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

Oh yes mine was a very short labour, prob not ideal with a long labour and keeping moving

I've just thought of a negative after I posted. We are on a water meter

I had a terrible water birth experience. The pool temperature wasn’t regulated so it got too hot & I was cooking in the water. In the rush to cool it down the cold pipe burst & flooded the room. My ds & I went into shock from the high water temperature & he was delivered by an emergency section. However I have heard good things about them but it’s just not for me again

@TillyMint81 if this weather continues they might start banning them!

Thanks everyone. I'm really hoping I'll be able to have the pool! Ah well if not but would be nice...

I wanted a water birth for my first but my local hospital didn't have a pool so I hired one. Unfortunately I wasn't able to use it in the end. I went into hoIt needed to be assembled and my by the time the midwife had r

First 3 in hospital, last 2 home water births. Cannot even begin to compare the 2, the water births were just amazing. I suppose it will be pot luck on the day really as to whether or not it's free.

All the best and good luck.

Mine was absolutely beautiful. Hadn't even considered it but I couldn't have any medication and my midwife suggested it.

Very comfortable, had those noodle floats as the pool was much deeper than I'd considered!

Beautiful birth, DD get fell asleep on my chest and we swooshed around for about 40 minutes.

Then when we got out I swatted over a bucket and squeezed out the afterbirth - class.

I’ve had 4 babies, and 2 water births (my 1st and 4th)

what was it like giving birth in water?
I found it really liberating to move how I needed to because I felt protected by the water. It did help with pain relief, but really the most important element for me was the fact I could move easily. Much better compared to my two non-water births!

- did it have any negatives?
For me, no, nothing intrinsic about the water birth was a negative for me.

- 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?
This is the reason I didn’t have one for birth 3, I asked, and it wasn’t free

would you use water again? Why?
No! Because I’m not having anymore babies but seriously were I to have another birth, then yes, definitely! Having experienced both with and without, it really was the most comfortable for me.

I booked for a water birth and started in the pool but had to come out as LO heart rate dropped and he got a bit stuck.
I would totally recommend it...I loved it.
When I had to come out, the pressure on my downstairs area was definitely worse and the pain was much worse. They coped with moving me brilliantly and are prepared for everything, they whizzed a bed in the room and quickly prepped it, without me noticing , and the whipped me out.
I was really upset I couldn't finish the birth off in the pool but as you say "shit really does happen".
It depends on the hospital I suppose if you get the birthing pool and how many people they have wanting it and luck of the draw when others go into birth and get in first.
Big thumbs up from me

I have had five water births - first in hospital, three more at home, then number five in a midwife-led unit. I cannot imagine giving birth not in water - it was absolutely wonderful. I had no pain relief at all for the first four, and some gas and air for number five.

Sorry ..no I didn't have any negatives - only that you couldn't have a epidural..but that didn't effec my birthing plan anyway.
Yes if I was to have any more, I would definitely make sure it was in the birthing pool...they had all mood lighting and our music through the speakers

I started in the water and things went wrong eventually.
Labouring in the water was lovely and relaxing. Being moved from the MLU to the labour ward not so much. Try to avoid that scenario. Haha!
Go for it OP. If you don't like it just ask them to get you out.

I like it because it was a distraction, only in it for about 25 minutes mind, bang was born 40 mins after arriving at hospital. It doesn't make it magically less painful but like I said it was a good distraction.

Baby not bang!

Whoops. Hit the wrong button!

I got to hospital at around 3am (waters broke) and nothing much was happening so they sent my husband home and told me to sleep, telling me there would be hours to go. A few hours later I was 8cm dilated and not in a fit state to start assembling the pool and it took my husband ages to get back because he caught up in commuter traffic. So, no water birth.

Second time round, the hospital (a different one, as we had moved) had a pool but they couldn't guarantee you could use it. Midwife asked if I had considered a home birth, so I did that as it gave me the best chance of ha i g the water birth. So we hired a pool again and this time I actually got to use it. Much more pleasant all round. It was only small, but it was lovely and deep and excellent for pain relief.

Only downside was trying to pump out the water and clean it all up afterwards!

Would I do it again? Far too late for me now, but definitely!

I laboured in the pool for a while (ended up having to get out and go from MWU to hospital as was progressing too slowly) but it was still overall positive.

I found the level of pain relief surprisingly good - better than gas and air

I didn't like having to get up to wee in a cardboard tray, after you've been floating for a while it feels horrible getting up!

It was fairly cold but my temperature was a bit high so they were deliberately keeping it on the cool side

I found and I think others have that it can slow labour down if imy ou go in in the early stages so they say you've got to be 4 or 5 cm or something - I think it's best to stay out of it as long as you can stand it unless things are going really fast, it feels like such a relief when you get in

I hated it, but aside from the few other posters on here have only ever heard positive things from other people. I have no idea why, but when I got in (and initially thought this is AMAZING, so warm and lovely to be supported by the water) but then the next contraction came and it was just somehow 100 times worse than it had been. I tried through a few more contractions but had to get out, and the contractions from then although still really bad were just much more manageable again. Absolutely no idea why, and never met anyone else who felt that way!

Labour 1 - in the pool, no pain relief (through choice). Was in so much pain and didn’t really notice any difference when I got in the water.

Labour 2 - was planning on going in the pool but due to no midwives being available I laboured alone until the last 10 minutes, so gave birth standing up holding on to the edge of the empty pool. No pain relief again (not through choice this time). Also very painful.

So....dunno. I know for some people it helps a lot but I guess for me dry land vs water is like someone saying do you want to be punched in the face 30 times or 33 times...after about the 20th punch it doesn’t really matter.

I've had 2 waterbirths and I have nothing to compare it to but they were both fabulous without any drugs or stitches. The only problem with my first was I had a retained placenta which the midwife said was possibly due to my full bladder, so with my second I was in the pool around 3 hours, but I made myself go for a wee about 5 times, and getting out of the pool into the cold air felt horrible. Placenta came on its own though, so that was good!

I found it an amazing way of relieving pain.much much more effective than I thought it would be.
Overall a lovely experience.

Had 2 water births in a MLU. First was 10lb , no stitches , second 8lb but I was in a hurry (ten days overdue) and I pushed too hard when I was told not to so had a small tear. Water was amazing for pain relief . I loved it. Just had some gas and air. I was very worried , almost panicked that pool would not be available for no 2 but it was. I had to get out for some checks and could not get back in fast enough. Did not feel cold at all.

Giving birth in water was surreal but infinitely better than dry land (first time started off in the pool but was a back-to-back labour and ended with assisted birth and an epidural). The water felt comforting and supportive around my bump and lower back, and the low lighting/soft bath lights helped me to keep my focus. I was only in there 15 minutes before a baby floated past
Only negative was that I got a leg cramp from being in an all-fours position.
I was in a midwife-led unit so no problem getting a pool.
Would definitely want a water birth if we had any more.

I got in the water towards the end of labour with DC2. She was posterior and it had been a longish second labour. It took the edge of the pain but was neither amazing nor miraculous . DC3 ended up as a section and DC4 a closely monitored VBAC so I didn’t really get the chance to do it again, but I wasn’t fussed either way.

I’ve had two water births and planning a 3rd so I am positive about them BUT lots of people here have said they reduce the risk of tearing - I’m not sure that’s true.

I had a 3rd degree tear in the water with my first and all midwives I spoke to afterwards said it was probably because of being in the water, in that the midwife can’t see as well and help guide you.

I had to see a consultant during my second pregnancy and he said that I was welcome to have another water birth but that I was statistically more likely to tear again in the water. The plan was to labour in the water and come out to give birth but I couldn’t face getting out at that point so gave birth in the water and tore again (not as badly).

Also agree that the temp fluctuations can be very weird (water too hot during ctx and feels freezing once one has passed!) and the pool can slow down labour so don’t get in until you’re a good way along.