Water Births
Women who choose to deliver while immersed in warm water often celebrate the experience as a gentle way to bring a baby into the world – and one that may reduce the pain and duration of labor.
If you are seeking a water birth, look no further than Hudson Valley Hospital Center. We believe in helping women have the birth experience they want – whether in a bed or in a tub.
We are one of the few hospitals in the state to allow water births. And, because our labor and delivery suite is the only one in the area that boasts a whirlpool tub in each of its five LDR rooms, no woman has to worry about whether a tub will be available when she goes into labor or is ready to deliver.
For women opting for natural childbirth, warm water can be a wonderful relaxant and ease tensions that can interfere with labor. The tubs are designed so that women can try different positions during labor, and the whirlpool jets can be turned on as needed to hit pressure points. In fact, some studies have shown that mothers who choose a water birth request fewer painkillers than those who don’t.
Practitioners doing water deliveries at Hudson Valley will regularly monitor mother and baby during labor and, if needed, can quickly help a woman out of the tub. Certain conditions, such as a breech presentation, an unusually large baby or signs of distress, would rule out a water delivery.
But water deliveries are an option for many women and require no special, advance preparation. With the practitioner leaning into the tub, the baby is delivered underwater and brought to the surface for their first breath. They are placed on their mother, and mother and baby can linger in the warm tub afterwards.
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Hudson Valley Hospital Center is accredited by the Joint Commission, a national organization that sets high standards for patient care and safety. PUBLIC NOTICE: The Joint Commission conducts accreditation surveys of all hospitals. The purpose of this survey is to evaluate the organization's compliance with nationally established Joint Commission standards. The survey results are used to determine whether, and the conditions under which, accreditation should be awarded the organization. Joint Commission standards deal with organization quality and safety-of-care issues and the safety of the environment in which care is provided. Anyone believing that he or she has pertinent and valid information about such matters should contact hospital administration. If these concerns are not resolved by the hospital, you may request a public information interview with the Joint Commission's field representatives at the time of the survey. Information presented at the interview will be carefully evaluated for relevance to the accreditation process. Requests for a public information interview must be made in writing and should be sent to the Joint Commission. The request must also indicate the nature of the information to be provided at the interview. Such requests should be addressed to: Division of Accreditation Operations, Office of Quality Monitoring, Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 or faxed to (630) 792-5636 or emailed to
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. The Joint Commission's Office of Quality Monitoring will acknowledge requests in writing or by telephone. An Account Representative will contact the individual requesting the public information interview, indicating the location, date, and time of the interview and the name of the surveyor who will conduct the interview. This notice is posted in accordance with the Joint Commission's requirements and may not be removed.