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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Water birth - when is the best time to get into the pool?

11 replies

Savoir · 29/11/2011 21:21

I'm really hoping for a water birth, but am confused about when would be the best time to climb in - please can anybody help?

Reading over old threads on here and elsewhere, I see that some mums climb in as early as possible, others at 4 cm and others at the last possible moment. Then there are the mums who end up climbing out because the water seems to slow everything down to a halt. And others who leave it until further on, only to pass the point of no return and end up giving birth on dry land...

...I am guessing that it isn't set in stone, but what would you recommend?

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Sam100 · 29/11/2011 21:41

Is this your first birth? Firsts and seconds can be quite different.

I have had 2 water births but they were with dc2 and dc3.

With dc2 I went into labour naturally at home. Started having contractions about 12ish. They built up and called dh to come home. We went to the hospital about 3 ish and I was about 5 to 6 cm when I arrived. So I asked for pool to be filled and got in straight away. I was only in there for just over an hour when our dd was born.

Dc3 was induced. My contractions started about 6 hours after I was induced and came thick and fast. I had only been contracting for just over an hour when I asked to get in the pool - I don't remember how dilated I was. I was only in the pool for 45 minutes when ds was born.

Hope this helps!

rubyslippers · 29/11/2011 21:47

It depends

For some it is great from the first twinge and for others it may slow things down if they aren't in estbalished labour

I got in at 4 cm dilated when I arrived at the hospital

2 hours later DD was born

WombOnTheBroom · 30/11/2011 21:04

I got in when the tens/rocking etc on dry land were stopping being as effective. Don't know how dilated I was as I was on a MLU where they don't routinely check if labour is progressing normally. If I had to guess though, I'd say I was probably about 8-9cm as within about 30 mins of getting in, I started to push. I had DD about 30 mins later (ie an hour after getting in the pool). DD was my second child.

The pool helped me with the contractions, but was most helpful (for me) in the pushing bit as it helped me to control the pushing in a way I think I would have found more difficult on dry land.

GloriaTheHighlyFlavouredLady · 30/11/2011 21:52

About half past ten.

Seriously, it depends whether you're at home or hospital. Personally I think the best time is whenever you feel like it, but if early it can slow down your contractions. Not a problem IMO but medical staff do like you to get on with it.

LegsAkimboTimeToBlush · 30/11/2011 22:06

Imo. When the pain seems unbearable.

Wait as long as you can until having pain-relief. Refuse gas and air, then get in.
If you get in when things are 'uncomfortable' it is probably to early and will slow things down. If you get in when you start to feel you can't cope any more and you are going to bloody die it will be the equivilent of morphine.

It all depends on your own personal pain threshold.

PinkFondantFancy · 30/11/2011 22:12

I agree with legsakimbo. I got in when I couldn't cope without pain relief any more. I must have been about 8 or 9cm. Things did grind to a halt for about 15 mins but by that stage I don't think there's much stopping the inevitable progression!

MonaPomona · 01/12/2011 09:58

I too was confused about this, my mw said if things slow we will ask you to get out. What actually happened was that I got in when I felt I wanted to - before mw arrived in fact (I was having an HB), this was about 8.30pm and ds2 was born at 9.34pm. I dont know what stage I was at, I just wanted to get in the pool. I used tens up to then and the twinges were getting stronger and I felt tens was not having the effect it had up to then.

Grohlsgirl · 01/12/2011 10:38

So have people experienced this slowing down thing then? We had a trial run with our birth pool last night and i loved it, took so much pressure off Bump! If i hadn't read this post i would have been tempted to get straight in once labour kicks off. But if waiting means more effective pain relief then i'll wait as long as i can...

Original poster

Savoir · 01/12/2011 14:05

Thanks to all for feedback. I think that I'll be holding off for as long as I can too!

OP posts:

MonaPomona · 01/12/2011 18:33

I would really recommend Janet Balaskas' book Water Birth, it explains in there all about why/when water can slow labour and what to do if that happens.

ginaribena · 01/12/2011 20:19

I was guided in my first labour by a lovely midwife, she had me in bath first and then for last stages of labour when in a lot of pain I went to pool where I delivered DS1, and it was lovely! Had gas and air which suited me, think they took it off me to push - I was a good girl and just did everything I was told!!! Completely trusted them. I think people who get in earlier often end up getting out before delivery for reasons suggested above.

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