Water birth less stressful for the baby?

my hubby an I have been trying for a baby and we consieved but now he wants me to have a water birth he is a midwife he says it will be better that way an it wont stress the baby out as much is this correct and if so then why?

Well since the baby has been in your fluids for a really long time the transfer isn't quite so different. Like it doesn't have to start breathing immediately and it can just kind of be swimmy and stuff I suppose. It is just more like the environment it is used to. I think it hurts less for you as well because it's like a lubricant and things will go smoother. This is all just assumptions though, I'm a guy, so I've obviously never given birth and hopefully never will and I don't really know anything about it.

This is what the american pregnancy association says

Benefits for Mother:
Water is soothing, comforting, relaxing.
In the later stages of labor, the water seems to increase the woman’s energy.
The buoyancy lessens her body weight, allows free movement and new positioning.
Buoyancy promotes more efficient uterine contractions and better blood circulation, resulting in better oxygenation of the uterine muscles, less pain for the mother, and more oxygen for the baby.
Immersion in water often helps lower high blood pressure caused by anxiety.
Water seems to alleviate stress-related hormones, allowing the mother’s body to produce endorphins, which are pain-inhibitors.
Water causes the perineum to become more elastic and relaxed, which reduces the incidence and severity of tearing and the need for an episiotomy and stitches.
As the laboring women relaxes physically she is able to relax mentally, concentrating her efforts inward on the birth process.
The water provides a sense of privacy, which releases inhibitions, anxiety, and fears.

Benefits for Baby:
Provides a similar environment as the amniotic sac.
Eases the stress of the birth, providing reassurance and security.

What are the risks to the mother and baby?
Over the last 30 years as water birth has grown in popularity, there has been very little research done to determine the risks of water birth. Some studies have been done in Europe demonstrating similar perinatal mortality rates between water births and conventional births.1 According to an article written by the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists, there may be a theoretical risk of water embolism, which is when water enters the mother’s blood stream.2 Though the British Medical Journal is 95% confident in water births, they do see a possible risk for water aspiration. If the baby is experiencing stress in the birth canal or the umbilical cord becomes kinked or twisted, the baby may gasp for air, possibly inhaling water into the lungs.3 This would be rare because babies do not inhale air until they are exposed to air. They receive oxygen through the umbilical cord until they start to breathe on their own or until the cord is cut. The final potential risk to consider is that the umbilical cord could snap as the baby is brought to the surface of the water. This is preventable by using caution when lifting the baby up to the mother’s chest.

I would talk to your doctor. If anything goes wrong is seems to be best that there be a doctor and equipment around, but it really is your decision.

Hope this helps:

http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/materials.html

http://www.waterbirth.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=38564orgId=wi

Discussion: http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflatNumber=185171

I would go with your husbands choice to have a water birth yea theres risks but its a lot better im sure especially if it was in your own home and you were really comfortable then the pregnancy could be a lot easier just its your choice and make sure where ever you go or how you have it you are comfortable with mainly your the woman and the one having it neways