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Pregnancy

Homebirth... are water birthing pools worth the trouble?

15 replies

cheekstime · 28/02/2016 20:24

I was thinking that water pools are a great idea but it's occured to me that a lot of the labour may occur out of it. Wondering whether they are worth it in the end or are they actually worth having just in case. Have heard stories they can slow labour and the constant getting in and out, a nuisance with some women not even having the baby in the pool at the time of delivery.
What's your actual experiences or thoughts on this....really appreciated.

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Dixiechick17 · 28/02/2016 20:29

I didn't have a homebirth, but I got into the water at 5cm dilated, and within an hour and a half I was ready to push.

Midwife used a handheld doppler to monitor my DD's heartbeat whilst in the water. I pushed in there for a bit, but got out because I was hot and bothered and the water couldn't be cooler as it needed to be the right temp for the baby.

I continued pushing for the last hour and a bit out of the pool. So, it didn't appear to slow my progress giving how quickly I got to 10cm.

Pinkheart5915 · 28/02/2016 20:32

I didn't have a home birth but I had a water birth at a private hospital. I got in the water at 4cm, and I managed to the pain of labour really well with just gas and air for the last hour and I think this is due to feeling quite relaxed in the water.

I would recommend a water birth

Pinkheart5915 · 28/02/2016 20:33

Forgot to say my baby boy was born in the pool

chillycurtains · 28/02/2016 20:35

Hell yes! I cried my eyes out when pregnant with DC 3 and midwife told me I couldn't use water as I would need a canula. She saw how upset I was and made a plan to wrap my arm in plastic bags so I could use the pool. I literally got so much relief from it with DC 2 (compared to non water birth with DC 1) that I couldn't bare to labour without water.

chillycurtains · 28/02/2016 20:36

Oh and didn't slow things down with either DC 2 or 3. In fact should have got in sooner to get longer relief.

swarskicat · 28/02/2016 20:36

I had both mine in a birthing pool at NHS hospital and both were easy, positive experiences

chillycurtains · 28/02/2016 20:37

Eeek - spelling error. bear not bare.

DeadPooled · 28/02/2016 20:37

Yes! Had 3 home births. First with pool but didn't want to bother with pool 2nd time round. Really regretted it.
Made sure I had one 3rd time.

EustaceTheDragon · 28/02/2016 20:39

I didn't get into the pool until I was in transition; dh had barely had a chance to fill it up to the line before I blundered into the room as I'd had a bath earlier in labour! He was boiling pots of water and the kettle was going non-stop as well, bless him.

The relief was immediate. Gravity didn't pull on my so hard and I could rest properly between contractions. I also liked that nobody could touch me! It was ace.

Somersetgirl1990 · 28/02/2016 20:45

I was in the pool (in hospital) from 5am until I had my DS at 1pm didn't get out at all apart from to pee and it helped so much with the pain. Definitely worth it for me 100%

wotamidoing · 28/02/2016 20:54

Definitely! I had a homebirth with a very clever midwife who (nicely) held me off from getting in the pool until the TENS wasn't doing anything any more. I think I probably got in just before or at transition. The relief was amazing. My baby was born in the pool, which was great as it meant I could be on my back, which was what felt right, without restricting the birth canal, as I ended up kind of floating on my back (ish). No stitches, although that was probably also down to a slowish birth, although I have read that water helps everything be more stretchy...

YouAreAWizardHarry · 28/02/2016 21:00

My parents had a pool for my sister's home birth but it took so long to fill they gave up and I used at as a paddling pool the following day

Bicnod · 28/02/2016 21:01

Pool slowed things down for DS1 and DS2 and ended up having to get out to deliver which was a bit annoying (hospital births).

Had DD at home and didn't bother with pool and it was much much better (for me).

cheekstime · 28/02/2016 22:16

Hello! Just logged in to find all of your sound advice. Really interesting and benefical, Much Thank You's all round!

OP posts:

tartanterror · 28/02/2016 22:33

Defo worth the bother. Most of 2 labours and 2 births in my trusty birth pool in a box. Feeling weightless and free to move is priceless. Also less mess to clean up as all liquid can be pumped to the loo, the liner binned. Makes your OH part of the proceedings with pool set up an important job. Would say you need to make sure the room temperature is kept high as getting cold slowed my first labour but the MW got me out to sit on the loo for a few contractions to get things going again before I got back in (I'd always assumed if you got out you could get back in doh) so that needn't be an issue. Go for it!

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