NORTHAMPTON – Becky Jacobsen of West Springfield became the first expectant mother to deliver her infant in the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Childbirth Center’s new birthing tub on Feb 7.

Jacobsen, attended by her husband, Jonathan, gave birth to their son Gage Jacobsen. The Jacobsens said they chose to have their baby at Cooley Dickinson because they had heard good feedback from other parents at the Center for Midwifery Care and because they were also excited about the hospital’s new birthing tub. “We love your hospital. That’s why we drive up here,” said Jonathan.

After hearing good feedback and deciding on Cooley Dickinson’s Center for Midwifery Care, Becky contacted the Childbirth Center to see if we would have a birthing tub. She learned one was on the way; she continued to be in contact in hopes the tub would be ready for her labor. She received a call from the Childbirth Center on Feb. 5 that the tub was ready; that evening, she went into labor. She says Gage was waiting for the tub.

The birthing tub helps to soothe a woman in active labor, according to Midwife Annie Heath, who assisted at the birth along with Dr. Tucker Kueny, medical director of the Center for Midwifery Care.

When an expectant mother in active labor enters the water, she experiences weightlessness with the hydrostatic pressure supporting her body. The mother can move about freely in the water and can assume any position that she finds comfortable. The heat of the water helps relax the muscles and allows the laboring mother to feel more relaxed and comfortable during her labor.

Becky Jacobsen was not able to choose a natural birth experience with her first child Kyan, who is now 2½, who was also born at Cooley Dickinson. They loved the experience, but she had to have an epidural.  So it was important to her to try the birthing tub. She said she felt the tub would provide her with an easy labor experience and would be less traumatic to her infant. “Gage was very calm when he was born,” she said.

The tub experience was extremely helpful in making it possible for mom to avoid an epidural. Annie, the midwife, used the warm spray on pressure points – such as her back and stomach – to help mitigate painful contractions. Gage was born underwater. “It was great. He was very calm. They just put him into my arms. He nursed right away.” Becky said. This helped with the bonding between mom and baby.

Becky Jacobsen highly recommends the Center for Midwifery Care, with its homey atmosphere, and she was very pleased with the hospital’s Childbirth Center and its efforts to have the birthing tub ready for Gage’s birth. For more information on the Center for Midwifery Care, please call (413) 584-5983.

# # #