7.1. Water Birth and Moon

Water birth is a modern practice of the new generation, undergoing labor or delivery or both happen in a birth pool of medicated warm water under the guidance of a doctor and midwifery. Such system has now been extended all over the nations and numerous clinics are opened as a gesture of modernity. Water birth center extends home like medical facilities and natural options for the pregnant women. This is a peculiar type of hydrotherapy, or balneotherapy, which uses immersion in water to reduce pain and stress during delivery. This method helps patients a painless and relaxed child-birth supported by professional attendants. It encourages unconstrained normal deliveries with medical care and affection of the beloveds; simultaneously discourage Cesarean Surgeries and labor-room phobia. This system brings comfort, reduces stress, increases oxytocin and makes birth easier. The history of civilizations designates that the Egyptians Pharaohs was born in the water. The South Sea Islanders, Japanese and Finish women were followed similar systems in steam-bath. The water-birth system became popular with 1980(s) and gradually spread all over the world. A statistical analysis of child births in the lunar month shows that more children are born between the last quarter and the new moon as compared to other phases of the moon. Case studies conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Civil Hospital, Fano (Italy) for a period of 36 lunar months verified the probable relationship between lunar period, delivery date and presence of full moon^[1]. They observed that the labour room midwives and experienced Medical Experts approve the power of full moon and barometric pressures that influence the human body^[2]. They concluded the relevant effect of water level in the human body and phases of moon at the time of birth under barometric pressures. For balancing the barometric pressure and water content within the body, the system of water birth becomes supportive to a great extent.

The consequence of moon in Astrology bestows supportive inferences towards this system through the following versification:—

[...]^[3]

The Horacharya has specifically indicated the symptoms of Water birth and similar birth near to water years ago in his text Horosastra wherein moon has been signified to water. When the powerful moon is posited in own sign Cancer supported by the Ascendant and Jupiter in 4^th bhava or the Ascendant itself becomes water sign, child birth happens adjacent to watery area or in floating ferry or related medium. If the bright moon and the Ascendant falls in watery sign having 180^o aspect or the moon is own with Ascendant fall in a water sign or it is positioned in quadrant signs, it is the symptom of water-birth. It is clear that the majority of methods that consider as modern civilization having relevant connectivity with the textual narrations of ancient Astrological Texts.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Joshi R, Bharadwaj A, Gallousis S, Matthews R.Labor ward workload waxes and wanes with the lunar cycle, myth or reality? Primary Care Update Ob Gyns. 1998 Jul 1;5(4):184.

[2]:

Ochiai, A.M. et al. Atmospheric conditions, lunar phases, and childbirth: a multivariate Analysis. International Journal of Biometerology. 2012 Jul; 56(4) 661-7.

[3]:

Kaikulangara Rama Wariyar (2011) Horosastram-I; Vidyarambham Pub., Aleppey; Chap-5 Ver-8&9 pp.231-233