I would have changed this part of my birth and been more patient!). Just like the first time, contractions intensified immediately. But this time? I was ready.
I moved.
I breathed.
I followed my instincts.
I labored standing up until the pressure became so powerful that I knew it was time to get into the tub.
The water gave me:
Space to move freely
Relief from the overpowering intensity
A sense of control I had longed for
Within minutes, I felt the unmistakable urge to push.
A few strong, instinctive pushes later, my daughter was born at 5:45 p.m. Just 45 minutes after my induction began! The speed was surprising, but being surrounded by my midwife, my husband, and a trusted friend made the entire moment feel extremely healing.
Immediate Skin-to-Skin
The Bonding Moment I Was Denied the First Time
During my first birth, I didn’t see my baby for over an hour. That memory has always stayed with me.
So this time, I knew what mattered most.
The moment she emerged from the water, my daughter was placed directly onto my chest. I held her for two uninterrupted hours; my golden hour, finally redeemed! We stayed together and I soaked in every tiny newborn detail.
That moment healed layers of my first birth that I hadn’t even realized were still tender.
Want to hear more about my second hospital birth story?
In Episode 4 of my podcast, I talk about my second birth experience and how it reframed everything I believed about hospital birth.
Creating an Empowering Hospital Water Birth
Here are the principles that made the biggest difference.
Ones you can carry into your own birth, too!
1. Advocate for Yourself and Make Informed Choices
Your rights matter.
Your consent matters.
Your comfort matters.
Ask questions. Understand the “why” behind each intervention. Make decisions that align with your values, not someone else’s timeline.
2. Protect Your Birth Space
Birth is sensitive to environment.
Calm surroundings → calm body → smoother labor.
Consider:
Soft lighting
A small, trusted support team
Comfort items
Music that grounds you
Your birth space should feel safe and sacred.
3. Embrace the Unpredictable
Birth can shift quickly. Plans may change.
That doesn’t mean you’re losing control, it means you’re adapting.
Flexibility allows you to stay emotionally steady, even when the pace or sensations become intense.
4. Explore the Benefits of Water Birth
If a hospital water birth is available to you, it’s worth exploring. The benefits are remarkable:
Pain relief through warm water
Improved mobility thanks to buoyancy
Decreased tearing risk
Smoother transition for baby
Powerful sense of calm and control
Every hospital has different policies, so ask early about your options.
Healing Through Empowerment
My second birth was more than just a different experience.
It was a restorative one.
It showed me how birth can unfold when autonomy is honored, when support is compassionate, and when preparation meets confidence.
Next Steps!
If you’re planning a hospital birth and want to feel informed, grounded, and empowered, I would love to support you.
My Fearless Birth Academy Online Birth Education Course teaches everything from pain management to advocacy to navigating hospital policies with confidence. It goes way deeper than labor positions and what to pack in your hospital bag!
Let’s create a birth experience that feels healing, empowering, and completely your own.
What part of a hospital water birth are you most curious, or excited, about?
