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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Water births

36 replies

Sparklesandglitter · 08/08/2012 09:00

Hi, after revisiting my birthing choices I am considering a water birth, or being in the pool for the earlier stages of labour.
Does anybody have any stories, positive and negative please! So I can get a better idea? The main thing that put me off initially is that I have heard bodily fluids/functions will float in the pool which is slightly off putting, i know people say that you don't care during labour but I think i will!!!
T.I.A.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

beagreassive · 08/08/2012 09:24

You really don't have much happening in the earlier stages of labour that will be there to float around... and a good midwife will strain anything that turns up in the later stages!

Badgerina · 08/08/2012 11:09

I had a water birth with DS1 in a hospital midwife-led unit. It was great. I used the water for pain relief in active labour, and after getting out for transition (had a small cervical lip) got back in for the birth.

Yes if you poo it will float in the water, but the midwife will discreetly and quickly sieve that out before you notice.

I am having a home water birth this time round. I wouldn't plan a birth without a pool available for me

Queenofsiburbia · 08/08/2012 11:14

OP you're asking questions that I've been thinking!
It grosses me out really. Think I'd be watching the water for stringy bits!!

Badgerina I'm afraid you've made me abit more squeamish! I don't want to have someone poo-fishing next to me, & yuk to the water afterwards!

Nope I think it ain't for me

Indith · 08/08/2012 11:31

Well they either have to fish poo out of water or they have to wipe your arse for you as it comes out on dry land. I know which one is less embarassing!

I've had 2 on land and one in water. Water is great :)

Original poster

Sparklesandglitter · 08/08/2012 11:40

The whole poo thing just grosses me out either way!!!!think i may try a water birth for the initial stages then maybe deliver out of the water. I'm planning using the birth centre anyway and they have 2pools so if there is one available I guess i would be daft not to try it! Another silly question why do I wear? Bikini and teeshirt? I'm loath to buy a tankini given I may change my mind thanks everybody

OP posts:

SarryB · 08/08/2012 11:40

I spent the first part of labour at a MLU in the pool, and would've stayed in for the birth. I found it very helpful, mostly just for calming me down (50 minute screaming car journey was very stressful!).

I did a huge poo just before we left for the hospital, so there was just one tiny poo at the bottom of the pool that I noticed. OH assures me that I didn't do a poo on the bed while I was delivering either. Although I did spend a lot of time shouting "I need a POOOOO!" - that was just the baby's head pressing down.

I think honestly, that poo-fishing is the last thing you'll be worrying about. Midwives are very discrete about getting rid of things!

bumpybecky · 08/08/2012 11:41

I've had three water births and if there was any poo I never saw it and no one mentioned it, or in fact asked for the sieve, so I'm pretty sure there wasn't any poo.

For the first two water births I delivered the placenta in the pool and there was a fair amount of yuck (blood, clots, vermix, stuff etc) but the third one I got out for that (DH who was on pool cleaning duty requested it!) and the water was a bit pink, but pretty much clear.

I really wouldn't let the potential mess factor influence the decision. In labour you will not care honestly. Before the water births I had one on land and it was much more painful!

Queenofsiburbia · 08/08/2012 11:57

How about a birth 'shower'? With a comfy (wipe clean) chair?
Honestly these birth people haven't thought this through at all!

Passmethecrisps · 08/08/2012 12:11

I was hoping for a water birth. I think that if you poo on the birthing table that would be much ickier than in the water where it can be fished out.

I was thinking about wearing a night shirt. Something loose fitting which can be tied up or removed if need be.

ooievaar · 08/08/2012 12:34

I laboured in the water with DD a month ago, and loved it (I had to get out for a forceps delivery because DD was back-to-back and not rotating otherwise would have been happy to deliver in the water too).

I took a bikini in my hospital bag just in case I felt uncharacteristically shy but in the event just stripped off completely as I couldn't wait to get in there. The lights were dimmed anyway, so it wasn't like I was parading around naked under spotlights. Tbh I probably wouldn't have cared anyway...

Not sure what happened about poo - I was facing out of the pool and towards the gas and air DP, so if there was any it was behind me, so I didn't see it and didn't notice the lovely midwife removing it. I haven't asked DP what he saw, so am blissfully assuming that I didn't poo (unlikely I'm sure!) given the water remained pretty much clear throughout.

TinkerMaloo · 08/08/2012 13:23

I have had 2 dry land births so far and this time I want water! The tales of being less painful appeal to me so much and I really dont care about the poo.

With my second delivery (after poo-ing a little during the first) I asked for an enema (this used to be routinely done for all births) as I had been on iron tablets and was constipated beyond belief, that helped shift most of it but some still came out apparently so I am told by DP.

This time I will have another enema and I am also going to stop the iron tablets at 37 weeks and just eat more spinach instead, so hopefuly the water will be entirely poo free! :)

Its true though that you really dont care at that stage, you have far more to do at the time than fret about than a little bit of poo, and the midwives see/wipe/fish it out all the time, so dont worry about them either! :)

minipie · 08/08/2012 15:02

I have also heard a recommendation for using a glycerine suppository at home during the early stages of labour, to "clear you out" and reduce the chance of pooing later on (but there are no guarantees...)

Personally I think I'll have other things to think about during early labour but if you are poo phobic it might help?

soandsosmum · 08/08/2012 15:35

I used a pool for most of my active labour and it was BRILLIANT for pain relief. Water stayed clear, mainly as I did stage 2 on dry land. I'd been using TENS beforehand, which was good, but the water was GENIUS! I'm planning home birth with a pool this time.

I didnt wear anything either - I've got a tankini but doubt it'll be used. Really didnt care once in active labour :-)

Badgerina · 08/08/2012 17:03

It's labour. Shit happens. Your baby has to descend through your pelvis, then out through your birth canal. Your birth canal is right next to your lower intestine and back passage. It's highly likely that poo will be involved (not always).

You could ask for an enema in early labour (this used to be routine in the old days) but there's no evidence that it completely prevents poo happening during transition or pushing stage.

I think you just need to get over it to be honest. Labour is a primal process that tends to progress best when the woman can "let go". It's very likely that you will poo whether in water or not.

Using water for labour can offer great benefits, worrying about poo is absolutely understandable, but I wonder whether these worries are truly big enough to rule out using pool altogether (and denying yourself access to a safe, natural source of pain relief).

Queenofsiburbia · 08/08/2012 21:58

Aaargh...
This post is getting P.O.L.I.T.I.C.A.L

No need to get Judgy pants about a few people feeling squeamish about poo!

Badgerina · 08/08/2012 22:42

Yeah. Political

BlackberryandNettle · 08/08/2012 22:53

This thread is great. I'd like a water birth as love water but want to birth on the labour ward where I think there is only one pool. To be honest doing a poo doesn't feature on my list of worries - coping with the pain and surviving in general is pretty much all I'll be thinking about I think!

5madthings · 08/08/2012 22:59

i had a pool birth for ds4, in all my labours i have always needed to poo in early labour and so been cleared out so to speak once it got going. i dont tihnk i pooed when i had ds4, if i did dp and the midwife didnt mention it and i didnt notice, they will very discreetly just fish it out, tbh i was just focusing on breathing the gas and air!

ds4 was 10lb 13oz, in labour for an hour, last 40 mins of that in the pool an di didnt have to push at all, no tearing which i am sure is because the water helped me to stretch! it was lovely and i wanted a pool birth for no 5 but needed synotcinon drip so it wasnt to be, i did still have a lovely, mobile active birth tho, so even if things dont go to plan and you dont get a pool it can still be fine :)

NightLark · 08/08/2012 22:59

I've had 2 water births and one on dry land.

Water made me feel very safe and was oddly private - I think the pool felt like 'my' space - I was happy to be naked which I can't imagine on dry land in front of strangers (I wore a nighty throughout DC1's birth).

I have no idea about poo, and couldn't care less. I was working so hard, doing something so amazing, that I honestly thought that seeing any poo was a small price for DH and any midwives to pay, considering what I was going through!

cashmere · 09/08/2012 09:06

I was worried about pooing in the pool but as far as I know didn't!
I told the midwife I was worried about it and she said if there's anything there it's coming out and there's nothing you can do about it.

whatsoever · 09/08/2012 13:19

I'm hoping for a water birth. The pooing thing put me off for ages but now I realise I'm highly likely to poo wherever I am, I reckon it's better to poo in the pool and have it quickly sieved out than being on hand and knees and doing a massive and obvious turd on the bed

Having said that, if the pools at the hospital are already in use, I could well be laying a massive log on the bed so who knows?

Dear me, this wasn't one of my more lady-like posts

Chunkychicken · 09/08/2012 13:23

I was anti-water birth with my DD despite my DH's strong suggestions that it might be worth considering, as I'm just not a water baby & didn't think I'd enjoy it. However, after spending a lot of time in the bath (again after DH ran it & said 'try it') I am completely hooked. I am planning a home water birth for #2.

My waters broke in the bath, making it a bit pink. I had bloody membranes hanging down from between my legs which was a bit & , especially as DH had to "extract" said membranes whilst on the phone to the labour ward. The worst bit was the transfer to the hospital by car after that rather than the 'mess' produced. I would have happily stayed in the mucky water than gone through that car ride!!!

Oh and, as far as I am aware, I didn't poo at all. And I'm not sure I know of anyone else pooing during birth either in my circle of friends. I think its one of those things where the fear/anxiety over it is worse than the reality.

thunksheadontable · 09/08/2012 14:08

I had a water birth and didn't see the poo, it was sieved out. Was better than the previous birth with the arse-wipage. I didn't notice it make much difference to the pain level but I don't think I was in long enough - got in pool at 3pm or so, stayed for about 40 mins, got out for transition and back in again for about 40 mins/pushing. I think from what I was told at water birth evening it takes a good while to take effect as a pain reliever. However, I only had a very minor 2nd degree tear that didn't require stitching (an opening of start of old episiotomy really) and dh said it was the most amazing thing he ever saw. I was on all fours so didn't see it happen, just had that "where's the head? I can't do it. Going to split open! OW. Is he out?" kind of thing that I'd imagine is common to births on dry land too!

slothprincess · 09/08/2012 14:16

I had a water birth with DD and would really really recommend it. I got in the water about 1am when I got to the MLU and stayed there until baby was born at 6 1/2 hours later. I'm sure there was poo that was sieved but I wasn't the least bit aware or bothered.

coraltoes · 10/08/2012 09:20

I had a water birth and can honestly say it was fantastic for pain relief. Whilst Gas and Air took the edge off the contractions, and made them bearable, the water took the weight of the bump, and made me feel so much more supported.

The midwife had an underwater doppler to check heart rate from time to time, and a mirror to check progress without internal examinations. In reality it was quite a private way to labout despite me being butt naked!

Once DD was in the world they hit the drain button pretty quickly and i delivered the placenta in an empty pool and exited immediately after. The water DD was born in was barely pink, and it cleaned her up on exit, so i was handed a nicely washed baby! haha

I hope it provides some reassurance that if i ever were crazy enough to have another child, I would without a doubt request a pool birth.

Good luck

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