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Childbirth

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

Talk to me about water births

13 replies

toomuchtooyoung · 19/06/2012 21:53

When i had dd a few years ago at queen charlottes i went thru a 30 hour labour, with umpteen different midwifes attending, epidural not being topped up in timely maner, no-one believing i could still feel pain in my right leg and being refused a cesarean in case i wanted another child! It wasn't until one midwife came and stayed with me continuously for 4 hours that dd was born safe and well.

The main pain I felt was in the pubic bone area and the only relief I found in the 2 nights prior to going to hospital was in the bath, Tens machine did nothing, so wondered whether a water birth might help for dc due in july.

Prior to dd I had been firmly in the 'give me all the drugs you've got' camp, but wonder if i should reconsider. Also wonder whether an operation on my knee from a skiing injury may be the reason why I could still feel pain in one leg despite the epidural and it being moved around to try to get it to work. In the end they had to up the dose.

Bit scared that the drugs just don't seem to work on me. Something they gave me prior to epidural (forget the name) which is meant to make you pretty dopey and not very mobile and I was still staggering around the room. Midwife was most surprised.

If you've managed to read this far, thank you, and I'd appreciate your thoughts and experiences on water births.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
elliejjtiny · 19/06/2012 21:57

I had a water birth with DS1 and I loved it, really loved it. Cannot recommend it enough. I find that pain relief drugs don't work that well on me but the water was brilliant.

CisforCookie · 19/06/2012 22:18

The water was fantastic. I stayed in the pool for pretty much 12 hours, and was able to cope with gas and air. The only time I left the pool was to be examined once, and the contraction I had out of the pool was agony. I'd say the pool lessened the pain by 50% for me.
I've only had one baby so don't have anything to compare with, but I can't recommend water births enough!
Best of luck x

toomuchtooyoung · 19/06/2012 22:29

Soynding good so far :-)

Ellie - if you don't mind me asking, what sort of pain relief have you previously had? Was it for childbirth?

OP posts:
toomuchtooyoung · 19/06/2012 22:31

Soynding !!!! Meant sending, doh

OP posts:
blossombath · 19/06/2012 22:39

Like Cisforcookie I have just one birth to compare, but I had a waterbirth of sorts (in the bath at home) and whilst the contractions in the bath were very strong compared to those when I was using TENS, inbetween I was much more relaxed and no backache compared to tens which did help but made me shaky and tense. I too had pelvic pain in pregnancy and found baths and swimming a real help, hence why I tried the bath to relax me when I was not progressing but didn;t want to go to hospital yet...after four hours in the bath ds was born, and we never made it to hospital in the end
I don't think I have a very high pain threshold but I managed with just bath and paracetemol/codeine so I do think that the water is a good painkiller. I would have liked some gas and air to take edge off the contractions, though.
If you have the option of a birthing pool I would definitely try it - if it's no good you can always get out and ask for the drugs.

queenofthepirates · 19/06/2012 22:41

As with the others, I loved my birthing pool for pain relief. Why not get one for home and see how you feel about it?

One word of sage advice is to check to make sure your water tank can supply enough hot water for the pool-mine didn't and my kind neighbours were running across the road, filling kettles. I was completely unaware of anything, happily giggling in the corner with a bottle of gas and air. It still gets occasionally mentioned....

PurplePanda · 19/06/2012 22:42

I had a water birth, and found the contractions less painful once in the pool. I did start in gas and air when I got in the pool though, so could've been that that helped the pain aswell/instead! I've never had strong painkillers so can't compare. If I have another DC I definitely want another water birth, as I had a really good labour experience first time round.

scarlettsmummy2 · 19/06/2012 22:46

I had a water birth for child two in January, it was lovely and a very different experience to first labour. I am not convinced it did much for the actual pain but it was a nice distraction and much warmer than expected. I was only in established labour for less than hour so was very lucky. Highly recommend giving it a go! I managed to just use the pool and gas and air for last ten minutes.

thunksheadontable · 20/06/2012 17:41

I just had a hospital waterbirth on Monday. I found the water comforting but like scarlettsmummy not sure it changed actual pain level much. However, we were told at hospital waterbirth evening you do have to be in it a while for it to work as pain relief so maybe I didn't have enough time for this side of things.

I got in to pool at 3pm and within 3 contractions, waters went, got out and basically went straight into transition, back into pool at 4 and delivered baby at 4.53 with 20 minutes gas and air support for pushing. Amazing, intense experience and I keep feeling I need to pinch myself that I had an actual waterbirth, never believed it would happen! I would love to do it again.

monkeymoma · 20/06/2012 17:47

I got in the pool for a bit, IMO the comfort element came from the warmth of the water - it didn't really do it for me but could see how it might for others

I really struggled to hold my weight up during contractions so the pool was quite scary - during contraction my body contorted in a way that was beyond my control, I wouldn't try it again but will bring hot water bottles and heat pads etc for the warmth element of it as I could see how that might be nice if the whole keeping yer head above water (literally) wasn't distracting from it

pat123 · 26/06/2012 22:31

I would recommend anyone who likes the idea and has the opportunity to get in the water to try it. As Blossombath says you can always get out if it isn't for you. My only complaint was that it was so warm but a cool facecloth solved that.

I had a bath at home when my labour started and then got in the birthing pool with gas and air as soon as I arrived at the hospital. 2 hours later my DD was born, a lot less painful than expected. Very strange but brilliant watching her swim/pop up to me. It is a lot less messy than on land and you can have a shower/bath in the same pool very soon after the birth, a great way to feel more normal.

CharlotteWasBoth · 26/06/2012 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

StarlightWithAsteroid · 26/06/2012 23:31

I've had 2 in water.

I tend not to get in until I'm struggling with the pain and both times the hot water seemed to hit me like a bus and take me straight into 2nd stage.

Both times baby was out within 10mins of getting in the pool!

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