water birth questions

[blondiep14]

I'm booked in to local MLU for a waterbirth for DC3 (due yesterday!) And just realised as I wallow in the bath, I know nothing about them!

How warm is the water, is it adjusted to how you like it? Does it stay warm?
I hate luke warm water...

Most importantly, does it really help with the pain?! I'm not usually a bath girl, I only bathe when preggers if my back is sore.

I delivered dd in the water. Lovely calming experience and it really helped. Our maternity ward has big corner baths in most of the labour rooms which is where dd was born so if they have these then if the pools free you can still go in the water. I found i got really hot while in the water but a cold compress really helped so have a face cloth on stand by in case.

Only drawback I found was that getting out of the nice warm bath afterwards for stitches and to deliver the placenta was a bugger. Dp was holding dd, and the midwives were both getting the bed ready so I got out dripping wet and then had to start rumaging in my bag for a towel. We hadn't thought to get it ready before so have your towels ready from the start.

Hi sorry to intrude!
I had a rough 1st birth and have looked into everything to see if i can make my second any better..

Just a few questions.

1. can you have a water birth if induced via pessary or drip?
2. can you have a water birth if under consultant care? Im under due to a small 1st baby (6lb 8oz)
3. what happens if you want an epidural?

Can you go to birthing suites if under consultant care too?

Sorry to sound thick! Im due in 5 weeks x

I can only answer your questions according to what I know about the policies of my local trust. I can vary greatly from hospital to hopsital.

1. Can you have a water birth if induced via pessary or drip?

I have been told that if I need induction with a pessary, then yes I can give birth on the Midwife-Led Unit, and have a water birth.

NOT if they need to use the drip. That would mean giving birth on the Consultant Ward.

2. can you have a water birth if under consultant care?

This would place you in the "high risk" category probably, so I would guess not. Water pools are usually situated on the Midwife-Led Units, which are separate from the more medicalised Consultant wards.

Im under due to a small 1st baby (6lb 8oz)

I am VERY surprised that this is considered "small". Was there any particular issue that caused this? Lack of growth? IUGR?

I know women who have given birth to babies smaller than this at home!

3. what happens if you want an epidural?

You cannot use the birth pool if you want an epidural. If you have been using the pool on the MLU, and decide you want an epidural, you will need to be transferred to the Consultant ward, where medical interventions are available.

Mom2rhysnruby - our trust is as Badgerina said - can have pessary and artificial rupture of membranes but if on the drip you would have to be on high risk ward as you would need continuous monitoring

I am v high risk due to high bmi, gbs baby etc and should by rights have my baby on high risk ward strapped to the bed but I am exercising my choice to deliver my baby where I want to - look up "informed choice nhs" I could have had baby at home but on mlbu I am one floor away from doctors and theatres (touch wood) my consultants and some midwives are having kittens over me delivering on mlbu because I am high risk but the fact I have had 2 easy quick no trouble deliveries makes me think I can have a third in the pool.

Every woman is entitled to have her baby where she chooses - though women need to be sensible about their level of risk - ie a woman on her third baby who has had two previous haemorrhages would be daft (IMHO) to have her third at home iykwim??

In answer to third question you can go through the pain relief options as and when needed ie tens & paracetamol at home, entonox, water, pethidine/diamorphine through to epidural but you would not be able to return to the water after having pethidine/diamorphine or epidural. Keep an open mind as to what pain relief you want to use as all births are different

Good luck xx

Thanks for the reply both!
No reason my son was small, i was induced due to high blood pressure and he was 1 day early, ive had consultant care for growth with this baby, i didnt expect to have a big baby as im 5ft1 & partner 5ft4 lol.
Any who! Babies growing perfect so no reason for induction at this present stage.
My son was back to back so i needed an epidural as the pain was horrific!
Ive never thought of a water birth until reading this post.

I may ask the question if i can go to a midwife led unit, i think the whole scenario scared me as it was a very traumatic birth whereas if i was in a more relaxed atmosphere id possibly be ok?
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