Austin Midwife | Austin Homebirth

Illysa Foster is a midwife who serves the central Texas area including Austin, San Antonio, San Marcos, Wimberly, Buda, Kyle, Seguin and New Braunfels. She attends home births and water births. She is committed to providing a safe and nuturing enviornment for you and your baby. Please explore her site for more about her philosophy as a practicing midwife and the services that she offers. Thank you.

Prenatal, Birth, Postpartum and Newborn Care - Childbirth and Parenting Education
Servicing Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio and surrounding areas

Waterbirth

Waterbirth has become a popular choice for homebirth parents. It has been my great pleasure to assist waterbirths at home. My first waterbirth experience was also my first primary client. It was a smooth and beautiful birth. Since then, I've attending numerous water births at a birthing center and in home settings.

Laboring in the water gives the mother tremendous physical relief while promoting emotional calmness and mental clarity. I've observed women enter a tub of warm water during active labor, and I've watched their muscles relax, eyes close, and breathing deepen. Birth partners can also enter the pool to provide massage and close

physical contact. During the pushing phase of labor, women often stay in this soft state and gently push their babies out. The warmth of the water brings circulation to the perineum, minimizing the probability of perineal tears. Most babies will birth spontaneously, and the mother or her partner can bring the baby up out of the water. The baby won't attempt to breathe until after she or he contacts room air.

Many babies are calmed by the warm water, a familiar environment for them. Usually, mothers can stay in the tub with their babies to begin breastfeeding, and the placenta can be delivered in the pool. Decades ago, Dr. Leboyer recognized the power of water to ease the newborn's transition to the extrauterine environment. The Leboyer bath can be provided to a newborn after any type of birth.