A common mistake is not filling the tub with enough water depth. The water needs to be at least 18-24 inches deep. Do not pull baby high up onto the chest with their body out of water after birth. Avoid partially filling or emptying the tub in between the birth of the baby and the birth of the placenta, which can be done without disturbance in the water in most cases.

Water that’s kept around 35-38oC and is kept at a depth that covers up to the labouring person’s breast/chest is a warm space for baby. Keep the baby’s body mostly submerged and skin-to-skin immediately during the initial assessment to keep them warm. In this case and where cold drafts are kept at bay, baby does not need a blanket or hat (although this is contrary to common practice). Their colour will improve over the first several minutes as cardiopulmonary transition occurs (the baby’s system switches from fetal circulation to newborn circulation).

If the placenta needs to be delivered out of the water or if the water is not warm (such as after a long labour where water warmth has not been maintained), the birthing person and the baby should move to a bed (or better yet, the bed moved beside the birth pool). Baby can do skin-to-skin with the birthing person or the partner with a hat and 1-2 warm blankets on the baby’s exposed skin to retain body heat. Room temperature can also be increased for this stage of birth to help keep both parties warm and avoid having a draft/air conditioner on.

The baby’s ideal position to maintain warmth is abdomen and chest to parent’s abdomen or chest, limbs stretched out froggy-like.