OP_100319

18 | October 3, 2019 | the orland Park Prairie orland park
OPPrairiedaily.com
Women’s Healthcare of Illinois to offer water immersion therapy during labor
Women’s Healthcare of Illinois is
relentless in its pursuit to offer greater
options for labor and delivery.
The practice has a reputation
for providing comprehensive
and exceptional care to meet
the needs of patients in the
southwest Chicagoland area
and Northwest Indiana, and now
it will offer hydrotherapy as a
pain management alternative
during labor at Advocate South
Suburban Hospital.
This announcement comes on the
heels of Women’s Healthcare of
Illinois’ recent addition of nitrous
oxide as a pain management
option for expecting mothers.
“Our patients truly come first in
everything we do,” said Beth
Helme Smith, a certified nurse
midwife with Women’s Healthcare
of Illinois, which has offices in
Mokena and Evergreen Park. “We
believe women should have the
power to choose the best options
for their care, and together
we can make that happen by
offering attractive choices like
hydrotherapy.”
Water immersion hydrotherapy
is a safe and effective nonpharmacologic
pain relief
strategy that provides greater
relaxation for women during
labor. The physiological response
to water helps improve circulation
and eases pressure throughout
the body.
“Soaking in a warm tub reduces
stress, and the buoyancy lessens
a mother’s body weight, allowing
her greater movement and new
positioning to get comfortable,”
Helme Smith said. “Hydrotherapy
has also shown that it can provide
more efficient uterine contractions
and improved blood circulation,
which means less pain during labor
and more oxygen for the baby.”
Immersion in water also helps
lower high blood pressure and
increases the mother’s ability to
produce endorphins, which serve
as pain inhibitors.
“As the mother relaxes physically,
she’s also able to relax mentally,
andthisletsherfocusonthebirthing
process and communicating with
our team,” Helme Smith said.
The addition of water immersion
therapy is part of a comprehensive
midwifery program offered by
Women’s Healthcare of Illinois in
collaborationwithAdvocateSouth
Suburban Hospital. While water
births are sometimes an extension
of hydrotherapy solutions, at this
point, hydrotherapy will be used
exclusively for pain management.
“We could not be more pleased to
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work with Women’s Healthcare of
Illinois in our joint efforts to ensure
that women in our community
have the healthiest possible
birthing experience,” said Jennifer
Doerr, clinical nurse manager at
the Women and Infants Center at
Advocate South. “By promoting
shared decision-making, we’re
creating solutions that meet the
individual needs of the women in
our care.”