What are your birthing pool experiences?

[Baffers100]

Hi Ladies,

Just wondering what your experience are of using a birthing pool, and what other pain relief you had. Did you find the pool helped with labour?

Just wondering whether to go down the birthing pool route, or whether I'd prefer to try and move around with a tens machine (assuming this is effective in late labour?)

Thanks :)

[UnfortunateUsername]

I had a water birth (in hospital, as opposed to a birthing pool at home ) with my first. It was a fantastic experience and I'm really glad I went for it. No pain relief other than over the counter stuff in the early stages and gas and air while in the pool. Dd was born after I had been in the pool for around 20 minutes. I was the first to hold her after she was out which was great!

[Topsy34]

Had a home water birth using hypnobirthing, it was amazing. I had no pain and only a minir graze internally.

[debbiewells21]

Amazing.

Gas and air in the pool and before hand I used a tens machine.

The water really helped relieve the pressure and I'd recommend a water birth.

[Christelle2207]

I Laboured in the pool- the best thing about it (assuming it's big enough) is that you can move around really freely.
However I had to come out to be examined to see if ready for pushing. Hospital policy (check yours) was that you could only go back in if you could get in yourself and I couldn't- things progressed very quickly as soon as I got out of the pool, so I gave birth on dry land in the end.

[Miloarmadillo1]

I had a water birth with my first baby, having used a TENS until I was pretty much fully dilated (would have got in the pool later but they assumed since I was coping so well I was in early labour). I also used some G&A whilst in the pool. It was great - it did stop my contractions for a bit but gave me a bit of a breather before pushing, I think I was just going through transition when I got in. I would have used it again for babies 2 and 3 but they arrived too quickly! Totally recommend looking into hypnobirthing as well but you need someone to tell them your 'calmness' if it is working for you does not mean the baby isn't coming. MW on baby 3 was all for sending us home as I obviously wasn't in established labour, DD was born about 10 minutes later.

[DirtyMugPolice]

I had one - it was bloody amazing. Had a tens strapped on until right before I got in and only had paracetamol beforehand.the pain relief from the warm water was unbelievable. DS was born about 20 minutes after getting in - no tears as I was nicely pliable after the warm water. I lifted DS out of the water myself

[JasperDamerel]

Tens did nothing for me, but I did use a birthing pool, and it was bliss- instant telief (it still hurt, just in a more comfortable way). The pool and hypnotherapy were all I used for pain relief.

[shufflebum]

Had a lovely home water birth, no other pain relief and delivered ds myself like DirtyMugPolice it was amazing, totally recommend.

[ShoeJunkie]

TENS and hots baths at home while in early labour.
Once we arrived at MLU (and about 8cm dilated) got into the pool with gas and air, two water births - pretty much identical. Both DS1 and DS2 arrived within an hour and a half of getting in the pool.
Definitely recommend a water birth, much easier to change position in the water. It also feels a little bit more enclosed and private.

[Baffers100]

Thanks ladies- sounds really positive. I think that's a yes for an elleTens machine then and a water birth :)

Nice to ask something about childbirth and just have positivity :)

[Dixiechick17]

I hired the TENS machine and it never came out of the box as my contractions were immediately 2-3 minutes apart.

I got in the pool at 5cm, it was ok but I didn't feel it made any difference to the pain, was just nice to feel a bit weightless with the bump. I tried gas and air for two contractions but felt it was messing up the breathing rhythm I already had going, as had been using hupnobirthing. When I staryed pushing I was being sick and felt really hot, the pool couldn't be cooled down, so I ended up getting out.

Think its a case of suits some but not others, although I didn't have any other pain relief :) Good luck with it :)

[WiIdfire]

The pool was the only thing I was really keen on in my birth plan, but wasn't allowed near it. However, I found the swimming pool really comfortable in late pregnancy and my sister found it really helped with pain relief.

[SingSongSlummy]

Yup, tens followed by pool was my perfect combination too. I also gave birth about 20 mins after getting in the pool!

[nolongerwaitingfornumber2]

Loved it! Got in at 5cms and my contractions slowed right down so got out and put my tens back on and went for a walk. Got back in at 8cms and the weightlessness was amazing!

[blowinahoolie]

With DC1, I went into the pool but had to come out as it slowed down my contractions. So no water birth for me!

Didn't attempt it for DC2, and won't even bother with DC3 later this week..

[VeryPunny]

Pool didn't do a damn thing for me. Made no difference to pain whatsoever. I was most comfy on my hands and knees but to do taht in the pool would have put my head under water. But then hypnobirthing was also a total waste of time for me too.

[NotCitrus]

Tens kept me sane on the way to hospital and getting checked in. Then I made friends with a fab kneeling bean bag for a couple hours while the pool was filled. The pool was fantastic but they wanted me to get out after 6 hours as labour hadn't progressed at all despite contractions every 90 seconds. I negotiated another 2 hours but still no progress so got out - then pelvis fell apart and went for epidural, as max Tens wasn't helping.

[Cluesue]

Best thing ever!!!

[TheTalkingPresent]

Loved it. I had a very quick labour (5.5 hours from first feeling that something might be happening to baby being born) so I got in pool at about 4 cm dilated but still progressed to fully dilated very quickly. I can honestly say the pool took the pain away completely and I felt so blissed out and floaty in between the contractions. It was so beautiful and I will never forget it. Also, my secret worry - that the pool would be a bit on the cool side - was unfounded as it was lovely and warm and I could have stayed in there all day. As it was I was in for about 2 hours. I had no other pain relief at all, just a bit of aromatherapy, and this is not because I am a hero, just that I genuinely didn't need anything because it all felt great and very manageable. (Totally needed gas and air for the stitches though!)

[Tfoot75]

I used a tens machine in early labour followed by the pool and gas and air until I started pushing. Being in the water really helped me to relax and so progressed my labour - was examined at 3-4 cm before getting in the pool but upon getting in almost immediately felt the urge to push as I remember it.

I was in total agony before getting in and did not feel comfortable lying, sitting or standing and was not able to move around at all, as dd was back to back. The warm water was exceptional pain relief though and once I could start pushing it transformed more into intense pressure than pain (until crowning!). I honestly think that without the water I would have really struggled without an epidural at least, the water was that powerful at pain relief. It's not for everyone though, you don't know until you try it!!

[Stillwishihadabs]

Echo what others have said. Used the pool with my first, highly recommended. Really lovely with G&A unfortunately got out during transition and was in too much pain to get back in.

[WantToGoingTo]

I had waterbirth 7 weeks ago, gas and air only pain relief from 7cm. Had back to back labour too and was told was challenging (was my first so didn't have a comparison!) I found it agony to be lying down/on back, in fact in any position other than all fours during labour, so the pool really helped me due to the water providing a lot of support and 'weightlessness'. I spent the entire time floating on my front holding on to the side with my eyes shut! Would thoroughly recommend, also enables you to be more in control I think as there is minimal examinations etc with a waterbirth. And baby comes up to you much quicker than on land I think, I pretty much pulled him out of the water myself! :)

[blowinahoolie]

Didn't have time for a water birth this time, baby was born within 15 minutes of getting onto the ward. Only had time to use gas & air!

[TheYellowWallpaper]

I had a back to back labour with tens, paracetamol and pool. Was painful but doable if you see what I mean. Laying on a bed was agony. Once I was bobbing about it Was much better.