One of a pregnant woman's greatest concerns is the pain of labour - or how to ease it and make the experience as comfortable, and rewarding as possible.
Dr Thandi Mtsi, a gynaecologist at Lesedi Private Hospital, which is part of the Clinix Health Group, says it is essential that expectant mothers educate themselves on the pain relief options available.
Some women, she says, prefer to experience a "natural" birth which does not include any kind of drugs to reduce the level of pain. There are drug-free options, the water birth among them.
Mtsi says that delivering a baby in a large bath is known to shorten labour and either eliminate or decrease the need for pain-relieving drugs.
This, she says, is largely due to a "psychological release of pain", which ensures the woman is calm and less nervous. There might also be less trauma to your perineum (the area between your vagina and back passage) and it makes it more likely that you will achieve a natural birth," says Mtsi.
She points out that if you get into the water too soon, your contractions might lessen and the birth process will be longer.
Mtsi says this kind of birth is usually overseen by a midwife, as not all gynaecologists have the experience. "Make sure you investigate your doctor's experience in this field before choosing this option," she says. "Additionally, women with high-risk pregnancies should not have water births, as there is limited, or no, foetal monitoring."