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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Can anyone talk to me about home water births?

27 replies

Kayzr · 27/01/2012 11:54

I have decided to get a birthing pool and have a water birth at home. I had DS2 at home so happy with all aspects of a general home birth.

But I was wondering if you can just decide to have a water birth at home or if I need to double check with the MW first. She knows I want a HB and she delivered DS2. But do they have special water birth training or not?

I just don't want to say I am having a water birth and then on the day have MWs who don't know about water births and say I can't go in the pool.

I am seeing the MW in 2 weeks so I can talk to her about it then too.

Thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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morethemerrier · 27/01/2012 13:20

As far as I know there is no training needed for water births. During mine with DC3 the first on call midwife had never done one and was quite looking forward to it!

As it turned out there was a shift change so it was another midwife that attended.

Each time I have a checkup (3o weeks exp DC4) and I say I want another home birth,the first thing the midwives have said is are you having a pool?

Obviously as you have had one before you will be aware of the home check they do around 36 weeks, just to check your home is suitable maybe that is the only requirement as it were, that it is practical, ie they have access to you from every angle!

Good luck, I've just bought mine and for me one of the best moments was being able to lift her out of the water myself, into my arms rather than the midwives!

JKSLtd · 27/01/2012 13:22

Planned 3, have had one. Fabulous things, esp the lifting them up to you yourself :)

No home visit or special training required or mentioned here.

Got mine from birthpoolinabox & just ordered new liners each time. Have also leant it out twice so far.

Good luck!

GoldenMama · 27/01/2012 13:32

I had both my babies at home and in a birthpoolinabox pool. I was never told about the attending midwife needing any pool training.
It was the best feeling to get into the pool both times, even though I only made it in for the last 5 mins of DS as Midwife was running late and DS was not hanging about!
Also loved that I felt like I did it all by myself [so proud of myself] and could lift up my tiny new baby, be the first to hold her then him and see what sex they were before anyone else.

Good luck

Original poster

Kayzr · 27/01/2012 13:51

Thanks everyone.

I am getting my pool from birthpoolinabox too. Are they good pools?

I am very excited even if I have got 21 weeks to go.

OP posts:

mumatron · 27/01/2012 14:07

I dint do it at home but cannot agree more about the delivering them yourself. It really is a great feeling to reach down and grab them. I loved being the first to touch DD.

JKSLtd · 27/01/2012 14:09

Cannot complain about anything with my poolinabox pool - the service has been perfect every time, the pool itself has withstood various 'tests' with different DC in it & empties easily (according to DH, lol) & packs away in 2 plastic crates that go in our shed.
The handles are v useful for hanging onto mid-ctx, the MWs all seem happy with it.
I'm 5,4 & got the mini one, still plenty big enough.
And gorgeous to get in for the essential pre-labour test when heavily pg.

Flisspaps · 27/01/2012 14:35

morethemerrier Not all trusts do a home check - and even if they do and deem your home 'unsuitable' there's absolutely bugger all they can do to about it.

I didn't have one when planning for DD - a MW didn't come near my house until after she was born (induction in hospital in the end) and this time round it's only because I chose to see the Supervisor of Midwives at home rather than the MLU to sort out my paperwork (homebirth against medical advice) that anyone's been here this time round.

AFAIK if you decide to have a pool for a homebirth, there's also sod all anyone can do to stop you getting in it or to get out of it. I shall be purchasing my BPIAB soon

Original poster

Kayzr · 27/01/2012 16:31

JKS I am daydreaming about lounging in the pool watching tv

I had a home check with DS2 and MW did my booking in at my house this time. It was quite nice to do that at home.

OP posts:

StarlightMcKenzie · 27/01/2012 16:39

If you're renting do you have to get agreement from landlord?

Not sure a pool will fit in my house. Perhaps in my bedroom if I take the bed out, but then there will only be access from the door.

But then, none of this is anywhere near being planned. The hospital has lost my notes, they say my due date is 1st of June, GP says it is 12th June, I say it is 9th June and I've never seen a midwife despite being 21 weeks.

Original poster

Kayzr · 27/01/2012 16:51

Starlight They are really crap aren't they? When I had DS2 I was renting and I mentioned it to landlord and they weren't bothered as long as the place was clean when I moved out.

What happens if they use their 1st June date and they want to induce you on the 14th?

OP posts:

StarlightMcKenzie · 27/01/2012 16:53

Nothing happens. I might laugh if I'm in the right mood.

StarlightMcKenzie · 27/01/2012 16:55

If they ever find my notes I think my dating scan gives the 7th June.

bumpybecky · 27/01/2012 16:58

My first two were planned HWBs. dd1 ended up transferring to hospital, dd2 was HWB, all lovely no issues. MWs were fantastic and fully supportive, I think the birth pool was their idea in the first place! Then we moved health authorities and things got more complicated...

I was told you that the MW did need to have special training in water birth. If they didn't have that training they would let me labour in the pool, but I would gave to stand up or get out for the actual delivery.

I said ok then, but you've had 8 months to get your midwives trained (I'd told them at booking that I was planning a HWB) and that once I got in the pool there was no way I was getting out unless there was serious medical need / I'd had the baby.

They managed to find a WB trained MW, plus her student who'd never seen a birth let alone a HWB!, plus a MW who was fully qualified, but not WB trained. dd3 was text book delivery :)

For ds 3 years later they pulled the same no trained MW line again. I rolled my eyes and expressed disbelief that in 3 years they'd still not got things sorted. On the night the MWs were not WB trained - bit disconcerting to know you've got more experience than the MW! anyway, they came decided things were hours away from happening so left, ds arrived about an hour later, they arrived back 5 mins after him! :)

StarlightMcKenzie · 27/01/2012 17:02

I think that is pretty much the KEY essential training point for a HWB to be honest. That the woman isn't going to 'look' like she is as far as long as she is.

bumpybecky · 27/01/2012 17:22

I wasn't in the pool when they left! only just managed to get in before he was born in the end. DH wouldn't let me get in until the MWs turned up. We had a bit of a disagreement about it, which I think now was transition DH decided to be reasonable and took the cover off the pool, I got in and ds was born two contractions later!

JKSLtd · 27/01/2012 20:25

Oh and something else I only found out this time around - you can have your VE's in the pool.
Much 'easier' than on dry land.

Flisspaps · 27/01/2012 20:31

Or you can have none at all - even easier

JKSLtd · 27/01/2012 20:37

Very true Flisspaps

This time I thought I was 'losing it' a bit so when she did a VE and said I was 'good to go whenever I felt the need to push' () it really helped.

Not one for unnecessary VEs though, so I do agree :)

Original poster

Kayzr · 27/01/2012 20:42

I was just thinking about that. I was wondering if I would have to keep getting out of the pool for VEs

OP posts:

JKSLtd · 27/01/2012 20:54

Definitely not.
Also they can use a waterproof thingie to listen to the heartbeat (sonicaid?)
so you don't have to get out for that either.

However, it can be handy to get out for a wee every now and then a) to have a wee & b) it can help to shift baby even lower as you wiggle your hips about.

Flisspaps · 27/01/2012 22:20

JKS my only question about waterbirths would be related to the weeing - get out, or stay in? I mean, chances are there'll be poo and definitely blood in there anyway by the end, I don't think I can be doing with getting out, traipsing upstairs or hovering over a bucket next to the pool and not having the comfort of the water. After all, it'll be well diluted in there. Yes, I think I plan to stay put and piddle in the pool

JKSLtd · 28/01/2012 09:41

bumpybecky · 28/01/2012 14:12

do you plan to have dh in there with you? only asking due to the pee thing!

Flisspaps · 28/01/2012 14:26

bumpybecky Do you mean me? No way is DH coming in the pool with me, that's going to be MY space from which I can growl at people and keep them at arms length as necessary. I'm only getting a small pool anyway, he won't fit in it at 6ft 2.

JKSLtd · 28/01/2012 16:06

I did not want anyone in with me either - even when we were testing it and the DC came in they got in my way

You want to be able to move around as it suits you, my DH is 6ft too and overweight so would take up far too much space.

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