Water births that weren't

[Rollersara]

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?

I got up to 8cm in the bath at home and did another few hours of labour and a lot of pushing in the pool at the hospital. I got out in the end because I needed a catheter as I couldn't wee and DS was showing signs of distress. I ended up giving birth on a bed in the end as I needed ventouse. I didn't have any pain relief throughout labour or pushing and I'm convinced it is because of being in water, it kept me calm and I could just float around between contractions. I also had the shower running on my back a lot too as that felt amazing!

al88, I did think about that, but the consultant was saying it might be totally different when I'm in labour. Which is true, but also the case for all women in labour IMO. A la mumatron!

I've been able to swim since before I could walk, and most of the mobility problems I have disappear when I'm in the water - I can only walk a few metres atm but can swim 20 lengths quite happily. It just seems like the logical way for me to give birth without intervention. I haven't got an issue with intervention if either I or baby need it, but I would like to at least try it this way or I'll never know!