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Original poster

For those who had a water birth…..

91 replies

TangBloodyFastic · 04/05/2022 11:50

Did it help/offer any relief?

(I wanted to do a poll to keep it simple but don't know how to! 🤷🏻‍♀️)

I thought I was all set on having a pool but now I'm in two minds, can't decide if I'll just get hot and bothered or if it will help keep me relaxed and comfortable

Just want an idea of the % of ladies who found it helped

Many thanks

OP posts:
PumpkinCrumble · 04/05/2022 13:05

Yes I did, mine was a bath in the MLU and the student midwife was really attentive and kept checking the water temp with a thermometer and topping it up with hot water. I had terrible SPD/PGP and it really helped. I do love a good bath anyway though! 😂

HelloCanYouHearMe · 04/05/2022 13:05

I found it to be very hot and I remember asking the midwife to put some cold water in as I felt like I was being boiled alive.

Because of the temperature I kept getting out, but then realised that being in the pool felt better than not being in the pool, so would get back in again!

elliejjtiny · 04/05/2022 13:08

Yes with my first, was brilliant. Remember getting out to go to the loo and being desperate to get back in again. I wasn't allowed a waterbirth with my others but I had a lovely warm bath on the labour ward with dc5 and with dc3 the midwife took pity on me and filled a washing up bowl with warm water so I could put my feet in it!

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Only4You · 04/05/2022 13:09

Interesting about the water temperature. I really didn’t feel it was too hot but actually just a nice temperature for me.

What I do remember is holding baby with his head of the water, him opening his eyes, looking at me BUT NOT CRYING. I was scared shitless there was something wrong and kept telling myself ‘he is looking at you! He is moving. He is ok’ until he finally caught a breath and screamed. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as relieved at that! And yes I knew this could happen too Confused

Stellamar · 04/05/2022 13:13

YES it was amazing. Such beautiful pain relief. I wouldn't want to go through labour without it.

TheVillageBaker · 04/05/2022 13:15

I had a water birth with DCs 2 and 3. Getting in seemed to make my labour ramp up drastically and I found that really hard to cope with. With DD, I had struggled for 9 hours to go from 3cms to 4cms just on a hospital bed. I got in the pool at 4cms and she was born 19 minutes later! It was quick but so intense that I was worried I'd pass out in there. I wouldn't have a water birth again if I was to have a DC4.

mummyh2016 · 04/05/2022 13:21

Yep definitely. With baby #1 it relaxed me too much and I was told to get out. With baby #2 I was already 7cm when I got to hospital and was struggling. I coped a lot better once in the pool, and baby was born within 40 minutes of me getting in.

SpringSunshine09 · 04/05/2022 13:21

I found it helped loads with managing my first labour (but didn't deliver in pool) - second time I used it but came out quite quickly as labour was a bit quicker and more intense and I just felt like I needed to be on 'dry land' so to speak. My recommendation would be to put it in your birthing plan and to request a pool room - try it - but also be confident in the knowledge that if it isn't right for you you can just get straight out!!

downtonupton · 04/05/2022 13:46

DD born under water - DS on a bed in a ward due to meconium - I would sooo recommend a water birth. You feel more in control and as others have said it feels more discrete. You can manipulate yourself into positions that are more comfortable and - I didn't need a single stitch (apparently common with water births) and I was the first person to touch her as I scooped her out of the pool. She was a very chilled calm baby - we always felt that was something to do with her calm introduction to the world.

It almost didnt happen as I was in labour and hurting and the midwife noticed that I had expressed an interest - I wasnt sure at that stage but she pushed slightly and Iw as very glad she did.

DS was a different story - I was adamant I wanted a water birth but couldn't , it was much harder, and I tore and generally had a more stressful experience (though nothing on the scale of many other birth stories). I was very upset not have had the water birth and if I ever had a third would have definitely opted for water again.

JimMorrisonsleathertrousers · 04/05/2022 13:50

Had my first in a birthing pool, my second on a bed and tried to have my third in a pool but had to get out when 10cm dilated Confused THAT WAS FUN.

In my experience it does help with the pain. I had only gas and air with all three and the first was the most zen.

morechocolateneededtoday · 04/05/2022 14:00

I had one for both DC so can't compare to giving birth without water but I found the weightlessness a huge relief when I got into the water. I loved the privacy if gave me and second time, I didn't need any examinations either. I felt I was in control both times and second time, I was able to catch my own baby after delivering. Neither cried after they were born and it was a very peaceful arrival into the world for both, no bright lights, noise etc.

Based on my experience, would definitely recommend

TattiePants · 04/05/2022 14:04

I've had two; one on probably the hottest day of the year and one on the coldest! Temperature wise both were fine and I didn't feel overly hot.

My first was in hospital and I was probably in the pool for 4 hours in total but had to get out as DS was back to back and after lots of pushing, contractions stopped and he needed help. Up to that point I managed a back to back labour with the pool and gas and air so it definitely helped me manage the pain.

We'd moved to the other side of the country when I was pregnant again and my local hospital's pool was out of commission. I loved the water so much that that was a deciding factor in me having a home water birth. This time I only managed 30 mins in the pool (I'm sure the water makes me progress quickly) as DD was born 35 mins after the midwife arrived. I had SPD with both pregnancies and the water definitely helped with that.

Thisismynamenow · 04/05/2022 19:23

I gave birth 5 days ago so it's all very fresh in my mind!

I technically didn't have a water birth (was made to come out 10 minute before baby was born).

The water helped keep me feeling covered and made it easier for me to move around during contractions and pushing, along with getting baby heartbeat checked between contractions (I'd move from on my front during contractions to my back for heartbeat checks).

It was still painful, but I found coming out of the water it was more painful! So would of prefered to birth baby in the water.

Good luck with the birth! I'd give anything to do it again just to remeet my baby!

nonopeno · 04/05/2022 19:47

I never had a firm 'birth plan' but did give it a go. During my first birth I found it incredibly helpful, it noticeably reduced pain levels for me (this was important as I was in a country where it was epidural or no pain relief). I couldn't really have asked for a more textbook labour though. There were issues in the end which meant I needed an episiotomy, but they were able to drain the water quickly to do that.

My second birth was very different (induced with drip). I did attempt to get in the water at one point, I lasted less than 5 minutes and it made no difference whatsoever to the pain which was just overwhelming, I needed the support of lying on a bed as I was just not with it.

I'd say there's absolutely no harm in giving it a go, but like anything to do with giving birth be prepared to be flexible either way, things change. It might work, it might not, but aside from getting a bit wet there's not much to lose!

Sexnotgender · 04/05/2022 19:49

Loved it. Definitely helped.

almondbran · 04/05/2022 19:52

Don’t worry about being hot & bothered, I would have loved my birth pool much warmer than it was but the midwife had a thermometer to make sure it wasn’t too hot

PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 04/05/2022 19:53

Yes it did. I was suffering from pgp and the pain in my back and groin was awful prior to getting into the pool.
The pool really helped with the weight of my bump. So much so I started falling asleep in between contractions and when my son came out it was very relaxed. He slid out and I pulled him straight up and onto my tummy. Amazing.

i was kneeling at this point so when his head came out first I had to make sure I didn’t sit on him! The midwife used her mirror to show us his little screwed up face underwater.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 04/05/2022 19:57

Yes, absolutely. Loved my water birth. I had gas and air for the land birth but managed without it for the water birth (both were identical in pretty much all other respects). Felt a huge sense of relief as soon as I got in the water.

failing40s · 04/05/2022 19:58

Yes amazing. Both mine were born in the pool. I didn't get in until I was quite far progressed and the relief was wonderful. I had G&A as well while I was in there.

I also liked that both times I was the first person to touch my baby and lift them up out of the water myself.

DarkCorner · 04/05/2022 19:59

I had 2 and found it massively helped when I got in the pool. The water supports your body and you can move around easily. I found it relaxing as it felt like “ok, now I can have the baby” whereas before I was dealing with midwives who didn’t realise how far along I was so I didn’t get into the delivery suite till 10 cm dilated both times. Apparently I was “too polite” so didn’t seem in full labour 🤦🏻‍♀️.

museumum · 04/05/2022 19:59

I was on my knees for hours in the pool. I’d never have managed to kneel that long on dry land.

KatieC0811 · 04/05/2022 20:00

Absolutely!!! Its incredible, I had both my kids at home, 1st not a planned home birth, got in the bath to relieve (what I thought were) early contractions, ended with a paramedic hoiking me out after a few hours amd giving birth on the landing, no pain relief
2md baby planned homebirth, got in the bath at 5cm ish (I seem to dilate really quick,early on) and again, no pain relief, baby born in bath after a couple of hours
(Standard bathroom bath, not hired birth pool)

They don't let you have the bath/pool boiling so no chance of getting hot and bothered, its really relaxing, seems to help relax your skin, hardly any burning whilst crowning, just overall amazing, would do it exactly the same given the chance to have a 3rd xx good luck in your labour x

tiggergoesbounce · 04/05/2022 20:03

Yes mine absolutely helped, i was in there for alot of the birth,,then had complications and needed to get out, i cannot tell you the difference in the pressure on my underneath once out of the water, i wish i could have finished in there 🥺..

It was so relaxing as well as we had low lighting,,a bit of relaxing music, it was great
If i we wanted another, i would go water again and would definately recommend it to anyone who can.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 04/05/2022 20:04

Dd is 28 and I still look back on that birthing pool with great fondness (had her at home with rented pool and spent a lot of the last few weeks wallowing in it)

I insisted in getting out to deliver - got all shouty about it in transition- but it was fab.

museumum · 04/05/2022 21:15

For managing my temperature I loved wallowing in the warm/hot water but drinking really cold chilled water from a sports bottle.