Your Birth, Your Story, Your Way: Discover a Calmer, Natural Way to Give Birth at St. Luke’s Medical Center
Motherhood is a journey filled with choices—each one shaping how you experience pregnancy, childbirth, and those first precious moments with your baby. At St. Luke’s Medical Center, we believe every woman deserves the chance to welcome her child in a safe delivery that is calm, natural, and empowering.
For mothers seeking a more natural birth experience, St. Luke’s offers waterbirth, a gentle, family-centered option that combines the intimacy of natural delivery with the safety of a premium hospital in the Philippines.
What is Waterbirth?
According to Dr. Karen Alessandra Ty-Torredes, an obstetrician-gynecologist and certified waterbirth provider at St. Luke’s–Global City, “The warm water reduces pain, promotes relaxation, releases natural analgesia, stimulates oxytocin, and can shorten labor while decreasing the need for medical interventions. This is why many women choose waterbirth as their preferred birthing experience.”
Dr. May Anne Tabaquero, another certified obstetrician specializing in waterbirth, explained that: “Waterbirth is the use of water during delivery, where water is used as a method of pain relief during labor (water analgesia), or delivery in the water itself. It mimics the baby’s environment in the mother’s womb, allowing it to transition more naturally to the outside environment.”
Benefits of Waterbirth at St. Luke’s
With a growing number of mothers exploring more “natural” experiences and unique birthing methods, it aligns with their desire for a family-centered, intimate, and low-intervention birthing process. It also provides a proven alternative to moms-to-be who desire traditional labor methods with less medical intervention, such as anesthetics, artificial oxytocin, and even episiotomies.
A decade-long retrospective study at St. Luke’s–Global City revealed that waterbirth offers significant benefits compared to conventional vaginal deliveries, including:
- Lower rates of severe perineal lacerations
- Zero episiotomy rate
- Reduced need for episiorrhaphy
- Shorter hospital stays and labor duration
- Higher success rates for VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)
- No need for regional or intravenous anesthesia
- Comparable maternal and neonatal outcomes with fewer complications
“The results confirm that waterbirth is a safe and beneficial option for mothers and babies, provided it is guided by experienced obstetricians,” Dr. Torredes emphasizes.
“Waterbirth creates a more soothing, natural birthing method. It’s a beautiful way to welcome your baby into the world with less stress and more connection,” says Dr. Tabaquero.
Why Choose Hospital-Based Waterbirth?
Unlike home setups, hospital-based waterbirth at St. Luke’s combines the calm and natural approach of water delivery with advanced hospital care. This means expectant mothers can enjoy the benefits of natural birthing methods while having the security of the best hospital in the Philippines for childbirth.
“The advantage of practicing water birth in a tertiary institution is that our facility has been providing this option as an alternative to birthing centers since 2011. We offer eligible high-risk and low-risk expectant mothers the opportunity to experience labor and delivery in water with minimal intervention. Our approach includes strict infection control protocols, obstetrician-led care, and the convenience of being located within a hospital adjacent to the delivery unit. Additionally, we have 24/7 access to neonatal intensive care and anesthesia teams for any obstetric or fetal emergencies that may arise,” Dr. Torredes emphasized.
The St. Luke’s waterbirth program is designed to ensure safety, comfort, and personalization for expecting moms. Before delivery, it is ideal for couples to undergo training for a natural birth. During this time, they are given a choice to do either land birth (e.g., Lamaze) or waterbirth. Once they have made that choice, they can attend classes that will explain the benefits of waterbirth and provide them with information regarding risks and the actual process of this choice of birth. Together with their Obstetrician, couples should have birth planning at least 2 weeks before they may start to go into labor (35-36 weeks). They should be able to discuss their choices and options during this time to prepare them further when the mother goes into actual labor.
Not all obstetricians are trained to facilitate waterbirth, but St. Luke’s is home to certified experts, including Dr. Torredes and Dr. Tabaquero, who have undergone training to acquire international waterbirth certifications.
As Dr. Torredes highlighted, “All obstetricians are trained in labor and delivery, which is quite similar to the process of delivering in water. However, there are specific guidelines regarding water birth that must be addressed, including maternal-fetal indications and contraindications as well as the approach to water birth, which often involves fewer interventions.”
“Waterbirth certification and training are needed to be able to perform this birthing process confidently and at the same time provide proper and expert guidance to the patients who are opting to do this,” Dr. Tabaquero shared. She even recalled the insightful times when she underwent training with Barbara Harper, one of the prime movers of waterbirth, and experienced the latter’s supervision during the First Waterbirth Certification Program here in St. Luke’s.
Alongside St. Luke’s skilled obstetricians, we have compassionate, skilled nurses and residents trained to ensure your safety and comfort throughout the process. Hospital-based waterbirth offers distinct advantages, including immediate access to medical interventions should they become necessary.
“To guarantee the safety and comfort of both mother and baby during a water birth, certified obstetricians are responsible for directly monitoring the labor of patients and personally handling the delivery in the water. They conduct proper fetal monitoring and assessments, and are specifically trained to manage complications and emergencies when they arise,” Dr. Torredes shared.
At St. Luke’s Medical Center, we combine the comfort of waterbirth with the assurance of hospital-grade safety even after discharge. After delivery, you and your baby will continue receiving the exceptional care St. Luke’s is known for. From lactation guidance to personalized postpartum education, we ensure that you feel confident and supported as you begin your beautiful journey as a family.
“The environment at St. Luke’s enhances the waterbirth experience. Our birthing rooms are calm, comfortable, and designed with both mothers' and babies’ safety in mind. The mother may be given a tour of the birthing room prior to her actual labor and delivery. We want our mothers to feel at home here and at peace knowing that they are in the hands and care of a team of experts,” Dr. Tabaquero emphasizes.
Beyond delivery, St. Luke’s provides comprehensive pregnancy and maternity care—from prenatal consultations with your ob-gyne, to natural birth classes, postpartum education, and breastfeeding support. Expectant parents may also explore maternity packages designed for convenience and peace of mind.
Many families choose St. Luke’s because it is recognized as the best hospital to give birth in Manila, trusted for its world-class care, compassionate nurses, and the expertise of the best ob gyne in Manila.
A Mother’s Testimony
For Natalie Roxas, who gave birth through waterbirth at St. Luke’s, the experience was unforgettable:
“Our water birth at St. Luke’s Medical Center was everything we imagined—calm, empowering, and supported by an incredible team. The warm water in the birth pool helped me relax and stay focused, while our doctor and nurses stood by us every step of the way. After experiencing miscarriages in the past, the most unforgettable moment was holding our baby for the first time. We felt safe, respected, and truly cared for. It was the perfect blend of natural delivery in a secure hospital setting. Most importantly, we were guided by Dr. May Anne, who made us feel comfortable while providing excellent medical care.”— Natalie Roxas, St. Luke’s Waterbirth Mother.
Choosing St. Luke’s Medical Center means choosing excellence, experience, and compassion. Led by certified Obstetricians working hand in hand with a highly skilled team equipped to guide you safely through your waterbirth journey. It is complemented by a facility that reflects our commitment to comfort, safety, and holistic care. Rest assured, we will guide you from the moment you decide to have the family of your dreams to when you give birth and provide recovery support, as well as post-education support; we ensure seamless support to give you confidence as you transition into motherhood.
Dr. Torredes left a note, “It is advisable to learn as much as one can about waterbirth and natural birth to be able to make an intelligent decision if this natural birthing method is for you. Choosing the right obstetrician who can support a woman’s choice of birth is also very important. At St. Luke’s Medical Center, our medical team, including obstetrician-gynecologists and nurses, has vast training and experience in natural births. “
“We expect more women to make this choice as we recognize the shift to natural birth. SLMC is home. We make our mothers feel at home here in SLMC and make them feel that “This is her story. This is her birth.” We aim to make that happen,” said Dr. Tabaquero.
If you’re considering giving birth in the Philippines, trust the best hospital in the Philippines for childbirth—St. Luke’s Medical Center. Because this is your story, your birth, your way.
Message us to schedule a tour of our waterbirth facilities.
