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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for your water birth experiences?

21 replies

Februaryblooms · 15/04/2019 18:30

I'm just over 38 weeks and got a call today from the MLU who've referred my MW referral and invited me for a look around the unit and a pre birth chat.

I've heard mainly great things about water births but was hoping to hear directly from other mums who've had them.

Unfortunately this baby is back to back like my last (epidural) so I'm keeping everything crossed that I can manage with just gas & air, and the water!

Didn't get the chance to use a pool last time due to the epi.

OP posts:

Original poster

Februaryblooms · 15/04/2019 18:31

Received my MW referral*

OP posts:

nauseous5000 · 15/04/2019 18:35

I suggest you ask for this to be moved to pregnancy

Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 15/04/2019 18:36

I had a water birth, it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life!
I’d hard a tough birth with dc1 so was keen to avoid tearing again, water births are great for this.

I managed to get myself ‘in the zone’ with contractions, pictured myself riding the waves so to speak. Also remember to really, genuinely relax between contractions as it gives you so much more energy. I felt euphoric a afterwards, felt like Wonder Woman!

Good luck!

TheFirstRuleOfFightClub · 15/04/2019 18:40

My last water birth (at home) was back to back. It was fantastic. My one before that was also a water birth (at home), also fantastic. I have also had none water births but they were also at hospital so can't really compare them as they were so completely different.

All I can say is I didn't have any pain relief, was so relaxed and I found the water really helped me. Would you have the option of Pethadine if you felt you needed more than gas & air?

iano · 15/04/2019 18:44

I started off with a water birth but it didn't go to plan. The pain was manageable and it was all nice and calm (until it went wrong obvs). I'd say give it a shot!
I have since heard from an acquaintance that a water birth slows down a back to back labour. I have no idea if this is true though. Worth asking the MW?

bliminy · 15/04/2019 18:50

Water helped me massively. When I got in the pool I went from almost non-stop contractions to one every 15 minutes. I actually fell asleep in the pool, woke up every 15 minutes and had a contraction, then after about an hour and a half I woke up suddenly and gave birth.

PhoenixBuchanan · 15/04/2019 18:51

My first was gas and air followed by epidural (I was on labour ward so no pool), my second was a home waterbirth. It was fab. I am very much a bath person and I found the water so so helpful for pain relief! Wish I could have been in the pool the first time too.

Darkstar4855 · 15/04/2019 18:53

I didn’t have a water birth (had to get out due to prolonged second stage and needed forceps in the end) but I laboured in the pool for eight hours with just gas and air and loved it.

Duckee · 15/04/2019 19:10

I had an amazing water birth with my second dc after a very long and difficult birth with my first dc. The water didn't take the pain away as such but it made me feel much more relaxed and calm than I was out of the water. I don't even remember the pain from when I was in the water where as I still remember the pain vividly from whilst I was waiting for the pool to fill up. I 100% recommend water births.

CycleWoman · 15/04/2019 19:11

I had a water birth for my baby. He arrived relatively quickly so I was only labouring in there and then pushing for 3 hours max. But it really helped me to be in the water. It felt nice to be weightless and I was a nice temperature the whole time (I’d have been boiling out of the water!).

It did help me feel calmer. My birth was quite quick, I felt a bit out of control and panicky, and being in the pool made me feel like I was in a bit of a safe cocoon.

I sort of had my husband kneeing at the side with the gas in one hand and some water/juice in the other!

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 15/04/2019 19:16

I’ve had two back to back waterbirths, the last just 5 days ago . They were dc3&4 for me, all mine have been back to back. First labour sounds similar to yours, epidural and a long second stage as she didn’t turn before being born. All the others have turned in labour, despite not budging beforehand. I really really recommend trying the pool. It’s so lovely to get into such a warm pool, and it gave me the space I needed to get into the zone. It certainly made my contractions less painful. Both waterbirths were very quick, dc3 less than an hour and brand new dc4 about an hour and a half after getting in. I was worried my contractions weren’t strong enough to be productive as tbh they were nothing like I remember my previous births, unless gas and air has improved substantially in the last few years . The lights were very dim and the midwife was hands off, just what I wanted. I found it helped that my waters broke at night after I’d not been able to sleep and had been reading some Ina May Gaskin so I found it easy to remember what I’d read and to relax and not be afraid when the time came to push. I also find I intuitively get onto a good position once in the pool. A birth ball to lean over helped before I got in, once I was in I kind of laid on my side and then switched to kneeling over the side once it was time to push. Dp was in front of me giving me sips of drink between contractions. The only thing I’d say is that I got fairly hot and all they could give me was some damp paper towels for my head, I would have given anything for a decent ice pack! Good luck, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat x

Mommaof2x · 15/04/2019 19:20

I really wanted water for my first but I got really hot in the water and was sick after trying the gas and air, jumped out and had baby in bed, second time I had a bath as wasn’t dilated but again felt so hot and bothered jumped out to push. If I have a third I will try water again, it really speeds up my labour and makes contractions back to back for me, but whether or not I would stay in there I don’t know so keep an open mind, try it and see. I pushed out both with nothing so if you are worried will gas and air be enough I think you will be okay and especially as it’s second, might just slide out!

weegiemum · 15/04/2019 19:24

I'm going to be awkward here. I hated the water!

With dd1 (who is now 19 so we're looking at a good while ago!!) I tried water but eeeeeerek no!

She was back to back and I hardly hit the water before I was bouncing out - I just couldn't stand the water on my skin, it made me so uncomfortable. At several times through my 37 hour labour I tried water/bath and on every occasion I bounced right out. I coped well with showers and the midwives let dh be in there with me, so I had plenty time in the shower.

Dd1 was 9lb12oz and back to back so very little bath-ing was going to help.

I just avoided the water with ds and dd2, both of whom were smaller and better positioned, but I was afraid that the water would halt things the way it did with dd1.

AutumnGlitterBall · 15/04/2019 20:41

I had a waterbirth with number one. Was great for pain relief and I managed with just the gas and air. However, the baby got stuck which took a few minutes for the midwives to realise and I ended up with a third degree tear which then needed surgery to sort. Two separate midwives this time have said the water makes your skin very thin and liable to tearing even before I told them about the shoulder dystocia so I’ll be having a c-section this time.

howwilliknoww · 15/04/2019 20:50

I have had 2 water births. First one was back to back and the pain was bad but bearable with gas and air. Labour was 18 hours and I wanna as in and out of the pool for about 7 hours but the midwife was lovely. Second time I opted for water birth again and was brilliant, only 3 hours this time but would honestly recommend a water birth. If I were to ever have a 3rd would definitely be a water birth for me again.
Good luck x

40andfeelingit · 15/04/2019 22:06

I was induced with both of mine but had a water birth for both.
Both quickish labours, (when they got going), but the water was amazing. So much do that I was begging the midwife to let me get in and get on with it with number 2 while they wanted to faff about monitoring me. Gas and air, yoga breathing and water was fantastic, the relief you feel when you get in is amazing and the water supports you all the way through.
And, the best bet, when that baby comes out you’re the one who holds them first, holding my baby and being the one who checked what sex it was was amazing and so bonding, still think of it as such a special moment, and straight into skin to skin contact.
Good luck! x

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 15/04/2019 22:06

I was too hot; as the water cooled down they put more hot in. Which I hated!

Didn't really do much for the pain tbh.

Best bit: they couldn't really get near me, so not touched or examined at all. I had to tell them when DC had been born!

Purplejay · 15/04/2019 22:32

I had a water birth with DS. I was in the pool about 2.5 hours tops before he was born. He wasn’t back to back though. Pool was lovely. Consistent soothing temperature. Fan if I got a bit warm. I found the water really helpes. Had gas and air, felt baby move into position, very weird when the heartbeat is suddenly lower and more central! He only needed about 3 pushes when it came to it. Midwife was lovely and we had a student who stayed with us the whole time too. Her first water birth. I would definitely recommend.

Lilsquish · 15/04/2019 23:26

My baby was back to back and the only thing that helped with the pain (other than an epidural 35 hours in......) was being in the water.

go for it - ps im also almost 38 weeks. all the best with your birth x

Poing · 15/04/2019 23:30

Like another pp, I really wanted a water birth, but even a shower felt awful so I just left it. It was disappointing not giving birth in that the water, but I did have a great birth (as in, quick, minimal tear). I think that if you want one, go for it. I have heard great things.

2rachtint · 15/04/2019 23:59

I loved it, kept me calm. I didn't go in until 6cm and waters didn't break until the very end (2 pushes and out). Dim, pretty lighting, attentive but not imposing midwife and music playing. I didn't feel the ring of fire and I was able to catch her and bring her up into my arms. Wonderful experience (unfortunately things went a little pear shaped after delivery but pleased the labour and birth itself was a positive experience).

Definitely try it if you're able, you can always get out if it's not for you.

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