Waterbirths, Yay or Nay?

[Jemsx]

Hey ladies.

Just wanted to know the overall opinion on water births and would love to hear some experiences of them Really interested in having one but never spoke to anyone who has had one before!

Thanks, J x

I had one for my third pregnancy & loved it. Managed on gas & air with a lovely midwife. They had a waterproof torch so didn't have to keep standing up to be checked( not all do!). I would highly recommend but wouldn't insist as it depends on your circumstances. I wanted one with first but wasn't available. Glad I didn't as he had cord around his neck which would've been hard to spot.

Didn't mean to scare you with cord bit but it is important to listen to your midwife or get a second opinion if you don't think she's very good.

I had a Waterbirth for my DS, and would definitely recommend it, although have nothing to compare it to. I only had to be checked once, but being out of the water compared to being in the water was hard. I managed on Gas and Air, but I don't think I would have done if I'd been "on land".

Great concept but I found it feck all use in reality, hot baths during the early stages on the other hand!

I hadnt considered one until I went on a trip of our mat ward and saw the state of the normal delivery rooms, then saw they'd spent £30k doing up the water birth room so I was sold on the idea - 2 weeks before ds was born.

I laboured in water for 4 hours, then had to get out to be checked, at which point they wouldn't let me go back in as ds was in distress at each contraction.

Went from 3cm to 9cm in the pool and again had that been on "dry" land don't think I would have managed so well. Just gas and air for me until I was told I couldn't go back in.

Would thoroughly recommend it, it felt so "free and unrestrictive"

I had a water birth with DD2 and it was amazing. I only intended to labour in the pool and give birth on dry land, but wild horses couldn't have dragged me out of that pool. Apart from my beloved tens machine before getting in the pool, I didn't need any other pain relief (and I don't have a high pain threshold as with DD1 had an epidural, and loved that on that occasion!)

I'd have a water birth again and again. Good luck with your birth

I was in the pool for about 2-3 hours, and managed on gas and air. I had to get out to be checked, and then my pain really ramped up.When I got back in, the gas and air just wasn't enough, so I had to get back out again and I demanded morphine. (which I didn't get until about 20 minutes before the baby popped out).

I found it extremely useful in the first stages, and I think that had I stayed in there, then I wouldn't have needed the morphine.

I laboured for 3 hours in a birthing pool when I had DD 2 weeks ago - absolutely loved it! warm water, dim lights, music from my iPod, my DP and a wonderful midwife made for a very relaxing setting. Managed with gas & air but had to get out for the final stage as DD was back-to-back and needed forceps in the end.

It was beyond amazing. Just had the water birth and gas and air

It really helped with the pain and kept me calm.

I had one with DD 5 weeks ago. It was amazing and I'd recommend it to anyone that can have one.

I just had gas and air, 1 internal check just before I got in.

Absolutely wonderful birth.

I really enjoyed labour with ds in the pool with gas and air - when else can you make your partner massage your neck and feed you grapes for hours on end?
Sadly they made me get out after 8 hours of nothing happening, and I needed huge amounts of syntocin and then ventouse to get him out 20 hours later. But the pool was still great, much better than my bath.

Appreciate all the helpful comments ladies thanks a lot! Definitely think it'll be my first option assuming all goes to plan and my baby behaves for me - lol!!

I hired a birthing pool and had a water birth at home. It was great! I had to get out for a check when the MW turned up, then almost bombed the water in my haste to jump back in once she was done.

Didn't slow anything down for me, the G&A didn't arrive in time the birth was so quick! 5 hours from the start of labour to holding DD and the only pain relief I got was two paracetamol and the water pool, but I coped just fine.

Good luck! :)

Thanks Spirael! Hopefully mine will go as well as yours 8 weeks to go! Thanks again x

I'm another yay vote for water births! I had one with DS and it was so relaxing and I could move easily. I also had gas and air. Very good experience, I definitely want another water birth!

Loved mine. Gives your body a freedom that you don't get on dry land. Lovely and hot, really subtle lighting, not much intervention apart from the midwife checking with her mirror now and then. And no damage to my bits either.

Thanks CherryBlossom27 .. I think I'm sold here's hoping all goes to plan!

Had one with DS1, wouldn't do it again without water. Planning a home waterbirth with DS2.

I loved it.

Had dd2 in the pool. Mw didn't touch me once I was in there. I delivered dd myself.

Amazing experience.

dirtymistress badgerina mikelitoris Thanks for sharing!! More excited than nervous at the moment about the birth now i know what i'm opting for.

Yay - DS3 and 4 were waterbirth (labour and the delivery bit) and managed on G&A and did a hypnobirthing CD. Lovely births. helped lots with pain relief. Scared of taking tens off when getting in pool both times but it was better than the tens. Go for it.

Thanks lollystix !

Hi,
By chance I had a water birth for my first child DS, i wasnt planning one, just thought Id go with the flow and see what happened, didnt really believe in having a birth plan. So by chance when we got to the hospital I was 5cm when I arrived, and the midwife reccomended a birthing pool as she thought I was coping well with the pain, and there was a room free so we went for it.

The tens machine really helped in the early stages but it was getting to the point where it wasnt working/making a difference, even tho I was a bit scared going into the water and having to take it off. Once I got in the warm water I just relaxed and then the contractions came on more and more quickly, I used gas and air and went into what can old be described as ' the zone' - eyes closed and breathing, drinking a bit of water, taking gas and air, and my DS was born within the hour.

Feel very lucky we had such a good experience, but it was all by chance and by going with the flow. The cord was around his neck I found out later but thank goodness it was all very straight forward. My only concern now is that as im TTC no 2 the 2nd time around wont be as good...the midwife did say if I had a second I should have a home birth as it would be quicker, so im seriously thinking about a home water birth - and I used to think Id never do that and it would be hospital all the way...so we will see.

I do remember how it was amazing that my body just took over and it was completely doing what it needed to do to give birth. Im a water person, love swimming, love taking baths, if youre that kind of person then you associate being in a bath with a relaxing and familiar situation and your body responds to that automatically.