Postpartum and Newborns in Water

You and I are deeply connected to water. For sure we know this in our minds, but when you close your eyes, breathe deeply and imagine your environment the first nine months of your existence,you can feel it in your whole body. 

Once we are born into this world we are born into the loving arms of our parent(s) but also into gravity and hard surfaces, far away from floating. We believe that re-integrating water in the young lives of our children can be such a soft landing into what we know as life outside the womb. And not only for our babies, also for us as a family, for the authentic connection between all family members in this transformative phase.

The beauty of warm water is that it is easily accessible and therefore you can integrate it into your day to day life from the moment your baby is born. The earlier, the ‘better’ we would say. 

What are the advantages of warm water for newborns and the family as a whole?

Next to the fact that warm water gives almost instant relaxation because the baby recognizes the weightlessness from the months they lived in the womb, it is also a space where they can expand.​​ The water allows your baby to move freely and surrender totally to the element and to you. They develop body awareness, strength & balance. 

This time in the water is the moment where love is exchanged, the oxytocin and endorphins travel through both systems and as a result, you give space for a healthy and deep bonding to develop between you. Since children regulate their nervous systems through their parents, this is a beautiful way to co-regulate together which will benefit healthy baby development in all ways. A nice bonus is that your baby will sleep like a rose after bath/pool time.

By integrating water on a daily basis they will start to explore themselves, above and below water. We inspire them to find their own way at their own time and pace. We are with them, supporting them rather than holding them. The water does the rest of the magic, guiding them to stillness. For this to happen our children need a safe environment, and this is exactly what we as facilitators and parents can offer. We believe this approach brings confidence to the child on many levels as they discover their movement in water and this will influence how they move on land. It basically changes their perception of themselves. 

Also we feel that re-inviting babies to water creates a positive association with the element. The sooner a baby is exposed to water, the safer and more comfortable they will feel in this element. The big advantage of this is that your baby will store up positive experiences in the water. Which naturally leads to more independence in the water environment.  

In our next article we will dive more into the practicalities of being in the water with your baby. For now.. Be and relax together.

With love,
Patouf Jansma for Water Doulas