to ask you about waterbirth?

[GlitterBallBee]

I would LOVE to have a water birth (if possible) and was wondering if those who have had one can answer a few questions for me?

• what was it like giving birth in water?
• did it have any negatives?
• if there is only one pool at your hospital, what are the chances of you actually being able to use it, as opposed to someone else being in it?
• would you use water again? Why?

I'm totally aware that shit happens (yes, literally too!), and a water birth may not be possible... but I would love to hear some RL experience from you guys!

Thanks

I had a waterbirth with my third (and final baby) I decided to have a homebirth in the end partly because they couldn't guarantee me a pool in hospital.
It was such a great way to labour, I am not great with pain but only used gas and air and a tens machine and the pool. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I've only had one baby so not much to compare it to, however......

• what was it like giving birth in water?

Amazing. Much mlre comfortable than laying on a bed or standing up. My contractions were less painful in water as the warm water was pain relief in itself to an extent.

• did it have any negatives?

Not for me but I do know you're limited with certain pain relief options if you're in water.

• if there is only one pool at your hospital, what are the chances of you actually being able to use it, as opposed to someone else being in it?

Hard to say as hospital wards fluctuate in terms of how busy they are and you just don't know till the day.

• would you use water again? Why?

100%, yes. The whole experience was fairly calm, I loved the feeling of being in the water and the relief it gave me and my baby was very relaxed throughout labour and after the birth. I also feel that being in water helped reduce tearing as water softens skin and allows it to stretch more.

I did water for number one and dry land for number two. Water all the way and very calm and zen experience in comparison!

One pool.at.my hospital. Got in both times. Both times there was no one else on ward who was able to use it as there are quite strict criteria. Only just made it myself as was anaemic before.

Was amazing. Can move around so much easier .. was much less painful when in water. Everything was more manageable.. I was in agony before I got in. Only negative was how shivery my body was getting out after 5 hours. Honestly thought I was going to die... but I did lose a lot of blood so maybe that didn't help.

But the room itself is so much nicer too .. well.. for me. They keep it a perfect temperature and it's amazing.

And don't worry about poo 😂😂😂😣

My wife had one. She was planning on a home birth and I got the pool ready when she went into labour, but she decided to go to hospital. We were fortunate a bath was available, but there’s no guarantees. If you don’t want to chance it then I guess home or private.

She also only had gas and air.

Ps. Seeing my son emerge into the water was beautiful to witness. Bringing me to tears thinking about it now.

A colleague of mine told me that she felt cold the whole time as apparently the temperature had to be keep on the low side and she likes her bathwater really hot normally.

I had a water birth with both of mine in a midwife led unit so they had about 5 of them and I loved it! It was so calming and relaxing, I felt it did take away the pain once I got into in too. Only down side it having to get out of it when you've pushed two giant watermelons out of your foof 😂😂 x

I had water births for both of my children. It was fantastic. I had no pain relief with either birth and I found the water very relieving (especially the second birth as I knew what to expect 😄)

I won’t be having another baby but if I did I’d definitely have another one. I was in a Midwife led unit so there were pools in all the rooms.

I didn’t tear with either baby either and they were both big, which I put down )probably incorrectly!) to the lubricating effect of the water.

All in all, it was a truly wonderful experience (relatively speaking... I mean, cocktails on the beach in the Maldives is a truly, truly wonderful experience!)

Best of luck!

Oh it all sounds so positive. I'm quite high risk so unfortunately cannot use a midwife led unit, I know these have lots of pools!

Where I am going to be is a medium unit, but only has one pool. I'll be gutted if I can't at least try it. I'm not concerned about childbirth as what will be will be. I'm concerned about having to give birth on dry land!

Thanks all it's interesting hearing everyone's experiences.

I tried with dc1 and absolutely hated it! The feeling of the water on my skin just freaked me out and I practically bounced out again, couldn’t stand it. I’ve never met anyone else who hated it as much as me, though.

Let me point you in the direction of a fantastic book: Birth Skills by Juju Sundin. It is a magnificent book detailing birth and coping strategies. It really helped my nerves both times.

-what was it like giving birth in water?
It was my first birth so I have nothing to compare it to but I definitely found it much more. Comfortable & freeing compared to labouring on the bed.

• did it have any negatives?

Nope

• if there is only one pool at your hospital, what are the chances of you actually being able to use it, as opposed to someone else being in it?

Yes! I was fortunate to have it but for my next birth I'll stay at home and hire a pool so I know I'll have another water birth. I liked it that much!

I had two home water births (and one dry birth in hospital).

What was it like giving birth in water?
Totally amazing. I had always imagined myself having a water birth, even from before being pregnant, I'm not sure why it just seemed the natural place for me to be. In reality it exceeded expectations. I felt so relaxed, peaceful, calm, supported, pain-free. I had planned to use gas and air at home but once I was in the pool I didn't need it.

Any negatives?
Only that it took a while to fill I suppose. I have short labours so we had to make a start as soon as I had any twinges and first time it was still not really full enough when I got in.

The hospital question isn't relevant to me I was at home but remember it's a very tiny percentage of people who have water births (maybe 4%?) so there's a good chance you'll be able to get in.

I am menopausal now so no more babies! But I'd recommend at least trying water to anyone. It's genuinely amazing how good it is for pain relief.

Thanks @Luckystar1 ! I bought a book 'how to how a baby then push it out' by Clemmie Hooper. Very good but only touches lightly on everything. It's more entertaining than helpful (for me anyway) - I haven't read anything I didn't really already know. I'll definitely check this one out!

@Strax wow, I thought it was more! 68% of all births at the MLU I was originally at were in water! 4% seems really low.

I agree that the water was too cold for my liking and they didn’t like me standing when I felt I needed to. Also, DS was a little cold when born so was taken away to be warmed up for a few minutes, but didn’t cry at all and was very alert. No pain relief and was excruciating, but I’m glad I did it.

With my first child I was on a bed with the heart monitor strapped on and not being able to move.Tore and needed taking to theatre, so missed bonding time with baby.

Second Baby was in the midwife led unit and I was in the pool-didn't really feel any pain once delivering and only needed one stitch afterwards,which I had whilst doing skin on skin with Baby.Son never made a sound once he was delivered and just looked around whilst I held him to me in the water it was lovely and calm.

I do not know if the water helped as each Birth is so different but I would definitely choose a waterbirth again no question.

Laboured in water twice, would recommend it!

Had to get out after a while with my first as baby got a bit stuck and needed extra monitoring etc.

With the second I got in when about 7-8cm and had an actual waterbirth.

In both cases I was lucky to get the pool as no one else was using it, just luck of the draw.

My water experiences were brilliant. I had gas and air with both. I had huge bumps and found it a lot easier to move around in the water.

With the second I gave birth on all fours in the pool, baby just eased out and no fuss. She didn’t even cry at first until we lifted her up out of the water and she got cold!

I did apparently do a little poo in the pool but midwife fished it out with a little jug and chucked it away before I even realised!

They were careful to check the water temp and top up the hot water regularly. It was a bit alarming right at the end when blood turned the water red but I got out straight after baby was born and delivered placenta on dry land so to speak.

Waterbirth was so calm and more confortable compared to first child where I had to get out and give birth on my back on a bed.

Even if you can just use pool for labouring I would recommend it.

I loved it, our hospital MLU only has one and I was really worried I wouldn’t get it, my midwife reassured me that it really wasn’t common that women who wanted it couldn’t get in - although this probably varies between hospitals. I let them know when I first called the hospital that I wanted the pool and they said it was free at the time but obviously couldn’t guarantee it, then let them know again as soon as I arrived. We got the pool room and there was no other interest in it so even after the birth we got to stay there for the rest of the night and be discharged straight from that room. The actual pool experience was brilliant, as soon as I got in the water my whole body relaxed and then my body just took over - I was only just over 6cm when I got in and he was born an hour later!
I did tear (2nd degree) and need stitches but baby was 9lb6oz and had his hand beside his head so I’m not surprised!
This time round if all goes well for the pregnancy I think I’m going to have a home birth so I’m certain I can have the pool!

It prolonged my labour by several hours because I wasn't up and moving about. I have traumatic flashbacks of not being able to stand up to push him out past his head because I had been kneeling down and leaning on the edge of the pool for 12hrs of full contractions (mine went from zero to 100000000000 within the first half hour of labour starting)

Well to be fair, my babies are almost teenagers now so it could well be much higher than when I looked into it last!

I had water births with both of mine, and would recommend them definitely. With my first I lost a fair amount of blood, so it looked a bit gruesome (the whole massive bath was red!), but I was totally relaxed throughout. (I’m not really a zen/yoga kind of person, but I was less sweary than I might’ve been otherwise!)

My second birth was in water and it was much less painful and more relaxed than my first. The best bit was that I was the first person to hold DS - the midwife said give one more push then catch him as he swims up. I didn’t believe that was going to happen for one second, but it did.

Mine was a home-birth. I used gas and air.

Periodically I was made to get out to keep things moving. They had a big job persuading me to get out each time as the relief of being in the water was so great.
Because of this I wouldn't want anything else other than a water-birth for a second baby.
I also had no tears or intervention.

Downside: Mine was a small inflatable pool with nothing to cling to I really missed having a handle or something to keep me in the position I preferred.
I assume hospital ones are better?

It was brilliant, you can have gas and air in it too. I was high risk but negotiated a MLU (based in the hospital so my risk was managed). The midwife did Incense then massage them got in the pool. I had to get out for delivery as baby heart rate dropped and it was like hitting a brick wall the pain when I got out but DC was delivered 5 mins later but it proved how much the water was taking the weight of the contractions.