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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Water birth, pros/cons, thoughts and opinions!

28 replies

lily91 · 14/08/2016 19:54

I'm planning on having a water birth and would love to hear from people who are planning the same or have had them before? What was your experience like? Would you do it again? Anything you didn't like? First pregnancy for me

OP posts:

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NaturalRBF · 14/08/2016 20:07

I laboured in water for hours and it was AMAZING! I wanted to birth in the water too but I had a really long labour and the pushing came to quick to get back in the pool.

But it was fab and helped loads with the pain!

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FuzzyOwl · 14/08/2016 20:09

I ended up having an EMCS because baby was breech but this was only discovered at 9cm. I spent several hours earlier in the day whilst having contractions in my bath at home and was adamant that I would opt for a water birth as it really helped.

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AlwaysDancing1234 · 14/08/2016 20:15

First time around I laboured in water but had to get out towards the end due to complications and needed epidural (nothing to do with the water).

Second time around I got in to pool in the later stages and had the most amazing, calm water birth with just gas&air. DD was so calm, she didn't realise she's been born at first I think, only cried when midwife took her out of the water (to cut cord etc) and the cold air hit her briefly!

Both times I found the water helped me feel more relaxed as soon as I got in the pool and so much easier to move around and change position.

Only cons were it makes it a little harder for midwife to see I guess but she had a nifty 'mirror on a stick' which she used to get a better view! Also was a bit of a faff getting out but there are steps and handles in the pool to help.

I think even if you can labour a bit in water it can help with movement and relaxation, you can always get out if needed!

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AlwaysDancing1234 · 14/08/2016 20:15

Sorry that was an essay

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baileyswalk · 14/08/2016 20:16

I had a water birth at home. Getting into the pool was such an amazing feeling. It was so warm and lovely!

The freedom to move around easily into different positions supported by the water was great.

Another plus point for me is that I felt like I had some privacy and my own space, that everything wasn't on display.

I definitely hope to do it again with the next one. I can't imagine doing it any other way now.

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ItchyFoot · 14/08/2016 20:19

I was adamant I was having a water birth with dd1. Unfortunately my waters broke before contractions so when I went for a check up they found dd's heartbeat was irregular so I was stuck in a bed so she could be constantly monitored.
I'm now 28 weeks with number 2 and fingers crossed for water this time.

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Justwanttoweeinpeace · 14/08/2016 20:26

I had a water birth and it was lovely - or at least as lovely as a labour can be.

I was completely off my face on gas and air mind you

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Fluffsnuts · 14/08/2016 20:55

I didn't like it! I found it a faff and actually much preferred being out of the water and on all fours/ the birthing stool. Obviously you can get out though!

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Bananasinpyjamas12 · 15/08/2016 08:18

I hated the water. It made my contractions so much more painful that I only managed to stay in 10-15 mins. Tens machine was loads better than water for me. Midwives kept asking if I wanted to get back in the pool and weren't listening that it made it worse for me which I found very strange maybe it's because a lot of women rave about water but every labour and every woman and baby are different. I wouldn't over plan labour. The best plan would be to get in the pool/bath during labour, if it works for you stay in, if it doesn't just get out and try something else.

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WanderingTrolley1 · 15/08/2016 08:20

My water birth as the best of my 3 births.

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RamonaTheGreat · 15/08/2016 08:24

I tried it with mine but didn't like it either. I felt like I couldn't get a purchase in anything, iykwim, and felt 'safer' and more steady on dry land. It also meant I had to take my TENS machine off which had been doing a lot more than I'd thought to lessen the contraction pains. Like others have said though, it's worth a try and you can always get out. Good luck with the pregnancy and birth OP!

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SweetPeaPods · 15/08/2016 08:28

I really really wanted a water birth. After waiting for what felt like hours for the mw to run it, I went it, got so hot within minutes I threw up every where and then got out.

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Missanneshirley · 15/08/2016 08:28

Have done it twice and they were both really positive births. I always recommend it to people. However I know other people who found the water very claustrophobic / too "heavy". Do you like being in water? I love swimming, love being in the sea, love having baths...it seemed a great place to be for me!

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Sootica · 15/08/2016 08:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ACubed · 15/08/2016 08:43

I went for a water birth at the local midwife led birthing centre. It was really nice at first and definitely eased the pain a lot, but I found it got cold really quickly (which I could have easily remedied by saying something, but I was in the zone and couldn't talk!). I had a really long labour (before emergency c section) and eventually got bored in the water and got out, which immediately made the pain much worse! So I would def reccomend even though my experience wasn't the best.

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AmaDablam · 15/08/2016 08:47

I had my heart set on a water birth, but got in the bath at home during early labour and hated it! That pretty much changed my mind, but as it was dd was born within an hour of arriving at the hospital so I'm not sure there'd have been time to set the water birth room up anyway (dh was told when he rang to say we were coming in that it was in the process of being cleaned after a previous birth).

So I had dd on all fours on a hospital bed in a brightly lit delivery room. Not at all how I'd imagined it but, actually, I've no regrets. I've no doubt water births are lovely and amazing experiences for many, but like most things on my birth plan, it just went completely out the window when it came to it!

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ElspethFlashman · 15/08/2016 08:55

I fainted. It was too hot which would have normally been fine and it definitely helped with pain but my blood pressure was on the low side and the heat made it plummet into my boots.

Had to be hauled out by 3 people and wheeled semi conscious to the labour room.

In Ireland you're not allowed to deliver in water by the way. Considered too dangerous for the baby. You can labour in it but have to deliver on dry land.

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ElspethFlashman · 15/08/2016 08:58

Oh wait, I'm wrong. Google tells me that one hospital has recently reintroduced them!

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zjhub · 15/08/2016 08:59

I was in the water for most of my labour with dd2 the only thing that eased contractions was a warm bath so when got to the hospital had a bath and then got in the pool, it's was so relaxing and really did help, I only had to get out due to meconium in my waters but I had no drugs throughout and he was born within minutes of getting out of the pool. It was lovely compared to my first labour with dd1.

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BabyTheCaveLion · 15/08/2016 09:06

I had a water birth with DS1 - did all the labouring in there as well as the actual birth.

I was induced with DS2 and wasn't allowed to be in the water.

Out of the two experiences I MUCH preferred the water birth - the contractions were just as intense but the water was so much more soothing than the rocking/clinging/walking that I had to do with DC2.

One piece of advice though - if you actually give birth in the water make sure you have an inflatable pillow or something behind your head - I woke up the next day with a huge bruise on the top of my head from pushing against the side of the tub!

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AllMyBestFriendsAreMetalheads · 15/08/2016 09:07

I've had two water births, one in hospital and one at home. For me, it felt amazing. I literally felt the aches from my lower back going away as I got in the water.

The MWs were very on the ball with the temperature and making sure the water was warm enough for when baby arrived and DH took on that job when we were at home.

I spent a lot of time in the bath during pregnancy and early labour though, so it felt right to get into the pool, and that sort of weightless feeling was nice in between contractions. Having said that, I know a couple of people who really didn't like being in the pool, and asked to get out straight away.

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lanbro · 15/08/2016 09:13

Dd1, laboured and birthed in the pool, whole thing only 3 hrs but thought it was great. Just gas and air.

Dd2, intended to do the same but after 30 mins in pool her heart rate dropped so was hoisted out and birthed on the bed. Very quick!

Obviously, I have nothing to compare to but the pain wasn't too bad and I would recommend a water birth. I had planned to wear something but both times things happened quickly so I just dived in in the buff!

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Shopper99 · 15/08/2016 09:16

2 home water births here. Both amazing - no additional pain relief, no tears/stitches afterwards, just calm and lovely. I did a bit of Hypnobirthing too which I think goes hand in hand with a water birth.

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Dixiechick17 · 15/08/2016 13:41

I was quite sick when I had the urge to push and the heat of the water made me very hot and bothered. I found it nice in between contractions but during them I wanted to push down and grab something, which wasn't possible in the pool. I pushed for half an hour in the pool then got out and continued on all fours against a giant bean bag with a fan on me, was so much happier.

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babynelly2010 · 15/08/2016 18:45

I had 2 births in the pool.
First was good experience and second was horrendous.
First time I was in labour almost for two days, contractions slowly built up and with the use of tens and then water dd was born into our arms right in the water. The whole experience was very long but positive accept the tear as the MW did not help me during pushing stage and she came out all at once. She also did not help by stitching it properly.
Second time my MW did not read my birth plan or meet with me prior the labour. I had to walk from non pool room to a room with the pool in a very long corridor in a full blown labour. Once in the pull they drugged me out on gas a air to the stage I was delirious. DS was a huge baby that got stuck, I had to get up and give birth over the pool. The whole thing honestly was so quick the water did nothing that time around. I am pretty sure I had PTSD after that. After my two birth experiences I came to conclusion that there is no reason to suffer this way during child birth with all the technology we have nowadays and will be getting an epidural next time around.