Water Birth?

[Kid]

I have just discovered I am pregnant for the second time. I had an unpleasant birth first time round which ended in an emergency c-section after 22 hours of labour. I had originally wanted a water birth but because my waters had already broken I was advised against this. Has any one had a water birth and if so would you recommend one or advise against it?

I had my waters broken for me and then went into the pool. Until then I had been reading my new book and thought that I would take it with me to carry on, wondering why the midwife gave me a funny look. Needless to say the pain kicked in and all thoughts of sitting serenly book in hand, music in the background vanished... However, the pool was bliss (and not fully appreciated until I came out - rather like TENS machines). I don't know if the pool facilitated the dilation but I was in for approx 50 mins when I decided that I wanted morphine which necessitated getting out. It turned out that I was 10cm dilated and couldn't have anything - I really wanted back in the water because it does really help support everything but wasn't allowed. Next (!) time I would go straight to the pool and stay as long as poss (pref to the end) - I thought it was great.

I hadnt planned to have a water birth but when I got to the hospital the midwife suggested it so I thought I would give it a go. It was lovely, took the back pain away. The only trouble with me is that it made me very relaxed nearer the end (by that time I had been awake for nearly 36 hours and couldnt eat anything so was tired anyway). I wanted to give birth in the water but had to get out, it didnt take long after that. I will defintely be going for a water birth the second time round and hopefully it all wont be so long and I will be able to stay in the whole time.

If you like water, I would definitely recommend a water birth. I adore being in water, and simply love a long hot soak in the bath. Both my sons were born in water, in hospital. Both were fairly quick labours, on arrival at hospital it took about an hour to persuade the midwives to fill the pool and let me in, but then both boys were born within an hour of being in the pool, so the water certainly didn't slow anything down. Once I got in the water, it was bliss. I just used a bit of gas and air. The water really helped me relax, and 'work with my body', rather than being tense, stressed, and worried.

Go for it!

I would definitely recommend water. My first birth was very long, gruesome, intervention etc. so when I got to hospital after a relatively short (in comparison) labour the second time I was coaxed into a bath by the midwives for pain relief. I was having gas & air, which I took with me for the bath, but after about 20 mins my every other breath was 'EPIDURAL!!!!'. With hindsight I can see that they were humouring me as they could tell I was so close to giving birth, so dd2 was born in a normal bath, extremely quickly, no intervention at all and no stitches, just a bit of a tear. It was fantastic and I felt so much better about even the first birth after such a positive experience.

I had opted for a water birth - only problem is you have to take the Tens machine off or blow up. Found I really felt the contractions after that - although the bits in between were far more relaxing. However, when I came out to be checked after a couple of hours my midwife discovered I'd stopped dilating and if anything was going backwards. After that it all became a bit of a nightmare so didn't get a chance to go back in the water. (would have ended up a bit wrinkly as it took another day!) Don't know if the water could have slowed things down, be interested to hear if anyone else experienced similar problems.

I hate water but I loved labouring in water.... it is much more relaxing. I was just told by my very experienced midwife that the water did NOT slow my labour down the last time (and it was a very long labour!) - she doesn't really believe that it would. I have heard otherwise... so it depends which expert you ask.

My second was a water birth and I would've had the third that way except for complications. I agree with Kmg in that it really helps you to relax and there's only so much the midwife can do whilst you're in there so it's a very low-tech birth. It doesn't take the pain away but I would describe it as taking the edge off it so that it's bearable. Funnily enough of my

three children she is mad about water - loves swimming,fishing etc and we say it's because she was born underwater.

I had a water birth in a hired pool at home and I would highly recommend it. I used a TENS machine in the early stages of labour (which went on for 2 days on and off) and my midwife advised not to get into the pool until I was very near the end, although I was desperate to get in. She said that in her experience it generally slowed labour down if you got in too early. My waters broke and at that point she said I could get in if I wanted. I loved the feeling of being in my own separate environment, and the fact that the water took alot of the weight away. I used some gas and air up until I was ready to push, and like Joe above I was so tired with the long labour and the warmth of the water I nearly fell asleep. I don't think the water stops any pain, but it definitely helps you feel more relaxed. My daughter was born into the water, and I cut her umbilical cord. So in answer to your question kid I would say yes I would recommend a water birth. I also didn't tear which I think is quite often the case for women who labour in water!

i had a water labour for my one and only -unfortunately at the last minute had to get out (minor complication) and walk to the bed with half a head sticking out (major complication as far as i was concerned)! i love water anyway - i don't know about the relaxing effects because i was terrified (to my shame) - it definately helped with weight and positioning - you can actually squat - it got me the best room in the labour ward with a great big double bed -
but what i would say is that you can always get out, so the decision to have one isn't final - you really don't know how you'll feel so maybe you should just try it! oh yeah one unsavoury tip - remember your little fishing net (sorry i didn't need to say that)

I didn't really have a water birth, as such, but spent the entire 1st stage of labour in the shower and only got out when the midwives insisted that I had to for the obstetrician to "have a look". I would like to have a water birth if I ever manage to have a second baby as I love the water and even the shower made me feel so relaxed and made it easier to cope with the contrations (less that 30 seconds apart for an hour and a half!)

Like Tiu i also had a water birth at home and would highly reccommend it. Unfortunately I was only able to get in at the start of the second stage because the the midwife wasn't there until then and made me promise not to get in before she arrived. I don't think I realized how far along I was before I called her. Apparantly you need to wait until you are in "so called" established labour (about 5 or 6 cm. dilated) before you get in, otherwise it could slow your labour down. That's where I went wrong, I was waiting for established labour to start before I called the midwife but it ended up that I was actually starting the second stage. All that time I could have been in that water and I missed out. When I finally did get in it was almost bliss (if you can describe anything about labour as bliss). As others have said it still hurts but takes the edge off. I tried standing up out of the water at one stage to see if gravity would speed things along and quickly plunged down again exclaiming no, no , no. So I know it made a difference. My baby was born in the water and she was very calm and alert in the minutes following the birth. The whole experience was quite serene. I also delivered the placenta in the water which I don't think most hospital midwives will let you do. It was nice to have all the muck contained in the pool. Quite practical I thought. The Active Birth Centre teaches a 1 day seminar on waterbirths. It's really worth going to.

Kid - forgot to mention as a sign of how relaxing the water is: Five minutes before birth, when the contractions were coming every couple of minutes, I was actually falling asleep between them ... honest! That to me is the benefit of water - the actual contractions are still major, but between them you relax completely, so you are ready to cope with the next one.

Wonderful. My first was a 'traditional' on bed birth as I was shattered. My second was a water birth. Great. No body keeps poking and prodding at you just leave you to get on with it. After gas and air first time I had nothing else this time. My daughter has now at 4.6 just swam her length and is water mad.We too are convinced it's the start to life in water. Only down side is that I had an infection as they hadn't done a swab after the birth.

First of all.... congratulations!!!! I am also pregnant with babe #2! I had a water birth with my daughter and I am planning on doing the same this time round. It was a really beautiful experience for me! I really enjoyed it - yes I enjoyed being in labour!!! the water was really soothing! Why dont you check out www.waterbirth.org for more info...