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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Has anyone been desperate for a waterbirth but has been told the pool isn't available?

13 replies

YesIveNameChanged · 09/08/2012 11:43

If so how did that affect your experience?

The reason i ask is that i really want a waterbirth, ideally i'd like a home waterbirth but my due date is the day after we move house (we rent, can't afford to move earlier as would have to pay rent on two properties) so realistically i dont think a Home birth will be possible, and dp is quite unconvinced by them anyway

I had a rubbish time with DS1 largely (in my opinion) because i was induced. I'm very reluctant to go to hospital this time; and the only way i think i'll feel relaxed and happy is if i can have a water birth, because the MW's seem to leave you alone a bit more and just let you get on with it. The problem is both the hositals near me only have one pool each, there is a MLU but its over an hour away and again only has one pool. I'm dreading going in and being told the pool isn't available as i fear it will "set the tone" for my whole labour IYSWIM and i'll feel like i've lost all control over my birth again

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suburbandweller · 09/08/2012 15:37

Ask the hospitals/MLU how much their pools are used - mine told me that they had never had a problem with pool availability because so few people wanted to use it. That said, it is sometimes out of action because (i) only certain midwives are trained to deliver in the pool, so it can't be used if they aren't there, and (ii) sometimes it breaks. Sometimes conditions don't allow for it either - I couldn't use it in the end despite having been desperate for a water birth because my blood pressure shot up in labour and I had to be monitored throughout.

I would really try not to get too hung up on a waterbirth as you will inevitably get stressed out if you can't use it for any reason. Obviously it's fine to have a preference and to try to increase your chances of getting what you want, but perhaps think about fall-back options you would be happy with just in case. As you say, that loss of the feeling of control can be difficult to deal with, and I think it might be worse if you have a set idea of how your labour will be and it doesn't go according to plan.

whatsonyourplate · 09/08/2012 17:49

I have with DC1, but this was 8 years ago and think the hospital only had one pool. Second time round DC2 arrived too quickly (and I was two weeks late so they might not have let me anyway). I'm going for third time lucky this time!

emsyj · 09/08/2012 17:53

I was obsessed with this issue as I wanted a water birth and our hospital is massive and only has 2 pools (think it has more now, but at the time only 2). I asked the midwife and she said they had never had a situation where a woman wanted a pool and was unable to access one. I think actually that I had assumed everyone would want it if available, but many of the mums I know weren't really interested in the pool and a number of them were too far along to have it by the time they were admitted anyway. You will probably find that 'competition' for the pool is pretty limited - but ask your midwife.

As it turned out, I was in that situation too - the pool takes nearly an hour to fill and I was 9cm dilated on admission, 10cm within minutes - so it was never going to happen for me, d'oh!

FutureNannyOgg · 09/08/2012 19:33

Some hospitals will allow you to bring your own inflatable pool and set it up in a standard delivery room. Its worth an ask, especially if you can borrow one, rather than forking out cash. Then you just keep it in the car , just in case.

MrsLocog · 09/08/2012 21:24

I was obsessed with this too, and managed to get a pool room, only to have a massive bleed after a contraction which then led to monitoring, no pool etc. etc. Moral of the story = don't get too hooked on the idea of the pool!

Rockchick1984 · 11/08/2012 17:19

I got told on the hospital tour that hardly anyone requests the pool room, never had a problem etc etc (only one pool at the hospital). Typically, I went in and there was someone in there so I couldn't use it and freaked out a little as that had basically been my birth plan and I think it made my labour far harder as I had only vaguely planned what I wanted instead! Incidentally, I know 2 other people since who have been told the pool is busy, but had also been told prior to labour that no one had ever asked to use it and not been able to

ItsMyLastOne · 11/08/2012 23:05

I wanted a water birth but when I got there the rooms by the pools were being used (althought the pools themselves weren't being used) so I had to just go in a normal room. TBH it was ok. I had no choice so just went with plan b - G&A and carrying on with my tens. I only had a couple of hours of G&A but could have managed without it. Then when I started pushing, the G&A and tens were annoying me so I got rid of them. It was very very long but ok and could have been much more painful.

I will still go for a pool this time but I'm sure I'll manage again if it's not available.

Flobbadobs · 12/08/2012 19:45

I booked a waterbirth with DD1. The mw started the water going but everything happened at once and I gave birth before it had filled! I did feel eather guilty that they had possibly wasted a room, hopefully another mum got to use it instead.
Have you considered a homebirth OP? I felt out of control in some ways in previous births so this time I had DD at ome. Much better, mre in control and so much more relaxing.

AnnieLobeseder · 12/08/2012 19:48

Me, with DD1. They told me a string of lies just because they couldn't be arsed to get me into a pool. I ended up having an awful extended delivery on my back as I get a weird kind of paralysis in labour and can't move around.

With DD2 I had a home birth to make sure I got my pool - it was blissful, I could move freely in the water though I had to be almost carried into the pool as my 'paralysis' set in again. Even though DD2 was back-to-back it was so much less painful and stressful than DD1

FrameyMcFrame · 12/08/2012 19:49

yes! It was closed for health and safety reasons due to someone breaking their ankle whilst getting out during labour

I got it in my second birth but I didn't like it and wanted to get out after 20 mins, for me, the hot water made it worse and I couldn't brace against the contractions...

MoonHare · 12/08/2012 21:48

Why not plan your home water birth as you want?

If you go into labour before EDD you will still be in current home and it doesn't matter if everything packed except pool and box with 'birth stuff' in.

Even if you go into labour on EDD a home birth would still be possible. If it's after EDD then no problem with home birth just prioritise unpacking the things you'll need.

Most babies come after EDD anyway.

The only way to guarantee pool availability is home birth, doesn't guarantee you'll actually be able to use it though (know friends who gave birth before pool full and one who transfered in to hosp.) BUT it is certainly your best chance.

Having had a planned home birth with my second (who was 5 days over her EDD btw) I would definitely encourage you to plan for the home birth you want. You can still go into hospital if the logistics of moving end up getting in the way but you need so little for a home birth I can't see why they would.

Best wishes with everything x

elliejjtiny · 13/08/2012 00:27

I had a home waterbirth with DS1 and planned for but didn't get waterbirths with DS's 2 and 3. I was desperate for a waterbirth each time, in fact I saw a waterbirth on tv when I was about 12 and decided I wanted one then! With DS2 I had meconium in my waters so ended up with a hospital transfer and an intense back to back labour. With DS3 I had prolonged rupture of membranes and was booked for induction (although the induction didn't happen in the end but that's another story) so it was calmer. I had my feet in a washing up bowl with warm water and lavender in and I was bouncing on a birth ball which I found really good as well. It wasn't as good as a waterbirth but it was nearly as good. With DS3 the midwife was very good at being there when I needed her and sitting in the corner when I didn't need her which made a big difference I think.

griffikb · 13/08/2012 07:28

I had planned on using the pool for my labour, so when I was admitted and out in one of the two rooms with a pool I thought that it would all go to plan. But the air conditioning in that room was broken, so it felt like it was absolutely freezing in there.

Despite that, I asked if I could go into the pool while I was labouring as I was sure it would help with managing the pain. So the midwife brought a few bar heaters in to place around the pool to try and warm it up a bit in there. But really I should have known it was a bad idea! I got in the pool and it was lovely and warm, and did help me feel more comfortable. But every tinge I had a contraction, if I lifted up out of the water it was so freezing that it made me more tense.

It was about the time that I looked over at my DP and saw him sitting there shivering in his outdoor coat by the side of the pool that I thought 'sod this for a joke' and got out and was moved into one of the smaller (warmer!) rooms next door. And as it happened, baby was back-to-back and I couldn't manage any gas and air as the contractions made me throw up so that I couldn't even have a sip of water without bringing it back up. So the most comfortable pace for me was sitting on the toilet until he was almost ready to come out. The best laid plans, and all that! :-)

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