TRICKS OF THE TRADE.(midwifery tips on water births)

Two Waterbirth Suggestions

* How can we tell if the bag of water broke in the water? A ripple in the water from the vagina during contractions is a sure sign that the bag of water has broken. The stream coming out during contractions can be clear, white with vernix, and so forth. It's not at all hard to tell, but in waterbirths I see more intact bags anyway.

* Concerned about the water being "clean" for the birth? Has everyone showered before entering the water? For reentering the bath is there a towel or bucket of water to clean the feet before going back in the water?

The preceding two tricks were submitted by Marina Alzugaray CoMadres Institute …