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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

water birth has any one had one was it a good or bad choice

112 replies

jayjaybaby · 20/03/2006 13:57

my first one is due in august i think it will be much more comftable to be in a huge bath for twelve or more hours than in a sweaty labour room

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carol3 · 20/03/2006 23:36

With my home birth, because we hired th pool dh had to clean it all out which was awful he said me and kids hid upstairs while he did it, he he.

likklemum · 21/03/2006 00:10

I attempted a water birth at the hospital, but it was unsuccessful. This was due to me being very short. The midwife said that usually 'our ladies push on the side with their feet. You don't seem to be able to reach.'

So I ended up flailing around, trying to hold onto the side for fear of drowning, grabbing the G&Air and almost dragging poor old DP into the water with me - who was a little worse for wear after I bullied him into trying the G&Air as 'its not doing anything. Its not working.'

They gave me a noodle float which kept drifting away from under my head - prompting more flailing. Eventually, the Midwife suggested vacating the pool!

Also word of warning - I dont know if its just me, but I love the feel of a brand new pair of socks, so when the doc told me i was def having the baby that eve, I excitedly demanded Dp fetch my socks (I kid you not with the excitement!). Later, when I got into the waterbath, I was dismayed to see black bits floating around in the water with me. I had to tell the midwife who was staring at them. She then said 'Ahh, socks! I thought you had dirty feet.' She then had to fish them out with the 'poo-sieve'.

SoupDragon · 21/03/2006 09:54

I had one at home 6 weeks ago. Wouldn't have been without the pool. Not entirely sure where height comes into it since I was kneeling on the floor of the pool, draped face down over the side IYSWIM. I'm 5'7 with long legs and I didn't come close to touching the other side with my feet or needing to!!

Definitely go for it - you can always get out if you don't like it. Also, it definitely won't be you that has to clear it out so don't even consider that aspect of it :o I owe my mum big time for that part!! don't look too closely at the pool after you've delivered. I'm vaguely aware that it was, er, "mucky" but nothing specific!

SoupDragon · 21/03/2006 09:55

the only bad thing was that it was still f-ing painful!! :o

collision · 21/03/2006 10:01

Absolutely the best thing ever!

We were in the water the whole time, nice and warm, and then when I pushed him out we stayed in the water for ages and ages.

Very emotional and not as painful as I thought it would be.

With ds1 I had to have epidural because of PE and didnt feel a thing but the recovery was so long. With ds2 I was up and about very quickly.

Def recommended.

Original poster

jayjaybaby · 21/03/2006 10:22

i dont know why they dont recommend it more if this is how good it can be im 5'8 so i dont think height will be an issue
heres another question

do you have to be naked and did you find it embarassing

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Original poster

jayjaybaby · 21/03/2006 10:23

can i just say thankyoui again to all those that have replied to my questions

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breadandroses · 21/03/2006 10:36

Had water birth with 2nd dd, totally brill. If only for allowing you freedom of movement which you just don't get out of the water. no drugs (had had epidural with dd1).

bubblepop · 21/03/2006 12:42

jayjaybaby, i had a water birth in hospital just recently. what a fabulous experience! as soon as i got into the water, the pain became more bearable. i actually said to the midwife " ahh bliss " I gave birth completely starkers, and to be honest, i did'nt care one bit! afterall, every midwife knows every inch of a womans body does'nt she? and so does your partner! it was very relaxing and not one bit scary or horrific as a lot of births are. you don't always poo in the pool either! i would recommend water birth to anyone,the only downside being, you cannot use drugs apart from gas and air. go with it, you can always get out if you don't like it.

mrsbabookaloo · 21/03/2006 19:17

Thanks to all who have posted on this thread and to jayjaybaby for asking the question. I had read all the advantages of waterbirth and thought I would probably ask to use the pool for my first, due in June, but reading all these positive experiences has really inspired me to definitely go for it! I was hoping to avoid an epidural, but then have read posts on other threads about how they're the best thing ever, so it's good to hear how good water birth is to counter balance it.

I'm giggling about your naked question jayjaybaby, I can't see how you would avoid it! There's a hilarious thread somewhere about what did you wear to give birth. i will see if I can find it....

Wallace · 21/03/2006 19:29

Miaou - did you have your ds at the local hspital, or Raigmore (or at home?)

I labored in the pool for both of mine. It was hospital policy at the time that you couldn't deliver in the pool though. I am planning to use it again, and maybe by now I will be ablt to actually have a water birth.

Re the naked question... I was starkers and dh when he popped down to the cafe bumped into one of the ladies from my antenatal class who had had her baby a couple of days beforehand. He invited her in to see me, so I sat there and had a chat with her. It wasn't til after I realised I had been lying there without a stitch holding a conversation

Original poster

jayjaybaby · 21/03/2006 20:06

lol i waz thinking of wearing one of my bikini tops ive got huge boobs and all i can see is them floating on the top of the water going theyre seperate ways

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SoupDragon · 21/03/2006 20:39

I wore a support vest top from Mothercare (which I kept on for the whole birth) and some bikini bottoms (which the midwife hurriedly removed when it became clear DD was arriving quicker than either of us expected :o) TBH, I simply wasn't comfortable being completely naked and, until I was past the point of caring, it felt somehow wrong not to have bikini bottoms on. Wierd, I admit but there you go :)

Plan what you would wear and have it handy - you'll know what feels right at the time.

LipstickMum · 21/03/2006 20:56

Hi Jayjay, I had a waterbirth with my second child. It was brilliant! Things were progressing quite quickly, so I was only in the water for about 30 minutes, tops. It was absolute bliss, lovely and warm, and smelling of lavender. Dd2 was born under the water which was quite extraordinary to watch, and of course came out reasonably clean. The water was so calming and relaxing it really calmed me down.

laundrylover · 21/03/2006 21:52

My pool is ready and heated in the conservatory and I have been wallowing nightly for the past couple of weeks but still waiting for the birth!!!
JJ - my boobs are huge too and they do float in a comedy manner! However having just watched the video of my first birth (well the minutes after)I believe I look better naked in the water rather than out!! Beached white whale or what???
Off for my book and a float....

SnowdropsInTheSpring · 22/03/2006 08:00

Support vest top... like the idea of that. Not too happy with boobs a floating. Must write in my Hand Held Notes my desire for a water birth....
Sounds like the best option. Can't have Epidural as am terrified of needles to the point i end up crying, hyperventilating and being physically sick! (Wimp!)

Original poster

jayjaybaby · 22/03/2006 10:46

so ho w od impliment it do you tell your mw or inform the hospital on the way in or do you ask when you get there
thanks to all that have answered so far

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Original poster

jayjaybaby · 22/03/2006 12:22

bump

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SoupDragon · 22/03/2006 12:37

All 3! Tell your midwife, tell the hospital when you ohne them and tell them when youget there! You need to make sure they don't put someone who isn't interested in a waterbirth in what is probably their only pool room.

Original poster

jayjaybaby · 22/03/2006 12:40

thank you soupdragon

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Original poster

jayjaybaby · 23/03/2006 10:23

bump

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SnowdropsInTheSpring · 23/03/2006 14:27

has everyone tired of this?? I hope not, still need to know more!

Original poster

jayjaybaby · 23/03/2006 22:00

snowdrops according to my mid wife from 20 weeks we'll get bombarded with choices and they go into much more at antenatal classes apparently
but i've loved hearing all the experiences im definately having one if possible she says im low risk and i go for it so thats good

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Littlefish · 23/03/2006 22:30

Definitely tell the hospital you want a waterbirth when you phone to tell them you're coming.

I absolutely loved my waterbirth, particularly as it came after 4 days of contractions! I was completely starkers (comedy huge breasts and all!) I felt completely safe, really warm and actually, less naked than I had felt when I was walking around the room in my t-shirt. The water sort of encloses you and supports you.

My dd was born under water and shot out so fast that she torpedoed down to the other end of the pool before we could catch her. The midwife picked her up and put her onto me, with just her head out of the water so she stayed lovely and warm.

They then drained the pool and I delivered the placenta without an injection, sqatting over a tray thing. (sorry if too much information, but you may as well know what really happens!)

slinkstah · 24/03/2006 00:22

ooohhh yes more gory details please....

is it normal to have the pool drained and then deliver placenta or are you made to get out?
when did people get out of the pool?
did the pool get very bloody? water and small amount of blood makes it look like a complete blood bath, i don't know whether i would like this.
can you have a water birth if your membranes have already ruptured before you get in the pool?
are pools big enough to really float in?
do hospitals provide the towels or should you bring loads?

sorry for all the questions but after having my dreams of a homebirth squished this week i am considering the next best thing a water birth:)

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