Also, if there are bacteria or viruses in body products or fluids, the amounts are thinned out with exposure to a large tub of water and that makes the germs less able to cause infection. The tubs go through a thorough cleaning process with special cleaning products that kill germs after each use and tests are done periodically to make sure no bacteria that cause infection remain. To prevent cross-infection between the laboring woman and health care providers, the health care personnel wear special gloves and gowns during examinations and the birth. Fetal distress Labor is stressful for both the mother and the baby. Nature has equipped healthy babies and mothers to handle that stress.
Fetal distress occurs when the baby's ability to cope with labor is compromised in some way.
A problem can show up in labor and be recognized by changes in the baby's heartbeat or it might show up shortly after birth. Sometimes a stressed baby will have a bowel movement in the amniotic fluid before it is born causing the leaking water to appear green or yellow tinged. Checking on how babies are handling labor is managed the same way for all babies regardless of whether or not the mother labors or births in water. All babies are monitored electronically for 20 minutes or so when the woman first arrives in the hospital. In active labor the heartbeat of every baby is monitored with a special stethoscope every 15 minutes.