Am I the only person in the world who found that the birthing pool INTENSIFIED the pain?

[mumblesmummy]

I mean things were bad enough as it was, and I'd been so adamant to use the pool. When I got in, my bump felt weightless and lovely, then the contraction came and OH MY GOD. It was the most horrific pain of the whole labour. I tried to stay in for another one, but it was just as bad. I couldn't cope with it so they had to sort of drag me out.

I REALLY wanted a water birth... so I don't understand why the hell is happened.

Anyone else have the same experience? Or know why this happened?

[belgo]

I'm one of the few people who really didn't find the birthing pool much of a help.

It did intensify my first labour by suddenly speeding things up, but in retrospect that was probably good. I got out to give birth.

With my second labour, I stayed in the pool the whole time, and found it limited my movement, possibly that's why my dd2 remained in a difficult position. after she was born I was so desperate to get out, I couldn't hold her because I was so weak I thought I would drop her in the water.

[belgo]

I do have one friend who got into the pool, had one contraction, got out again and asked for an epidural. She was very happy with the epidural.