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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Water births that weren't

27 replies

Rollersara · 02/01/2012 22:50

It might be an odd question, but has anyone opted for a water birth and then for some reason had to get out before the birth (e.g. to have an epidural)? I am slightly disabled but movement is much easier in water, so would like to at least try a water birth. My midwife agrees, but one of the consultants got fixated on whether I'd be able to get out if necessary. My view is that my 6' DP will help, and anyway at 34 weeks I'm still able to climb two flights of stairs to get to bed every night. How hard can it be?

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supadupapupascupa · 02/01/2012 22:54

i was prevented due to having a high BMI. Didn't find out until I was 36weeks.

LovesBloominChristmas · 02/01/2012 22:56

Wish I could help but I didn't make it in, ds almost popped whilst I was leaning onto tge side if tge pool

Tbh I would like to know how they get anyone out of one whilst they are in labour. Remember my mw saying that some of the mw in my area 'don't do' home water births, I remember thinking I'd like to see them try and get me out!

joanofarchitrave · 02/01/2012 22:57

I laboured in water but got out because the midwife felt it wasn't helping any more (I think). ended up giving birth standing up which was good. I thoroughly recommend labouring in water, when I first got in it was absolutely fantastic, which since it was all too fast for an epidural and the gas and air didn't work, was lucky.

Getting out was a bit hard but dh helped. Maybe he could take a box or something so that you could put it in the pool to make a step if necessary? Have you had a look at the hospital pool to see what the sides are like?

Lilyloo · 02/01/2012 23:03

i wanted a home water birth , got pool from here , but she was very overdue so i had to be induced .

Original poster

Rollersara · 02/01/2012 23:04

My BMI was about 26 before I was pg so I'd be surprised if that mattered.

LBC, that would be nice actually, I think it's going to be a long labour!

Apparently it's very easy to get the water out, just not me!

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GeekLove · 02/01/2012 23:05

I had to get out becaus the babies heart rate went a bit high. Havi g said that the pool was great and I was in there for three hours or so. Then they had to rupture the sack so I couldn't go in after that.
However it came in handy for a bath after giving birth since th water was still clean.
DS2 was born on the living room floor.

Original poster

Rollersara · 02/01/2012 23:06

joan, Apparently the pool has steps in and out, not sure if that's standard?

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Original poster

Rollersara · 02/01/2012 23:08

Should say, this isn't a home birth, it is a hospital with a birthing pool.

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grumpydwarf · 02/01/2012 23:08

I was adament that a water birth was not for me, until my labour started then I spent 3hrs in the bath at home (hospital sent me home as I wasn't going to have ds for at least 2 days ha! 6 hrs!) Then moved to hospital bath whilst waiting for the birthing pool.

I got into the birthing pool but due to ds heart rate dropping was turfed out after 10 mins for an emergency cut and pully job!

I absolutely adored the bath and pools and for my next dc I will definatly be in one and hoping to give birth in it next time! I would recommend one as I found it really helped me with the labour and made me calmer. Plus when I got a contraction the water splashing over my belly really took the edge off! Good luck hope u can use one!

P.s I was massive and 10 days overdue so had to be heaved in.

bumpybecky · 02/01/2012 23:08

For my first I planned a home water birth. After an hour in the pool contractions had stopped completely so I got out, went to the loo, marched up and down for a bit, but still nothing. MW then broke my waters but there was meconium so e had to transfer to hospital.

I found it relatively easy to get in and out, just be careful! I'm tall though, so wasn't to tricky.

My other three births were all in water at home. I never had any problems getting in or out. However after dd2 was born I was very shaky for a bit (birth was very fast, I think adrenaline hit after she was born!). I wouldn't have liked to try and get out then!

CervixWithASmile · 02/01/2012 23:10

Why does high BMI preclude a water birth?

RillaBlythe · 02/01/2012 23:13

I laboured in a pool with dc1 for HOURS. Got out because labour wasn't progressing. Don't remember that being tricky. With dc2 she came too fast to have a waterbirth - had about an inch of water in the pool before I started pushing.

Original poster

Rollersara · 02/01/2012 23:17

Thanks, that's really useful. I don't know why high BMI would be an issue, other than (as I think the consultant meant with me), if you were unable to get out yourself the midwives wouldn't be able to get you out.

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NoHunIntended · 02/01/2012 23:19

I laboured in water at home, got out for mw to see how far along I was, which was easiest done on our bed upstairs. Was close, and didn't fancy the walk down the stairs again so DS arrived on our bed. DH could have gotten me out of the pool if need be, and we had no steps.
Good luck!

bumpybecky · 02/01/2012 23:21

I didn't have bmi issues, but there was no way they'd have got me out unless I was willing. I told them that too I had problems with a lack of trained mws for #3 & #4. They were fine with home birth, but not water birth trained. I was less than impressed having told them at booking in that I wanted a wb. The mws who were there for ds (dc#4) hadn't been to a waterbirth before, they didn't make it for ds either - he arrived before they did!

LovesBloominChristmas · 02/01/2012 23:31

Well then I recommend leaning on it, tis very sturdy

FutureNannyOgg · 03/01/2012 10:06

Cervix.. As far as I understand, there is no solid reason why BMI should stop anyone having a water birth, in fact the support of the water is likely to be helpful. However having a high BMI means you are no longer classified as "low risk" and in some places they will only offer water birth for low risk pregnancies. You can protest, a proper chat with a consultant to find out whether you really are at risk (BMI in itself isn't a risk factor, it just makes you more likely to suffer from other conditions) and getting the SOM onside is always useful.

LuckyC · 03/01/2012 14:39

They made me get out at about 9cms because they were worried about DD.

To put it very mildly, I was not keen to get out - had been labouring for hours, was knackered, was in transition, etc etc.

But I don't see the problem - agree with you, OP. Contraction stopped, I stood up in pool, put one foot on step, put next foot on ground, next contraction started.

It's like getting out of a big bath. OP do you think you will have issues with this or are you worried about what consultant says?

Original poster

Rollersara · 03/01/2012 18:09

Hi LuckyC, no, I don't think I'd have any more difficulty than anyone else, I just wanted to know what it's been like for other women. What I don't want is the consultant deciding I can't do it just because I don't look like I can!

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LuckyC · 03/01/2012 18:47

Well, the actual getting out part was OK, as in physically getting out was manageable. Being out was bloody awful more difficult as the pain level of contractions ramped up considerably, so I found that tricky - be mentally prepared for that maybe? I also actually sobbed when they said get out - I liked it in there!! I am a pretty big woman, and my bump was enormous, and I found the pool the best place to labour - you can move around very freely, very comfortable, I remember thinking 'Right, this is where I am going to have my baby' and feeling very confident and good in the water.

My final thing is that ultimately you sometimes have to go with what your health people are advising. I really didn't want to get out the pool but I was being advised that for my baby's safety I would have to do that, so she could be better monitored. Might have been nonsense, but I had to work with what I was given and make the informed decision. Went on to have perfectly OK birth and healthy baby.

Rollersara hope that's helpful and that you can keep your head even if your consultant is losing hers/his. Sounds like you know what you are capable of and what you'd like to do, so good luck with it all.

Original poster

Rollersara · 03/01/2012 21:34

Thanks LuckyC, that is very helpful :)

OP posts:

al88 · 03/01/2012 21:37

I got in and out of the birthing pool a couple of times when in labour with DD2. The first time I got out because my contractions slowed so was examined and the midwife broke my waters. Then the contractions really intensified so I got in again for a few hours.
I think I must have been in transition the next time I got out, as i just announced I was getting out as it wasn't helping me anymore and was a load of rubbish! I soon realised just how much the water had been helping following a few contractions on dry land. I think it was a bit late to get back in as DD2 was born a short time later.
I got in and out without any problems. Dh one side of me and MW the other and just timed it between contractions.
Can you go for a visit to the hospital and maybe practice getting in and out if the pool is free?

mumatron · 03/01/2012 21:50

There would have been no chance of getting me out of the pool with dd2. Not because of weight issues or anything, I just become completely incapable of moving at all during later stages of labour!

With all 3 of my dc I have flat refused to change position once I have got comfortable. As much I know being mobile helps I just cannot bring myself to move.

I literally got in the pool, leant back against the side and stayed there til dd2 was born. I would have had to be heaved out by several people dp.

Loved my water birth though

LargeGlassofRed · 03/01/2012 22:04

Had a lovely home water birth with my third and really wanted one with my 4th but it turned out to be twins. Really begged for water birth but couldn't get approval.
I did use the pool after I had the twins and it was lovely, it had steps and hand bars to get in and out of.

lucky24 · 03/01/2012 22:15

The midwife asked me to get out of the pool as after pushing out DS's head i was losing alot of blood, i had one leg out the pool and needed to push so brought my leg back in and pushed ds's body out. Then had to get out in a bit of a daze, i was wobbly as i had been kneeling in the pool for over 5 hours ( i any other position but kneeling hurt) but had DH one side and a midwife the other and made it to the bed ok.

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