Background: To give birth in water is still and has for a long time been questioned regarding the benefits and safety in many countries. In Sweden there is no longer any a restriction or recommendations about water births. The aim of this study was to investigate women´s experience of the second stage of labour in water.
Method: Interviews were conducted with six women three to four months after the water birth. The interviews were analyzed qualitative.
Result: Four categories were identified; Handle the pain, kept integrity, feeling secure and natural childbirth.
None of the women had planned for a water birth but all had a wish to avoid medical pain relief and have a natural birth if possible. Their experience was that the bath made it easier to support natural child birth and the women were positive to stay in the bath as long as the midwife told them everything was fine. The primiparas expressed the pain in the second stage of labour as mainly positive. The multiparas thought the pain was equal as previous experience. The most psychological benefit was the experience of kept integrity in the bath. The women felt less exposed in the water compared with previous experiences or ideas. Women´s opinion of the midwife as skilled and calm had importance for the choice of a water birth.
Conclusions: The women experienced the water as protective and a way to support natural birth. The primiparas expressed the pain in the second stage of labour as mainly positive. The multiparas thought the pain was equal as previous experience. The women expressed the kept integrity as most beneficial about water birth. High confidence with the midwife had importance for feeling safe in with the water birth.