Is birth pool a good option?

[Paula30CWR]

I was told by a friend she had her three children by choosing a birth pool and everything was great.

I'm in the middle of week 38 and I haven't considered giving birth in a pool, i don't know why, to be honest.

Can anyone say if it's better than giving birth outside a pool?

If I have it as an option, is it too messy or at least more than when you are outside? Can the pain be more controlled if you are in the water?
I don't know...i'm freaking out as baby can come out any time now.

Also, if some of you have used it, have you been using the tens machine before getting in the water? If so, is the pain more intense after you stop using the tens machine?

Thanks!!!!

it's totally up to you. it won't guarantee a "great" birth, though obviously it worked well for your friend

I did LOVE my birth pool too. I used it to labour in with ds2, and then got out to deliver him.
had ds3 in the pool, but only just lol

i liked it it because it takes a lot of the weight off you, so you can relax more. the warm water just feels nice and comforting and soothing too.
wasn't messy at all. although, i didn't have to clean it out so I don't know lol

with my first baby I wasn't interested at all... I only got one for the second 2 as I had them at home and I saw one going for a good price. I am glad I did though.

I didn't use a tens so can't comment on that. I had my second in water though and it was wonderful, the pain relief when I got into the pool was amazing. I'd say it is less messy than being on dry land as everything goes in the water which you then just get out of at the end. You don't really notice any of that though either way.

If your hosital or wherever you are giving birth has a pool then no harm in asking ot try it, if you don't like it you can just get out :)

Had DD2 in birthing pool and thought it was great. Was not planned this way and when the midwife first suggested using the pool I told her that I wasn't a hippy and there was no way I was sitting in all that gunk! However totally took the weight off my back, so found it very helpful. Didn't use TENS so can't comment there. Must admit that as soon as I could, I was out of there. Did not feel the need to bond with my newborn in the pool; we got out. Each to their own tbh. Hth with your decision. Congrats by the way. I remember feeling the way you are feeling. It's going to happen, and when it does, you will be totally calm.

I had DC3 in birth pool the other day and it was sooo much more relaxing.
Much better than TENS imo.
When it comes to the actual birth I don't think the pain is any less though tbh, but it was over very quickly for me both with and without pool so can't really comment.

I decided on a birth pool in week 38 so it's not too late, you can order them and have delivered quickly.

I can thoroughly recommend The Water Birth Book by Janet Balskas, which explains the advantages of water in labour as well as birth, and describes the safety elements too.

The idea is that being in water can help you to feel relaxed between contractions, help you to move around more easily, and also gives you a sense of being in your own little safe place, making it easier to focus and feel in control (especially if you're at home, instead of a well-lit hospital room).
Generally, the effect is to safely intensify contractions, making them more efficient, whilst also making them easier to cope with.

It also has the advantage of softening your tissues, so you're less likely to tear.

I'm a big fan, as I had a water birth at home with my first baby, and it was a massive support for me. Obviously it's not the same for everyone, and a pool can't guarantee that things will go as you want them to.
But I would say it's worth having it as an option.

BTW I was using a TENS machine in early labour, then into the pool in full-on active labour. You can't get in too early, or you get too relaxed and contractions slow down! So by then you're ready for something else anyway - the TENS wasn't helping much by the time labour got to that stage.

HTH!!

Sorry - that should read Janet Balaskas.

I had water births with both my dc. Both were very positive experiences and I would strongly recommend trying it out. As previous posters have said, you can always get out if you don't like it. It's not at all messy and it's incredible lifting your baby out of the water for it's first breath (feeling all teary). Good luck !

I'm planning on having a home birth and am thinking of using a birthing pool and am wondering how the midwife gets access to you/the baby while your in there? Only the sides look quite deep! If anyone has home birth pool experience I would be grateful for any info you could give. Xx

I used TENS for all 3 - fantastic things!

Had DS1 in hospital and hated it. DS2 at home in a birthing pool and it was sooo much better. The midwife seemed to manage fine, but of course we discussed it with her first and she was very happy with the whole idea (and recommended 'birth pool in a box' - don't know if they still exist but they were very good and cheap!). It was lovely when he emerged from the water and looked around at us - no crying at all!

There was no mess left afterwards - midwives are very good with that side of things. Mine even covered my bed with waterproof mats so I wouldn't bleed on the white sheets!

DD arrived quickly and the pool still only had 3 inches of water in so be warned... Fill it early!

I'm planning a home water birth with dc3 due in july DC1 was hospital induced 4.5 hrs, DC2 planned home birth but ended in hospital as back to back and failure to progress 34 hrs from waters breaking spent 32hrs at home and now wish I'd had a pool to relax in. Everything I've read about water births even for those who chose to deliver out of the water is really positive.

By the way lovely to read some positive birth experiences after all the negative birthing threads.

i had water birth but never had birth on land. My water birth was great. I used TENS until getting into the water and it was great.
I highly recommend water birth if you can have it.

minimoon.
I was in my pool on my knees leaning over the side and the midwife watched from the sidelines with a torch on my foofoo and a mirror on the bottom of the pool. They are very hands off anyway.
When she wanted to check the fetal heart she came and stuck a probe on my belly under the water without making me move.
She even managed a VE without me getting out of the pool - I stood up with two people holding me steady and she just had a quick feel - this was after I was spontaneously pushing so baby was nearly crowning anyway.
Eventually the baby popped out and I leant back and scooped her up myself. It was magical that no-one else touched her.

I have just given birth to DS2 in a birthing pool at Lewisham's MLU and it was a fantastic experience. DS1 was born on a bed in a labour ward and experience not so good tbh.
Benefits of birth pool are that the warm water is wonderfully soothing whilst contracting, helps to support your body weight, gives you a safe place to move around in. I actually commented to my husband when I got in [at around 5 cm dilated] that I felt as if I was at a fancy spa!

Actual birth was very relatively relaxed and pain free. Also very quick [2 hour active labour]. I only had a minimal vaginal graze post birth and believe that the water helps soften tissues so this is not uncommon.
I also used a TENS [Obi Tens] from early labour until I went in the birthing pool and feel this was also very helpful in managing discomfort in the early stages. Also helped me to feel more in control of the situation.
So I personally would highly recommend both birthing pool and TENS.

I had use of a poolin the hospital.
I know a lot of people love it but I couldn't stand the feeling of the water on my skin and had to get out of the pool after only seconds!! Ignore irritated me beyond belief.

Waterbirth evangelists just don't get it.

I did spend a lot of time in all 3 labours standing in the shower. Running water was fine!

minimoon
the midwives sat at a table drinking tea, while I laboured in the pool

no, really... i was very lucky to have 2 wonderful midwives who were very hands-off and happy to let me do things in my own way.
They were very experienced, and didn't feel the need to examine me, and were obviously confident of spotting any potential problems without having to touch me/look at me

I had one VE with ds2, and that was when they first came out to check how i was progressing. The first midwife knew I was ready to push simply by the noises I was making! was amazing

Hi - I would recommend the pool, I had the majority of my labour with ds in the pool and it was amazing - only word of caution I would advise and keep reminding myself for next labour in around 7 weeks is to make sure you are pushing properly - I was far too relaxed in the pool and being first labour and not really knowing what to do and I wasn't pushing as hard as I should have been (I was actually dosing between contractions at one point, didn't need gas/air etc) however, ds heart rate started to drop and I ended up being hauled out of the pool plonked on a bed like a beached whale and 5 mins and an Episiotomy later he arrived!

I used a Tens for about 2 hours from when contractions started and was 8 cms!!! It was good but as it was all happening quickly and everything was intense it just annoyed me and I ended up just ripping it off when I arrived at hospital.

Good luck, a good experienced midwife will make sure you're doing everything right :-)

With DC2 I laboured in my bath at home which I loved. I was in there about 7 hours I went to hospital when I felt I couldn't manage the pain which turned out to be when I was 10cm.

I was offered the use of the pool when I arrived but I didn't fancy it then - don't know why but have to say I hadn't intended to have any sort of water birth.

DC2 was delivered on a bed and that suited me fine.