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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Come discuss the nitty gritty of a water birth please ...

35 replies

SparklyBumpityBump · 19/12/2011 14:45

Hi all,
I am a lurker starting a thread for the first time so please be gentle!
I am currently 37 weeks with my first and have started to think about the birth. I am very keen to have a water birth, there is a birthing pool at the hospital that I would like to use. According to my MW, not a lot of people ask to use it, they use it more as a regular birthing room, so hopefully there shouldn't be a problem with it being available.
I just wanted to hear other peoples experiences, in particular what happens after the baby is born? Do you get out to deliver the placenta? If not, does the water get very dirty, and how long until you got out after? Did you have skin to skin/try breastfeeding in the pool or when you got out? I want to have the injection to help the third stage along, so would I have to get out for this?
Also, I want to wait until the cord has stopped doing its magic pulsing, before it is clamped, but would this mean I wouldn't be able to have the injection to speed up the third stage, or would they just give it to me after?
Starting to get nervous now, but always seem to forget everything I want to ask at MW apps! So thank god for MN!

OP posts:

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AlwaysTimeForWine · 21/12/2011 14:48

I've had 3 water births and all were FAB!!

No pain relief, only mild tearing as well. I was able to stay in the water for a while with all of them and have great skin to skin. My babies not really interested in feeding to be honest straight away - but good to have the skin to skin contact. Also means you're are all both nice and clean! I think I delivered all the placenta's out of the pool but I can't remember with my 3rd!

I do remember with my first that I wasn't going to have the injection but the placenta wouldn't come and they kept massaging my tummy and it hurt like hell so I yelled at them to give me the jab so they did and the placenta came quickly.

I remember pooing a bit but they scoop it out with a sieve. The water for me was very clean all 3 times but maybe that has something to do with the fact that all of mine were born with their waters either intact or my waters didn't go until a push before they were born - it was all quite cushioned and there was very little bleeding. Getting out to deliver the placenta also meant that the water wasn't too murky.

I was literally in the water for 5 minutes before I started pushing with my 3rd and she came 5 minutes later so it didn't have a huge impact on my labouring. The midwive told me that if I had anymore they were going to make me have them at home with my own pool as they hadn't needed to do anything!

The water is brilliant though. I was in labour a long time with my first - 48 hours of painful labour before I got to active labour. And I pushed for at least an hour and a half. The water was relaxing, and private and soothing and supporting!

Go for it!

missduff · 22/12/2011 23:37

I would highly recommend a water birth. Mine was a little different than normal as the boiler at the hospital had broken so they had to fill the pool up with the kettle and it wasn't ready until u was just about ready to push.
As soon as I got in the pain was instantly eased and I was so much more relaxed and calm.
I delivered him in the water but due to the problems with the water I had to get straight out or else it would have been too cold for DS and I then delivered placenta on the bed.
Im hoping for a water birth with my next baby too, I couldn't have asked for a better birth. I had no tears and I think the water may have helped this and I liked the fact that you can place your feet on the side of the pool so you've got something to push against when you're pushing.

notnowbernard · 22/12/2011 23:53

I've had 3 waterbirths

Delivered them all in water

You get out to deliver placenta

I had the injection to speed this up each time

Out of the 3 births, the water has varied in its, erm, content... DC1 looked like a bloodbath, DC2 came out clean as a whistle and the pool was crystal clear, DC3 bit of blood and poo (you REALLY won't care about this)... all births straightforward with no complications, btw

I got out a few minutes after delivery - but had lovely first cuddle in the pool

Lots of skin-to-skin and first bf (with DC2) immediately after leaving pool (lying on cushions on floor)

DC1 and 3 fed about 30mins after
Highly recommend waterbirths. Good luck

Skillbo · 23/12/2011 23:41

Just a word of caution - being in the water actually slowed my contractions down so I ended up having to come out.. not sure if it was just too relaxing but sadly wasn't able to actually give birth in there.

Like all birth plans, do prepare for it to potentially change - I hope it doesn't though as it was lovely whilst I was in it!

midwivesdeliver · 25/12/2011 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PoultryInMotion · 28/12/2011 12:34

Can I ask those midwives/previous water birthers, how warm is the water? I'm of the scalding bath type, and although I appreciate that's not the best idea when giving birth I am a little nervous abput whether I will be cold?

Sorry for the hijack!

4madboys · 28/12/2011 12:45

i wondered that as i am a scalding bath type as well! it is warm, body temp? i cant remember but is a specific temp anyway you dont want to be too hot in labour and i found it fine, not cold at all. they will constantly moniter the temp and top it up wiht hot/cold water as appropriate :)

PrettyCandlesAndTinselToo · 28/12/2011 17:01

I like a very hot bath, too. Birthing pools are supposed to be around body temp. I remember being surprised at just how warm that was. It felt cozy and comforting when I got in. Not so hot that I had to ease in slowly and get lobster legs, but certainly warm enough for comfort.

coraltoes · 29/12/2011 13:41

I had my dd in water, it was incredible! Started labouring with a tens machine, then as it grew unbearable painful I got to 7cm and they allowed me in the pool. I was warm enough, and I too love a hot hot hot bath. As you are putting in quite a bit of effort you don't want it any warmer to be honest or you will get sweaty.

I delivered the placenta in the pool but they had hit the drain switch, and it emptied in about 5 seconds flat! Very little blood in the water, and it meant dd was nice and clean! The relief from the pain was amazing, I think t just eases the pressure a bit as the baby descends, and makes you feel less heavy on the whole, facilitating movement for pushing in various positions etc. I tore badly but only because dd shot out all of a sudden in one go! Poor mw spent so long coaching me through it all, helping me avoid tearing that it was a shame that dd had other thoughts and just flew out in one go. I recovered really fast though, better from a third degree tear than most friends did with lesser ones. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Good luck!

I had gas and air btw.

melliebobs · 30/12/2011 20:55

just to stick my 2 pence worth in. I'm thinking about a water birth and i was reading through the leaflets that the hospital gave me. Within my trust due to infection control partners aren't allowed in the pools with you. Fair enough i don't think he'd want to. But i thought it was odd that if you deliver in the pool you have to leave it for the 3rd stage

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