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Birth clubs

Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

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Original poster

Club water birth :)

43 replies

justhayley · 13/03/2012 16:27

Hiya anyone else hoping to have a water birth?
I'm 33+3 weeks - due April 12th, having a boy who I hope to deliver in water :)
Just thought I'd start a thread to chat to anyone with experience of doing this or plans to.

I found a helpful list of things to pack In your hospital bag if ur having a water birth, few things I propably wouldn't have thought of included

A bath pillow and flip flops. I'm
Also going to bring a string bikini - so it can easily be taken off for skin to skin contact once bubba has arrived. It also had disposable pants on the list to wear in the water to catch a long list of body fluids that make an appearance rather than spoiling bikini bottoms.
Also had a beach skirt on the list if u want to maintain your modesty throughout.

Anyone else got any things that are worth bringing?

Also I'd like to get a book on water birth, does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks
Hayley x

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babybrain3 · 07/04/2012 09:42

What book is it?? good luck!!!! can't really imagine you trying all of those at the same time though!!!

Original poster

justhayley · 08/04/2012 10:46

what?! you mean you cant imagine someone being 9 months pregnant walking in the park whilst having sex with acupuncture needles sticking out of them - surely that would be a perfectly normal site lol. The book is "the water birth book" by Janet Balaskas. It's made me feel like that's the only way babies should be born - Its also turning me into a hippy

OP posts:

5madthings · 08/04/2012 10:55

i had ds4 in water, it was lovely, and as he was 10lb 13oz i am sure being in the water meant i didnt tear!

re clothes, i was just naked, i was naked for all my births tho as my instinct is just to strip off in labour! so take the stuff with you but be prepared to maybe not use it.

it really is lovely and relaxing, i wanted to birth in water again for no 5, but needed syntocin so couldnt :( still a lovely birth tho, thats another thing, if it doesnt work out for whatever reason you can still have a lovely birth on dry land, so dont let it get you down :)

Original poster

justhayley · 08/04/2012 12:05

10lbs 13 - ouch! iv read that it really reduces the risk of tearing which is definitely another benefit!

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5madthings · 08/04/2012 12:07

it was fine! i couldnt believe he was so big, i was all 'oh look at my little baby' as i held him in the water and the midwife said 'he is NOT little' my others had been 9lb+ so we were expecting a 9lb baby, not almost 11lb tho!

i was only in labour an hour and in the pool for 40mins of that, so am sure the water helped me stretch, esp as it was so quick!

i delivered the placenta in the water as well, and it just plopped out, much nicer than on dry land :)

good luck!

laughingGnomette · 08/04/2012 16:57

5madthings - thanks for sharing your story! The hospital are convinced I'm going to have a huge baby and it's great to hear that it doesn't necessarily mean a natural birth will be impossible to achieve.

justhayley - I know what you mean, I'll be gutted if there are no pools available or a water birth isn't possible when the time comes. I really want to prepare myself for the birth but the uncertainty stresses me out a bit!

Yorky · 08/04/2012 17:18

HWB4 due here anytime in the next 5weeks - 37wks tomorrow!
I really can't imagine giving birth on 'dry land' now :D
Getting into the water is such a lovely feeling, although I've always waited till after an internal to tell me I was past the 5cm point before getting in (although with 1st I was ready to push when I got in as MW didn't get there too early!)
I've never torn enough to need stitches, for which I give credit to the water and not DHs theory, despite DD being 9lb9
I've used a TENS machine before getting in the pool each time and not had any g&a yet, might be different this time as we can't find the TENS machine (moved house in Sept and still not very organised)
I've never worn anything in the pool either, and second the recommendation for dark towels and big cheap granny knickers for the 1st few days instead of scratchy rustly disposable ones

Interested in your intention to try acupuncture to get labour started, I've never had it but am tempted, v big and uncomfy and want to meet baby! DD was born within 24hrs of a reflexology treatment, but DS2 took no hints and was 11days late - hoping for a NOT repeat performance this time![busmile]

Bimbledorf · 08/04/2012 17:19

I so, so hope I can have a water birth with my third. I had to be hooked up to syntocinon and antibiotics with the las 2 cos of group b strep. I'm so hoping that won't be the case this time though. Anyone with group b had a water birth?

Yorky · 08/04/2012 19:12

Bimble - I have had 2 hwbs since finding out early in pg2 that I was gbs+
The MW who told me was originally all hospital, ABx, continuous monitoring, no water... I left that appt in floods of tears having had a lovely delivery with DC1 and hoping for a repeat performance. I rang the local MLU and spoke to a lovely MW who said they wouldn't stop me delivering there because of GBS but they couldn't give me the ABx so I might as well stay at home I haven't looked back since
I found a quote on an NHS site about if you've had a confirme GBS delivery before and baby was OK then they recommend you don't have the ABx and clung to the belief that I was +ve but didn't know it with DC1, and all 3 of them are fine

Yorky · 08/04/2012 19:29

Not the link I was looking for, but says what I wanted, and clung to through 2nd pg

"When antibiotics are not necessary

If you carry GBS in your vagina, you should not need antibiotic treatment:

if GBS was detected in your vagina in a previous pregnancy and the baby was not affected"

taken from here

My waters went at 6am on Tues with DS1 but he wasn't born till 1214 (lunchtime) Weds, typical GBS although we didn't know. MW took swabs from his nose and mouth but I never heard anything back from them so assume they didn't find anything to worry about. A different MW did suggest that being born in water must wash the bugs off them anyway so maybe a slightly safer option - her theory and no research so don't quote her etc... made sense to me though [busmile]

Bimbledorf · 08/04/2012 21:34

That is so awesome, thanks Yorky. It seems that they have a better understanding of it all now. My first child was born 8 years ago. My waters broke 48 hours before they induced me with the every means possible - syntocinon to the max etc. They said baby had to get out asap as my waters had been broken for so long and they had since discoverd the GBS. Trouble was they were so aggressive with the induction that my son came in a couple of hours and didn't get the benefit of the IV antibiotics. We remained in hospital for 8 days afterwards to check he was ok whilst he was having a course of anti biotics. I do appreciate that they were erring on the side of caution and I shouldn't fault them for that - but my son's cultures were clear so even being without my waters for so long he still didn't get it fortunately. I had to have IV antibiotics with my daughter and she was completely fine - got two doses in labour as it was much slower - far nicer!!!

They didn't even test to see if I had it with 2nd preg - just assumed, I am so going to quote this article then if anyone says I cant have a water birth as need anti b!!

Sorry for the thread hijack

Original poster

justhayley · 26/04/2012 18:12

Hi all, just thought I'd update you. Iv now had my little man - born April 15th (still awaiting a name ). I didn't end up having a water birth. My labour was 4 hours from first contraction and only an hour of it was spent in hospital. I arrived at the birthing centre at 6cm, and was progressing very quickly. My position of choice was on all fours crawling around the floor! (I have cut knees & elbows lol). Once in active labour I must admit I forgot all about a water birth - the closest I got was biting a soggy flannel lol. When I was ready to push the midwife asked if I wanted her to get the pool ready - it ment having to get off the bed and change rooms, I ignored her then when she asked a 2nd time, I believe my words were "if u like the fucking pool so much go & get in it"! I did have the natural birth I wanted - and had no pain relief, not even gas and air (this wasn't the plan it just made me sick). Although I would have liked a water birth I now realise how pointless a birth plan is. I have no regrets, the main thing was I got my baby out in good time with no problems. Did tear a little though and had two stitches - do wonder if this would have happened in the pool! Maybe baby number 2 will be a water baby instead

OP posts:

CaptainHetty · 02/05/2012 15:22

congratulations on your little one :)

I'm 18+3 and would quite like a water birth for this one, so I'm definitely going to start looking into it. Can I ask what books etc you looked at?

Littlemissimpatient · 07/05/2012 08:46

Congratulations!
I'm only 4 weeks but always liked the idea of water birth so I'll be watching this thread with interest!

ShakiraB · 18/05/2012 22:39

laughingGnomette what is the sieve for??

I am considering changing hospital trusts so I can have a water birth. But first need to know that :D Eeek!

PrimaBallerina · 19/05/2012 18:43

My DS was born in the water and I'd like to do it again with this one.

I'm at all the 'swim skirts for modesty.' I left it a bit late and ended up in there wearing the t shirt I'd arrived in. By that point you really won't be thinking about your modesty, I promise.

Mikyahrose · 06/06/2012 17:39

I think i'd like a water birth too. Havent done much reading up about it yet though or properly talked to the midwife. Whe hasnt gone through birthing plans with me yet, but think that'll be happening in the next few appointments.

mrsbugsywugsy · 07/06/2012 16:52

I just wondered what are the odds of actually being able to have a water birth? I definitely think I'd like to try it, but I wondered if there are usually enough birthing pools for everyone who wants one? I don't want to set my heart on it but not be able to have one.

I will be due in January so the thought of getting out of the cold and into a nice warm bath sounds especially appealing.

(I'm also only 6 weeks pg so maybe getting a bit ahead of myself here )

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