anyone had a not so good water birth?

[bubblepop]

i have been thinking of having a waterbirth, heard lots and lots of stories about them being fab, but im curious to know if anyone did not have a good experience in the birth pool and why.

I didn't have a bad experience exactly but got in and got straight back out again. It just wasn't where I wanted to be in the end. I'd always envisaged these comfy, inflatable pools and then the one at the hospital that I got into was all hard edges and yellow! I also think you need very supportive carers around you to make it work - dh was great, but I don't know if he really 'got' the idea of a waterbirth and the midwife was very hands off.

I was booked into a hospital whos senior midwife had written books on waterbirths blah blah, I was so thrilled about this but very anxious about being in a hospital and just spent the first few hours crying as I was so frightened of my midwife, I had visions of getting into a pool and chilling out but as it happened I felt even more vulnerable and scared and you couldn't get me out fast enough. Looking back I am shocked that I didn't try it for a bit longer but you can't be sure exactly how you are going to feel when you're eventually in labour.
FWIW my SIL thought the idea of a waterbirth was appalling and guess where she ended up having her baby 6 months later - no stitches, a blissful birth in every way.

Had one two months ago. It was still horrific because basically a big fat baby still has to come out of your teeny tiny vagina, no matter where you have it.

The worst thing for me was the back pain - I don't know why but it was HORRIFIC, I think because my body was contorting so much giving birth. The pain was so horrendous that I didn't want to hold my baby afterwards. I was also in too much pain to lie down to have stitches put in so I opted not to have them, which I now regret!

Think of a plan for how you will have stitches done and what sort of pain relief you will want for that - once the baby's out, the pain hit me like a TRUCK.

I had a waterbirth or water labour as I call it. I found being in the pool a brilliant experience and following on from franke's post my mw's and student mw's were brilliant and so supportive. In fact it seemed as though dh & I were left to our own devices. I know this may shock some people and believe me beforehand and even now it does fill me with dread but your mw knows how you are coping and what you are able to deal with.
The only issue I had with a waterbirth is the fact that because you are in water thats body temperature there is a possiblity that it can make your contractions slow down or in my case stop. This is why they don't advise you to use the pool until you are at least 4cm's. I got in at around 4cm's and about 8hrs later (once at 10cm's) my contractions virtually stopped.. I was encouraged to walk about but because I had only had gas & air I was worried that the water was giving me added pain relief so didn't want to get out and risk feeling pain iykwim....
Anyhow I ended up giving birth on "land" with the help of sitocin (sp?) drip to speed up my contractions..from 0 to ouucchhhh but you know what I gave birth without anything!!! Now I am the worlds biggest wimp so gods knows how I did it...btw dd was 9lb 4oz.... Im only 4ft 11in..!!!

What I'm trying to say is that my experience was brilliant but wasn't how I planned it..beaware that in water you are only allowed g&a but thats not to say that if you don't enjoy the experience you are able to get out!! I thought I may freak out so went in with an open mind,I think this is what made it easier for me..Have faith in your mw. good luck.

forgot to say, I also had 2nd degree tear..this apparently can happen with a waterbirth as well. I had stitches and again only has g&a. Don't worry to much in advance as the mw will discuss all possibilities with you as you go along.Whats the point of worrying about stitches if you don't need them!!?

I had to have stitches too, but that was such a small down-side. The experience of a waterbirth was fab! (sorry, you wanted to hear about not-so-good ones!)

As a soula I attend many waterbirths, not one of my "mums" woulod not do it again.
As long as you are happy to go with the flow... like it : stay in, hate it: leave ! you'll be fine

As a doula... God what 2 glasses of wine do to spelling

Absolutely pupuce (re stay or leave). If you don't like water it's so easy to reverse your decision. If you choose say pethidine instead, it's a diff ballgame.

Whats the point of worrying about stitches if you don't need them!!?

I wouldn't WORRY about them but I would give careful consideration to how you would like them handled. If you haven't had any pain relief during the birth then it IS an issue - it certainly was for me, particularly as I could't lie down because my back was knackered. With hindsight I would have got a Doctor in and asked for help getting onto a bed and getting some serious pain-relief so I could have been repaired.

MP I agree...But in my case I ended up giving birth on the bed so didn't have the experience you did. I don't recall being given anything to help ease the stitches..just G&A..?? I presume an anesthetic was given as well..??

What I was trying to say is be aware of all possibilites but don't stress out to much about things that may never happen to you...I know I stressed so so much but in hindsight I wish I hadn't..easy to say though when you are not pregnant.

I thought of it (not endorsed in hospital I was in,but they wouldn't stop you iyswim).
Was in the water for a few hours but wasn't as great as I thought it would be,which amazed me,as I love swimming and am very at home in any water.
Had to get out to have diamorphine (which they won't give you if you stay inthe water-too powerful a drug appaprently) as the pain was too much to cope with.

Gave birth on the bed.

It was all fine.Don't regret anything.I gave it a go,and it wasn't for me,that's all.

50/50 really. I laboured in one for hours and DH poured water on my back continuously which was fab. But... it was uncomfortable leaning on the edge and I felt pretty exposed (I didn't realise I could wear a t-shirt). The pool was in a big room in a birthing centre and prior to the birth I thought it looked great. During my labour I would have liked to have been in a cupboard!

Difficult to know how you will feel, but you can always get out of the pool if you don't like it.

I know Bloss didn't find it helped at all.

I do think you need to plan for all eventualities. Including stitches.

Interesting re back pain, MP. I actually spent pretty well all my second labour on my living room sofa with a hot water bottle wedged into the small of my back, and only climbed into the pool to give birth. This wasn't deliberate, but I have wondered how I'd have coped with that particular kind of pain if I'd been in the water.

Water being poured onto your back MI! Poor DH did it for hours and everytime he stopped or changed hands I yelled at him.

When DS finally arrived he said his arm ached so much he could hardly hold him! Not that he was looking for (or getting!) sympathy you understand!

I was the same with wanting hot water poured on my back..mw was concerned at one stage as she didn't want to burn me ...I couldn't have given two hoots..all I knew is that it felt niiiiiccceee. In the end they poured it onto my back directly from the water pipe!!