Hot Water - Why is it needed for birth?

I'm sure you have seen many movies where very heavily pregnant women suddenly find themselves caught in the middle of a crisis situation (e.g. car chase, slow-moving traffic, war zone, lock-down, hostage, etc.) when alas, their water broke and there is no time to get to a hospital so they need to give birth there and then.

Following which, someone nearby (most probably the lead actor/actress, a passerby or the most unlikely character from the show) will need to take charge and deliver the baby ON THE SPOT. Almost certainly, the first thing this person will say (if a kitchen is nearby) is, "Quick, go boil some water" or (if there is no kitchen nearby) simply, "Someone get me some hot water NOW!"

Have you ever wondered - what the hot water is for? The movies never reveal it. The next scenes are usually about the mother screaming the house down, the person delivering the baby in nervous cold sweat and everyone around shouting encouraging words such as, "Push, push, push" or "Breathe, breathe, breather". But never was the hot water ever put to use.

So why ask for it?

The Man and I discussed this last weekend and here are the possible uses we can think of:

- Wipe down the baby when it is out;
- Wipe down the birthing mother  (since according to Chinese custom, she won't be able to shower for a long time after);
- Wipe down the person delivering the baby (because he/she is in cold sweat);
- Facilitate water birth (but won't the water be too hot?); or
- Sterilize whatever will be used to cut the umbilical cord.

After a long session of deliberation, and given we never seen in any of the movies how the water was used DURING the procedure, we both agreed that the most likely use is simply for making tea afterwards to celebrate the birth.

What do you guys think?