Birth positions in birthing pool - slightly technical!

[twelveyeargap]

I'm writing my birth plan for my 3rd delivery.

Last delivery (at home in pool) was great. I gave birth resting on my knees with arms on the side of the inflatable pool. Very comfortable... Right up until the baby was delivered through my legs to the rear. That meant I was "stuck" in that position waiting for the cord to stop pulsating and so on, whilst DH held the baby and all I wanted to do was to flop against the side of the pool and relax with the baby on my chest. In order to do that, I was going to need to try to turn over, raising leg over baby and cord so as not to have to submerge baby in water again. Seemed very complicated!

When the midwife asked me if I wanted to deliver on "dry land" last time, I think I may have thought she was completely mad. I remember thinking that I wouldn't actually be able to get over the side of the pool anyway!

This time round I don't want to mess about like that, yet I don't think I'll be comfortable trying to recline against the side of the pool to deliver either.

So, what are my options? Can I tell the midwife to pass the baby through my legs before he "surfaces"? I felt terribly weak last time once I got to the end of the second stage so I'm not sure about "squatting" to give birth.

All suggestions helpful! Thank you.

[MrsBadger]

I laboured in the pool the same position as you and the mw told me with about two contractions to go that once the head was born I'd have to turn over and squat to deliver the body.
I weakly objected (on the grounds that I was perfectly comfortable where I was, thankyouverymuch) but she was quite firm, saying it'd be fine, they'd help me etc etc and she'd been so great up till then that I took her word for it.
When the time came it was fine, and they did help and I turned over without dd's head breaking the surface - it felt a little awkward but the support of the water made it easy and it was worth it to be able to lift dd out of the water onto my chest myself after the last push.

[curlywurlycremeegg]

I automatically moved from all four to squating. However there is no reason why the baby cannot be passed through your legs to you before being brought to the surface.

[redshoes]

I gave birth like this too but I think someone lifted the baby (still attached)as I got out of pool iirc becaose I lounged on a beanbag for cord/placenta etc

[belgo]

12yeargap - the midwives used a towel around my back to hold me in a reclining position. But it was a slightly difficult birth though, and I wouldn't really recommend that. Would have preferred delivering on all fours.

Next time I think I'll deliver on my bed.

[twelveyeargap]

Thanks all. Bean bag a good idea in the room. Forgot that last time.

I did the 3rd stage out of the water before, it just felt like AGES before I could turn around and see the baby. Who knows, it could have been 30 seconds, it could have been 5 minutes, but it felt all wrong. DH and the midwives were cooing at her and I couldn't even see her over my shoulder.

[belgo]

12yearage gap - they gave me the baby immediatly but I was so exhausted I thought I was going to drop her in the water. That felt all wrong too!

Next time, I think I'll labour in the pool, and give birth on the bed.

[sorkycake]

Ask the m/w to help you birth the head, ie. tell you when to lift the baby out and up.

My first HWB I was in the pool leaning forwards over the side just as you said. They told me the head was nearly out and to reach down and bring him to the surface.

I was slightly shocked but it was brilliant!

My last HWB I lay on my back with my feet over the side and they assisted him out and onto my chest.

I recommend birthing the head then going upright on you knees and lifting the baby yourself with your bp in front so you can hand them the child if you wish to sit back.

Don't know which way I'll do it this time round

Good Luck!

[Sam100]

Hi - had two hospital water births - first I laboured on all 4s kind of hanging on to the side and floating a bit! But as it came towards the end I moved onto my knees and kind of hunkered down. DD2 was born and I scooped her up to my chest then kind of sat back against the side and sorted my legs out. Don't remember it being awkward! Next time round it was all very quick and I was leaning with my head back on the side, belly up when it all started to happen. So i was sat on the bottom of the pool legs out and when ds1 was born again scooped him up and had first cuddles.

I did the 3rd stage in the pool both times - I think they let the water out (?! can't remember) but both times I was holding the baby.

[belgo]

I also had the third stage in the pool, as the placenta just fell out immediately after the baby.

[curlywurlycremeegg]

sorky, are you pregnant? not been on the pn thread for agggggggges so may have missed that, congrats

[sorkycake]

yes 3rd stage in pool is great, no mess to clean up!

Dh has to clean the pool out the next day. It's the least he can do and he says it's the grimmest job he's EVER done. hehe!

Hiya cwce, I haven't been keeping up with the PN thread either yes I'm pg with no.4

[twelveyeargap]

I think it was just that DH helped to deliver her, so she was scooped out to him, rather than me, so ended up behind me. I think I just need to mention to him and the midwives that I would like this baby passed to me first.

[Elasticwoman]

12yrgap: I had a waterbirth in same position as you describe in OP. It was nearly 8 years ago now but I was not stuck in that position waiting for the cord to stop pulsating once the baby was out.

I remember sitting in the pool with ds as the water was draining out. We were both covered with dry towels and the cord was still attached. It wasn't cut until I got out on to the bed a few minutes later.

[CatharsisItIs]

twelveyeargap, one of my friends birthed in the same position as you in her pool. She had to swing her leg backwards over the cord/baby after the birth to be able to face her.

My preference would be to birth in whatever position feels good at the time (you just never know!) but ask for my baby to be passed to me immediately, even if she had to continue to be submerged while being passed through my legs, etc.

I never have had to stipulate that my babies be passed to me and it's never occured to me to have to do so! I should think it arises from midwives often being in an unnecesary hury to bring the baby to the surface? I think it's important for women to be able to hold their newborns as soon as possible, not least because we deserve it after all that hard work

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

I had both my boys in the same position, if you imagine the scene from friends where rachel is sat up with her legs pushing agains stirrups that was how I did it in pool with my legs pushing agains the side of the pool.
I leant forward after the head was delivered and lifted my babies up to me as the next contraction delivered the rest of the baby.

It was a great position for me, having all the options available in the birth pool I chose that one! I love the fact that I hel my babies before anyone else touched them.

[kookykid]

I was in this position in the pool too when DD was born. My MW passed her through my legs to me and then my birthing partners helped ease me back as I was holding her so I was sitting back against the side of the pool. Perfick! (Although she came out in such a rush the MW had to tell me twice to pick her up off the floor of the pool .)