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Presby Allen to offer hydrotherapy tub for labor pains
By Troy Brakefield, Staff Writer
For mothers-to-be, or mothers-to-be-again, the birth process can be a memorable experience, but also a painful one.
With that in mind, Presbyterian Hospital of Allen is looking to make the time leading up to the birth as comfortable as possible with a new option: a hydrotherapy tub.
In the next month, the hospital will complete its addition of a SaniJet hydrotherapy system, a large, pipeless tub that eliminates potential to produce infectious bacteria like in regular whirlpool tubs.
She said some local birthing centers had hydrotherapy tubs, but to her knowledge PHA was the hospital in the area to allow tubs to be brought in.
“We felt by offering this alternative pain management in the hospital, it gave people the comforts of home and the comforts of the hydrotherapy, but they could have the peace of mind knowing that they were in the hospital if an emergency should arise,” she said.
Nichols said the decision for the hospital to get a permanent tub of its own stemmed from two midwives who were on staff and also worked for a private agency.
“We found their patients were asking if we had this service available,” she said.
A recent patient, Lisa, said she had rented one of the tubs to use during labor while carrying her fourth son, Gabe.
“I heard that Allen was putting in a hydrotherapy tub through my midwife and thought they might have it ready by my due date,” she said.
Lisa said she could sit in the tub and move easily to find more comfortable positions due to the more weightless environment of the tub. Although she had her son a little more than a month ago, she is already home and taking care of her family. That’s something she wouldn’t have thought possible with her first two children, which she had with the aid of an epidural.
“I think for any woman wanting to have either a medication free or a partially medication free would learn it would be very beneficial,” Lisa said. “It takes the pressure off being 10 months pregnant.”
Nichols said the freedom of movement the tub allows helps promote relaxation, decrease pain and help with the progress of labor and one study showed it helped speed dilation. She also said patients prefer to have more choices when going through their labor.
“It gives them more control and let them participate in their care and have choices,” she said. She cautioned patients would still need to check with their insurance provider to make sure the therapy was covered as well as approved by their doctor.
The Family Birthplace at PHA focuses on a “baby-friendly” philosophy with mother and baby couplet care and single-room care in which the mother labors, delivers and stays in the same room during her stay. New mothers can decide how much time they want to spend with their newborn to promote early bonding, Nichols said.
The freedom of choices in her care is what Lisa said she appreciated during her stay.
“I think it’s important to give women as many options as possible,” Lisa said. “I think it’s unique that Allen is giving it as an option.”
For information about PHA and The Family Birthplace, visit www.phscare.org
Contact Troy Brakefield at tbrakefield@acnpapers.com
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