Question about waterbirth - what exactly does midwife do?

[skyscooter]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to use the hospital birth pool for our first baby - due any time now - and was just wondering how much the midwife gets involved in waterbirths. Although I'm hoping for as little intervention as possible, I'm also a bit nervous about just being left to it, if that's what happens. I quite like the idea of the midwife helping you through the whole head crowning bit, for instance, to try and minimise tearing. Obviously I know there must be limits to what they can do as they're not in the pool with you so I guess this means you're pretty much left to get on with it yourself with the midwife just watching?

Anyone who's had a waterbirth like to reassure a clueless first timer?

[morningpaper]

Mine did nothing much except fish out poo

Don't know how they would help with crowning / tearing - they can't really SEE anything

I ripped to shreds

[milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo]

I had a waterbirth with my DD (only one at the mo) at home, at the point of birth the MW just watched me and gave the odd instruction like 'spread your legs a bit' and then when DD came out she quickly pulled her up out of the water and gave her to me. Very hands of and very nice

[belgo]

I had a home water birth with my second, and the midwives were very involved. They had an underwater doppler to measure the baby's heart rate between contractions in the late stages of labour. They also helped when the baby was crowning, and the cord was twice wrapped around her neck so one midwife eased it off.

They were also very encouraging.

[milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo]

Oh and the water helps to minimise tearing anyway, I didn't have any stitches (more luck than anything else probably!). I was in a squatting position so she couldn't see anything anyway!

[notnowbernard]

DD1 - got left to it with dp. Yes, she fished out poo though

DD2 - newly qualified midwife. Stayed for the duration. Fished out poo and did my head in banging on about mortgages and self-build projects with dp

[belgo]

morningpaper - my dh was in charge of the fishing net

[milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo]

Hello Belgo, thank you for your message on the other thread

[Disenchanted]

Hiya

I had a water labour with DS1 but got out to push.

With DS2 I had a home waterbirth and actully gave birth in there.

I just laboured on my back, floating in the pool, then i used the sides to push down.

The midwife just stood in front of me looking into the pool. She had a torch i think (! lol) and maybe a mirror, but on the whole she didnt really touch me at all.

Just left me to push.

DS was born in the caul so whilst he was crowning she tried to open the sac but couldnt so he was actully born with the caul intact. he came out into the water nd she slit the caul with her nail and he cam out, she then lifted him out of the water onto my tummy.

We stayed in the water for about 5 minutes until i said i wanted tot getout to deliver the placenta (because i had problems in my previous birth)

It was wonderful

[belgo]

really hope it goes well for you milf.

[JingleyJen]

with both boys the midwives didn't touch me during the actual birth at all.. they had underwater dopplers and every now and then they checked the heartbeat. DS2 went from 5cm to out within an hour so there wasn't alot of checking in that circumstance..
No one touched either of the boys before me I handed them to DH so I could get out of the pool. HTH

[abidabidoo]

I had a waterbirth for dd. It was great - warm water, sides to push against - can't imagine birth without it.

Midwife always there (except to get the trolley when birth due) - I did think they had to be if a waterbirth because of the drowning risk - could be wrong! I found the presence of an experienced woman very reassuring - and so did dp. Didn't do a huge amount - except wield the fishing net! Also a mirror and torch I remember. Dp was in charge of gas and air. Underwater doppler had gone walkies so I had to get out every now and then - just haul out onto the edge - for that bit.

Very little handling of me, a quick feel when crowning I think. She caught the baby when it was born. Then helped me up onto the side and I held what seemed like a ginormous thing about the size of a five-year old while she worked out I had the shortest cord in the world and it would have to be cut before placenta delivered which I did on a bed.

I tore though, think it's largely luck.

I'd do it again definately.

Best of luck -

[pickie]

Both DC were born at home in the bath. Hands off approach here as well. Only with DD (knew she was going to be big in the shoulder department) I agreed MW would help with delivery of shoulders (and she did get stuck)which she did plus she has cord wrapped round her neck (thb I never knew till after the delivery).

Waterbirth is lovely, very good for pain relief and no tearing (no stitches)

Best of luck!

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

My first was in a large birthing pool and I was on all-fours. Midwife sat alongside at the rear watching progress, checking water temperature and chatting. At the point of birth she told me when to push and when to slow down, told me when I could feel for the head. She may or may not have eased shoulders out - I can't remember. Certainly she held the baby up whilst I performed the tricky manoeuvre of turning around to sit down in the bath whilst lifting leg over still-attached umbilical cord.

Second water birth was in a corner-bath, head midwife was in attendance. She sat at one end of the birth and observed and chatted but didn't interfere at all as everything was straightforward.

Third water birth was at home in the bath and the midwife merely ensured I kept my ass under the water. All very easy. (And fast).

Very best of luck!

[Blocky]

Had a waterbith in hospital -loved it! MW very hands off, don't even remember her checking how dilated I was (but she may well have done). Reassured me every now and then - but basically kept popping in and out leaving me with dh, until I needed her. Fished out poo(!) and told me when I needed to push.
Compared to my first birth, (induced, epidural, strapped to a monitor) which was non-stop interference invasive and traumatic my second was heaven. Reccommend it to anyone if it's suitable for them.