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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Can anyone share their waterbirth stories?

107 replies

photographerlady · 24/01/2013 10:18

Anyone willing to share the ins and outs of their labor while having a waterbirth. I keep reading up on it but would love to know the nitty gritty first hand.

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WhatAGoat · 24/01/2013 10:24

I have only had a water birth so nothing to compare it too but it was amazing.

As soon as I got in the water I felt so much better. I never did anything gross no poo. I was the first person to touch/hold my baby

Was amazing definitely recommend it to anyone. Good luck

5madthings · 24/01/2013 10:25

I had ds4 in a pool. Was in lab our for an hour and in the pool for most of that. The contractions before I got in the pool were really strong and ahem I spent a bit of time on the loo having a clear out.

Practically leapt into the pool as soon as it was ready and took my bra off once in, already knickerless.

Spent time on all fours mainly and sitting/squatting, I clung on to dp's arm during contractions and had lots if gas air.

My body took over for pushing and I didn't consciously push at all.

Ds4 was 10lb 13oz and the midwife scooped him up and I held him in the pool whilst I delivered the placenta, natural third stage, once it was delivered we clamped and cut the card and the pool was a bit murky by then so dp took ds4 and I got out and showered etc.

It was lovely, best birth of my five, wanted a pool birth for no 5 but Madame had other ideas and was back to back and I needed syntocinon drip, it was still a natural lab our but I missed being in thee pool as its so soothing and much easier to move etc.

Plus I didnt tear at all with ds4 despite his size, sure the water helped with that!

NotADragonOfSoup · 24/01/2013 10:29

I had one at home with DD having had her 2 brothers on dry land on hospital.

IME it was just as painful as the other 2 births and I still tore :) However, it was far better than the dry land births. The buoyancy of the water was fabulous and supported me in whatever position I wanted. I also liked the sense of "privacy" it offered.

There is absolutely no way I am having another baby but I would choose a waterbirth over dry land.

Locketjuice · 24/01/2013 10:32

My friend tried and she said it was horrible and had to get out,
I couldn't even sit in the bath even though I really wanted a water birth I thought I better not even try considering how much I hated being in water and in loads of pain

Locketjuice · 24/01/2013 10:33

But everyone else seems to have loved it I have spoken to

Original poster

photographerlady · 24/01/2013 10:34

Thanks ladies, mind if I ask how dilated you were going into the pool? Did the midwife give you restrictions on when you could get in etc.

OP posts:

Arithmeticulous · 24/01/2013 10:36

You can move about so easily - I had SPD and could actually move around in the pool to get comfy in between and for contractions. I've used a heated pool which was fantastic - no worries about waiting to get in, or topping it up during labour. Although we have a combi boiler that was a concern with an unheated pool.
I could be as close to DH as I wanted, holding hands etc but I was in my own warm cocoon. And there was no 'interference' from MW. On dry land i'd previously had a MW reach over and give me an internal without consent - none of that in the pool.
I caught DC and brought to the surface, then held on until placenta came out - although I then cut the cord which led to a farscial few minutes of me having to fish round the pool trying to find the placenta ... eventually I caught the end of the cord and had to pull to find it, and it was slippery and huge and quite frankly i'd got the giggles by then and dropped it back in a few times. So, don't cut the cord until you have both baby and placenta out of the pool!

It was lovely.

5madthings · 24/01/2013 10:39

I had SPD as well and the pool really helps, I didn't gave an internal before getting in, it was obvious to me and the midwife that things were moving quickly!

I think they like you to be at least 4cm before getting in? As sometimes iut can slow down labour.

Gingerbreadlatte · 24/01/2013 10:43

I've had 2 home wb for my 2 daughters.

First dd was 10lb 12oz and born using only the water for pain relief barring the odd swig of G&A. It was hard as it was a first birth but the water made a huge difference to the pain. When I got out of the water it was much less comfortable.

2nd dd was also home wb and amazing. Only restriction/ intervention was waiting for the mw to arrive before getting in the pool. Other than that she didn't touch me until afterwards. It was much much easier second time because i knew what I was doing, what to expect and I also used a hypnobirthing programme.

Pm me if you want to read my birth story in full.

Good luck!

Gingerbreadlatte · 24/01/2013 10:44

To add I also had SPD and the water was wonderful for that as i could get into birth positions I'd never get into otherwise eg flipping from being on my front to my back and over again.

worldgonecrazy · 24/01/2013 10:48

I spent several hours in a birthing pool. Once I was 4cm I was allowed in, and I spent most of the day in there. It was very relaxing and definitely helped with the pain. Unfortunately I had to get out as DD wasn't moving down and I ended up with forceps but I'd still recommend a water birth for that stage of labour.

thetigerwhocametoteax · 24/01/2013 15:35

I had a water birth with DS2 and it was magical - honestly one of the most lovely (if intense) experiences of my life so far. I went into labour and spent 3 hours at home in the bath then got to hospital where I was examined - I was 8 cm dilated and jumped straight in the pool. I had him 50 mins later, no tears and only a little gas and air at the end. I found it really private, like being in a little cocoon and barely remember the midwife being there. I spent most of my time leaning fowards almost on all fours as it felt the most natural position. I pooed in the pool just before DS2 appeared - it wasn't a issue, I couldn't help it and I presume the midwife removed it as there was no floaters! (they have a little net thing by the side of the pool I noticed....). I was first to lift DS2 up and cuddle him after he bobbed up - magical! They then drained the pool and I had to waddle out with him attached to deliver the placenta on the bed. Go for it if you can!

Littlemissexpecting · 24/01/2013 17:35

Oooh watching with interest....

Numbthumbs · 24/01/2013 23:00

Do you just rock up at hospital (in labour obviously) and ask for pool? DD came out in a rush so i wasnt bothered about anything else but pushing when i got there but id like to have a water birth or at least the option this time prob should have asked all this before getting overdue

Littlemissexpecting · 24/01/2013 23:05

As I understand when you phone to say you are on your way you advise them you would like the pool.
My local hospitals only have 1 so its pot luck if its free
May be different depending on hospital. Could you add it to your birth plan?

5madthings · 24/01/2013 23:06

It depends on the hospital. Mine recomended you.phone beforehand and say you want the pool and then they get iy ready for you.

Numbthumbs · 24/01/2013 23:17

Thanks ladies, if this baby ever comes out ill ring and request one.

squidkid · 25/01/2013 08:08

I had a home birth for my first baby and only got to use the pool for an hour or so because it slowed my contractions down
I was devastated, it was so helpful with the contractions!
I got in at around 7cm dilated
Next time (did I just say next time!?!) I'm just going to stay in it whatever they say

Boobz · 25/01/2013 11:33

I used a pool for all three of my (home) births. The first two times I got in at about 5cm - 9/10cm dilated, and then both times I wanted to get out and give birth on dry land. So I did.

For our last baby, DH wanted to catch DS in the pool as he was born, so he encouraged me to stay in. So at the point of no return I pushed DS out in the water on all 4s and DH fished him out and put him on my chest.

All perfect births at home. I felt like a manatee each time, but was absolutely lovely.

Boobz · 25/01/2013 11:36

Also agree with the person who said up-thread that it feels a lot more private labouring in a pool - kind of like "this is my space and you're not allowed in it" which gave me some control back during the contractions which felt like they were controlling me!

ShoeJunkie · 25/01/2013 11:40

I had a water birth with DS (again only had him so nothing to compare it to) but I'd do it again.
I spent the early part of my labour either in the bath or with my tens on. Got to the mlu at about 6-7cm and got into the pool shortly after with gas and air. DS was born just over an hour later.
You do feel like you have a bit more privacy and it was easier to move myself from sitting to kneeling in the water.

Original poster

photographerlady · 25/01/2013 11:48

Thanks ladies for sharing great reading :)

OP posts:

Biscuitsneeded · 25/01/2013 12:24

I had a water birth with DS 1. Got in at 6cm not long after arrival at hospital. Warm water really helped psychologically although he was back to back so obviously still painful! Once I was in there was no way I was moving! When he came out he just sort of floated up to me, which was lovely. I had asked for pool when I phoned and they said there was another woman wanting it and waiting, but luckily for me my labour went much faster than hers so I got in first and then when I got out they cleaned it out and she had it next! For DS2 I requested it again but they'd only got as far as turning the taps on when he popped out before anyone was expecting him (least of all me!). However, after the placenta etc the pool was then full of lovely warm water so they asked me if I wanted to get in just to relax, which was great. I would really recommend trying it.

SandWitch · 25/01/2013 12:24

I had a waterbirth, in hospital with my first.

It all happened pretty quickly when we arrived in hospital and the midwives had to help fill the pool up with buckets of water as I was stripping off and saying "it's time, it's time!!" [bblush]
I really liked the fact that it was so "hands off" for everyone else. I delivered my dd myself, no one touched her until she was on my chest.

I wanted a home water birth with my second. I got my home birth, but the pool arrived about 4 hours after ds did [bgrin] as I was told not to order it before I got to 37 weeks. ds arrived at 37+2!
I ended up just using the tens machine with ds and it was all very calm and quiet - think the hypnobirthing book and cd I used helped with that. I felt very in control.

smee · 25/01/2013 12:25

I got into the birthing pool at the hospital after being in labour already for over 24 hours. It was lovely in terms of easing pain, but I ended up just v.hot and wrinkled so got out after two hours and found I was no further dilated. Would definitely try it again though.

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