Is there anything I need to know about water births?

[belindarose]

I know the chances of even getting a pool are slim (only one in the hospital I'm going to).

40 weeks tomorrow. Haven't got a birth plan as such. Had earlyish epidural with DD1 (which is what I wanted) and hadn't really considered other options. This time I've read about 'active birth' and have some strategies to try to cope. But if a pool is available I might like to try it, either just for pain relief or preferably for the birth itself.

Is there anything I need to know/ do? Stupid question, sorry!

take a sieve, grab the chance if you can, you don't have to stay in if you don't like it.

Do you really have to take your own sieve? I'd assumed (hopefully) that was a myth!

Why the sieve? What do you do with it?

Not a myth

My (unused in labour) sieve is still in the kitchen and I remembered every time I make a cake.

Sieve is for poo in the pool

They're great :)

At my hospital I didn't need to take a sieve, but i believe some hospitals want you to take your own (in which case I guess they'd tell you)?

I didn't have time/inclination to get changed into anything for the water birth (arrived at hospital 9cm dilated!) so ended up wearing my Dh's t-shirt that I'd arrived in! I think a bikini top or tankini top would be ideal, I wouldn't worry about covering your bottom half with a skirt or anything tbh.

Good luck!

But don't they have a net or something there? I can't fit a sieve in my bag!!

Take your own sieve? Really? I had a water birth with DD2 and a sieve
would have done bugger all good in the water afterwards!

Belinda, good luck. I really hope you get the pool. The water birth was fantastic and the crowning was so much more bearable because of it.

The only thing I took with me was a tankini top. Water births are great, I really hope you get to use the pool if you want to. I got in while they were filling it and as a result ended up sat under the tap, in hard labour, not giving a toss that I was spraying everybody with the water as it hit my body. So maybe don't do that I had gas and air in the pool, but what I liked wa sbeing able to physically remove myself from everybody, I was pretty much as far away as I could get from the midwife and dp, and just get into my own little zone. I really appreciated that after ds was born too, there was noone disturbing our space, I held him in the pool for a good half hour waiting for the placenta, and it was just lovely :)

What stage do you get in at? I know you can't have one if induced or need continual fetal monitoring. What about if waters have gone?

I wore a t-shirt in the pool & that was all.

My waters broke a few minutes before I got in the pool. In the bathroom at the hospital. I had to detach myself from the G&A in the bathroom and try and walk the few feet to the pool! Like Cherry I was 9cm dilated when I got to the hospital. So it was literally give me a quick check over, I popped to the loo, waters broke, went in the pool and DD2 was born about 20 minutes later. I found the water warm & really supportive. So I could kneel really comfortably, feeling like the bump was being supported.

It's great, I promise (but I do understand it's not for everyone).

belinda, I was induced and was allowed in the water on a midwife led unit. I'd get that clarified. I was told water's going wouldn't be a problem either. I had a very very fast labour, less than an hour once the induction worked, and I got in with about 20 minutes to go I guess. I only had about 5 or 10 minutes in there before I was pushing. My waters went in the contraction before his head was born, a very odd feeling and sight in the water.
Is this a consultant led unit? You sound very much like me in my expectations for my second birth (water birth was my third). My first labour was induced, epidural and continuous monitoring. I wanted none of that second time round, and I was successful in that. The thing I did differently was just to be more informed about hospital policy, be aware I was allowed to refuse constant monitoring, and stay active. It was great, and such a positive experience compared to my first.

I had a water birth with DS, plus gas and air. Got into the pool at about 6-7cm and DS was born shortly after. I agree with the previous poster who said it was lovely to be in your own little space despite the comings and goings in the room.
I just wore the vest top I turned up in.
Didn't have my own sieve either :)