have always had my heart set on using the birthing pool at the hospital - am now in early labour with v strong long contractions although not that regular yet. using TENS for pain relief. Now having worry that if i say I want to use the pool and they fill it up I may get in it, find I hate it and immediately get out and put TENS back on - thus annoying everyone! should I try having bath at home first to see if water helps??

did people find the pool helped alot??

Don't worry about annoying anyone. If you think you might want it - order it!

It helped me, did speed up labour, but I had no pain relief.

Good luck
x

most of my clients love it - only had one hate it. it didnt annoy me at all, you never know what you are going to feel like in labour.

i hope your babys birth goes well!

xx

I got in the bath at home and it was wonderful, pain got a lot less bearable when I had to get out of the bath to go to hospital. I would definitely say yes, try the pool!

Good luck

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Never tried one, but good luck for your labour xx

You won't annoy anyone - if you have had your heart set on it then book it, even if you don't like it at least you know that.

All the best - it's magical!!!

tis fabulous!

I had no pain relief with ds2 apart from the pool and the relief was immense when I got in the water and that memory of him coming up through the water looking at me will stay with me forever!!!!



Hope all goes well. xx

Hi again Moonin. They may want to examine you and see how far along you are before letting you in the pool, as it can slow things down. Personally I wouldn't give a stuff about annoying anyone. If you get in and don't like it - don't worry! Personally I find water great in labour - used it with DD and DS and DS was then born in the water. But don't have that curry if you may end up giving birth in the water!!! Best of luck.

er... youre in labour. youre the star of the show for once (till the new star makes an appearance of course ) you get to be as annoying or abusive as you please for now.

if it were me, id order the pool and try it out. you never know till you try! (i was scepticle about waterbirth too but i LOVED it and did it 3 times and wouldnt do it any other way ever)

BTW it was far better than the TENS - I took it off to get in the bath and was much better without it. I would have loved to stay in the water.

scepticle ?? bugger me my spellings a bit creative tonight [

Go for the pool I've done it twice you hardly feel a thing the relief is immense.

The TENS is truly rubbish and will be of little use once you get to the point of needing the pool.

I try to labour for as long as I can on dry land then enter the pool no earlier than about 7cm dilated then it doesn't slow things down

Good Luck!

How exciting!!

Don't worry about annoying any one! it's your perogative when in labour!

They say don't get inot water before you are 5cm dilated, as it can slow labour.

I'm not a water person, but did get into the bath when I wanted to slow the labour down (but with hind sight I was quite near the end of labour any way)and found it lovely. During contractions I went under the water.

thanks folks - am running a bath now anyway - DH will be quite pleased if slows things down as he wants time to eat his dinner before we have to go to the hospital

Make sure you eat something too!

Good luck, and don't forget to report back!

I agree with everyone else. THIS IS YOUR BIG DAY! Don't worry about annoying anyone - you are the most important person right now.

I spent a couple of hours in the pool when in labour with my second DD and loved it. I only got our because the midwife on duty wasn't qualified to do water births

Although I don't want any more children, I feel quite jealous of you right now - it's so exciting! Good luck.

can i ask another slightly stupid question?? labour ward said to come in when contractions 4-5 mins apart - does this mean every single one has to be 5 mins apart?

last few have been,6,10,4,5,10,5,5,6 apart- really don't want to pitch up at hospital to be told am 2cm and trek home again...

go in when you feel you are getting closer and not being able to cope... is this your first?

no it's my second but got induced last time so never had to worry about the "when to go to hospital bit" so feel like a bit of a virgin (lol!)

i seeee

if you can type on here between ctx, chances are you are not ready to go in!

optimum time to get in the pool is when you are around 5 cm..

so regular strong ctx, lasting around a minute, needing to go into yourself, close your eyes, concentrate on them means you are into established labour, on the whole.

Oh how exciting .. ! Good luck

I had my heart set on the pool but once the contractions came, I tried a bath at home and hated it. I felt that I had lost some control of movemenent, couldnt get in to a "comfortable" position for contractions.

Wish I had still tried the pool though, maybe next time .. !

WOW Congratulations! xx

thanks everyone for messages - James born at 9.32 last night - 40 mins after getting to hospital - no time for the pool after all!! was only 3cm dilated when I got there but it all speeded up and out he came! home by 1.30am.

So thrilled to hear your news and delighted that James arrived safely. Congratulations to you all

Congratulations, and welcome to the world James

Congratulations - that was a quick turn around. Well done you - and welcome to Baby James! Hope his Big bro is impressed too.

Congratulations!!

welcome to james and congratulations x

Congratulations! Well done you

many congratulations, hello James! x

Thats great news! Well done!

thanks everyone - pic of the LO at 30 mins old on my profile - feel free to admire the gorgeous boy

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad it went well

Congrats on your gorgeous boy!!

Just had a look at your gorgeous son - thanks for posting the photo. Lots of love to you all.

Gorgeous pics Moomin. Huge congrats xx

congratulations