New waterbirth tub installed at Hudson Hospital Birth Center

• Birth Center manager Joanne Donhowe, left, and nurses with new waterbirth tub

Showing off the new waterbirth tub are, from left, Birth Center Manager Joanne Donhowe, left, Birth Center nursing staff Annette Plourde, Dorothy Schuweiler, Elizabeth Sullivan and Molly Lundborg. Submitted photo

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A new waterbirth tub was installed at Hudson Hospital Birth Center this spring. It’s the latest in birthing experiences — a natural water birth labor and delivery — and it’s in demand at Hudson.

The new plumbed-in waterbirth tub offers patients a Jacuzzi-like experience, jets for relaxing hydromassage, and offers safety and comfort features surrounded by a beautiful tile frame. Last year Hudson delivered 30 babies by waterbirth method using a portable water tub. Since the new plumbed-in waterbirth tub was installed this spring, the Birth Center has delivered 15 babies using the new waterbirth tub with many more requests for future deliveries.

Deliveries for 2011 are on the rise at Hudson with 233 births already this year. Hudson Hospital Birth Center is well on the way to exceeding its record number of births of 532 in 2010.

The waterbirth tub benefits to patients include: promotes relaxation and pain management; weightlessness in water provides support; creates equal pressure on all body surfaces beneath the water; facilitates maternal positioning; and increases mobility to assist with fetal descent.

A dedicated labor room houses the new tub, bringing the total labor and birthing rooms to four in the Birth Center. Additional amenities include: comfortable labor beds, infant warmers, state-of-the-art fetal monitoring, safety features for all medical equipment, healing artwork, aroma therapy and large windows overlooking the gardens.

Patients have a choice for their medical team including: OB/GYNs, Certified Nurse Midwife or Family Physicians – all offering waterbirth options. To schedule a tour of Hudson Hospital Birth Center call (715) 531-6029.

Tags: business, health, family