Why You May Be Advised Against A Waterbirth

Saturday Love Letter on January 31st, 2026

Can you believe January is already over and we are heading into February 2026? I am getting ready to teach another Born Through Yoga workshop alongside Tara next Sunday, February 8th.

It is always a joy to share the anticipation with couples on the day and to practise movement for birth together. Many of the mums attending are already having regular massages with me or reflexology with Tara, and most also practise pregnancy yoga at The Little Yoga House. The movement practices we teach in Born Through Yoga complement all of this beautifully. They are designed to create space in the pelvis so your baby can move through with more ease.

All of these practices support your body in preparing for birth, especially if you spend time at home joining in with the movement sessions in the Born Through Yoga app. Access to the app comes free with the workshop.

However, if you are hoping for a birth with little to no intervention, such as a waterbirth, it is important to be aware of the obstacles you are likely to encounter along the way. In the Saturday Love Letter I sent on January 17th, I wrote about the gap between how many women want a waterbirth and how few women actually have one. If you missed it, you can read it here. This week, I want to talk about how to spot the moments when you might be advised against a waterbirth.

At the start of pregnancy
Your first appointment with the midwife generally sets the tone for the rest of your pregnancy. By this point, you will already have shared your date of birth on your referral form, whether that came via your GP or self referral. At the appointment, your height and weight will be recorded, bloods will be taken, and you will be asked a series of questions about your health history.

All of this information determines whether you are placed on a midwife led, shared care, or consultant led pathway. If you are not on a midwife led pathway, you may be considered out of guideline for a waterbirth.

If you are unsure, ask your midwife at the end of the appointment which pathway you are on. If you are not in midwife led care, ask why and write the reasons down. Common factors at this stage include body mass index, pre existing health conditions such as diabetes, or previous birth experiences, for example a postpartum haemorrhage.

In the middle of pregnancy
Some women are offered a glucose tolerance test, usually around 26 weeks. If this test is positive, care is typically transferred to a consultant led pathway. At this point, discussions around early induction or concerns about your baby’s size may arise, and you may again be advised against a waterbirth.

Towards the end of pregnancy
Later in pregnancy, your baby’s estimated size may be flagged as either larger or smaller than expected, and induction of labour may be offered. Depending on the method used, induction often means you will be advised against using the birth pool.

In some of these situations, you may decide to advocate for yourself and decline certain interventions. In others, you may choose to adapt your plans. If waterbirth or labouring in water is no longer an option, last week’s Love Letter outlines effective alternatives for pain relief and support.

Next week, I will explore pharmaceutical pain relief options so you can approach those conversations feeling informed and prepared.

If all of this feels like a lot to navigate on your own, you are very welcome to join us for Born Through Yoga, or to consider booking a pregnancy massage package with me. You can simply send me an email to [email protected] if you would like to learn more.

Sending you lots of love,
Nicole