Having warms baths in labour - advice please!

[LucyC12345]

Hi all, I've been in labour now for about 12 hours. My MW has told me I have to be experiencing 3-4 contractions every 10 minutes before they admit me. I'm taking paracetamol regularly and using my TENS machine for the contractions in the meantime.

Quick question - in the run up to today, baths were so so so soothing but do you know if it's going to slow down the labour/contractions if I have too many!? I've had a shower and a bath since it started and just want to give birth now so absolutely DONT want to delay things in anyway whatsoever.

Either way - wish me luck - this is my first baby!!!

[wanderingcloud]

Good Luck!

No great advice as my labour was fast, but if you get relief from it, do it!

NOT with the TENS machine on though ;)

[Rockchick1984]

I was told by my MW that they can slow things down in the very early stop/start stages of labour, but don't think that was too many that caused it - if you've already had one bath and things didn't slow down you should be ok

[mysteryfairy]

For DS2 a bath really speeded things up such that I got in with manageable contractions, got out to be overwhelmed and went straight to hospital where I was 9cm. Didn't learn with DD, did the same thing again... Got out and knew I was going nowhere. She was delivered in the bathroom by two paramedics who only just arrived in time and massively panicking DH! So I say go for it unless you think snow might get in the way of any urgent dash.

[dizzy77]

I found the bath got stuff moving when I was properly contracting: earlier on anything restful or relaxing (like a lay down) slowed things down. My community midwife nodded sagely when i shared this observation with her after DS arrived.

It was being in the bath that got me to get DH to ring the labour ward as I was worried about going do far I couldn't climb out of the bath! Plus I wanted to deliver in their pool where someone else would clean up. As it was I got out of their pool anyway and delivered on dry land so I have confidence it can be done.

[dizzy77]

Oh and good luck! How exciting!

[looneytune]

During my homebirth last time I had a birthing pool in the lounge. When the temp got too cool it slowed it down but when hot water was added, it suddenly became more intense as in sped things up so I'd say as long as the water is warm enough (but not too hot) you should be fine.

How exciting, good luck!! x

[Flossbert]

i ffound that a bath really, really slowed things down for me, as did sitting in the car on the way to hospital.

You could try it though, couldn't you, and if it seems to be slowing things down, get out and upright again?

Good luck!