Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

need help with women's views - mears

72 replies

mears · 21/01/2004 14:12

As you know I am completing an assignment and I suddenly realised you are the folks who can help with women's views (don't ask why it took so long).

I am evaluating the use of the pool and want to know what complaints some of you might have.
Such as
told you were not allowed,
midwives not trained.
Not allowed in pool if considered high risk
Allowed pool but not allowed to deliver in the water.
Get the idea?

Complain away

Any good points would be useful too.

Anyone who hadn't considered the pool but the midwife suggested it and found it to be fantastic

Any positive stories too/

NEED IT BY TOMORROW

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

kaz33 · 21/01/2004 15:33

First birth - in it from 4cms dilated when I got to the hospital. Loved it, went all teh way to pushing. But baby wouldn't come out, so out of pool which is when I really started to lose it. Because i had been in the pool for the really painful bits the pain really hit me when I got out. Tried gas and air but made me sick so didn't really use it, so no pain relief. Ended up with c-section but yes I would have loved to give birth in the pool.

Second birth - not allowed to use it because of requirement of continuous monitoring and previous c-section. The pain second time round was tougher, maybe because I wasn't in the pool or perhaps because I was more stressed as I was worried about getting another emergency c-section.
Ended up with a Epidural.

zebra · 21/01/2004 15:53

I had a homebirth, and although my community MW was ok about me giving birth in water, she said there had been "twittering" among the other community MWs that they didn't want to attend a waterbirth. Or if I gave birth while in the pool, could I please stand up?

I have since heard that that is the WORST thing to do, because baby would leave amniotic waters, start breathing when they felt the air, then possibly fall in the water where they would inhale water! Much simpler, safer to just birth in the water because baby won't breathe until out in the air.

I couldn't stand or kneel in the pool in the end, gave birth straddling a chair, instead.

Told previously that a hospital pool couldn't be guaranteed, which didn't make me happy.

Debbiethemum · 21/01/2004 16:02

I would have loved a water birth first time round, as my favourite place is in the bath, I find it great for relaxing, destressing etc. Most of my reasoning was that even if it doesn't actually reduce the pain it would definately help with my mental attitude towards the pain. Anyway I ended up being induced as I had high blood pressure and low platelet count. Basically sudden onset pre-eclampsia and was told emergency c-section by the time I got to 3cm.

This time round (I'm due in April) I want either a water birth or elective c-section, definately nothing in between as I really didn't enjoy myself last time.

I have also found out recently that I am strep B +, except I might not be any longer as this was discovered on the swab taken when I had renal colic back in Nov, since I was put on antibiotics for a week for that, it may (think positive) have cleared that up.

So I don't even know if I will be allowed a water birth anymore, I didn't think about not being allowed anymore till reading through this thread, so another question for my midwife next time I see her.

secur · 21/01/2004 16:04

Message withdrawn

secur · 21/01/2004 16:10

Message withdrawn

Original poster

mears · 21/01/2004 16:21

LOL about the creme egg Blu - just rereading posts and making notes and missed it first time

OP posts:

Original poster

mears · 21/01/2004 16:22

Home and hospital experiences by the way

OP posts:

Janstar · 21/01/2004 16:40

Hi Mears, I have a friend who gave birth at home in a birthing pool (she lives in South Africa by the way). I have just emailed her and suggested she have a look at mumsnet for herself. She had a wonderful birth experience with her dh and parents present. She used aromatherapy oils and soft candlelight, and played relaxing music. Sent me photos, actually.

Mo2 · 21/01/2004 16:53

Well - wanted a waterbirth VBAC, and the hospital consultant almost laughed in my face.
So, I hired an independent midwife who was supportive (perhaps even keen?) for me to try for a waterbirth at home.
Pool installed and 'test-driven' at home, but when I still hadn't gone into labour at 42 +4 I couldn't cope with the stress (and risks) of waiting longer so went into hospital to have waters broken, which started labour.
Still had IMW, so she supported my use of the hospital pool (by this point I had transferred care to a hospital which was willing to support my VBAC quest).
The pool was great, although the hospital environment a bit stark . Unfortunately I showed no progress after 2+ hours and ended up relunctantly with another section.

My key thoughts would be:

irritation that it is not considered a 'regular' mthod of pain relief in many places and you're considered some sort of yogurt-knitting hippy if you suggest using it
location of it in the hospital - it was miles away down a corridor away from the other delivery suite facilities - not an easy transition into it at the key point.
frustration that so few MW appear to have any training in waterbirths, adn therefore there is strong pressure not to use (as it poses problems for hospital MW staff cover, and perhaps insurance?)

Freddiecat · 21/01/2004 17:23

I asked about the pool when I got into hospital and was told that since I have a coarctation I was considered "high risk" and not allowed to use it. Was a Saturday so they couldn't check with the consultant. I was a bit annoyed as I'd had an informal conversation with the consultant ages earlier who's said that the main thing was to have as fast a delivery as possible - and as stress free as possible. He'd mentioned that the pool would probably help with that. however as it was only an informal conversation it wasn't documented. I respected the MW's right to protect herself in that situation since they can't take any risks

wilbur · 21/01/2004 17:49

Freddiecat - I've heard a lot of similar things about consultants being supportive in clinic, but then on-call OBs or M/Ws not trusting what the mother is saying or asking for. I got my consultant to write on my birth plan for dd that she was okay for me to be allowed longer during 2nd stage in case baby hadn't descended fully(which is what happened with ds). Her handwriting on my birth plan worked wonders on the staff For once, a birth plan that was actually useful

Hulababy · 21/01/2004 17:56

Considered it as a possibility but knew that our hospital only had one and it was first come, first use so it wasn't always likely to be available.

Actually changed by mind by time I wrote my birth plan as to be honest !realised how low my pain threshold was and the thought of not being allowed any drugs put me off. Ended up being induced and c section anyway so couldn't have anyway.

bobthebaby · 21/01/2004 18:42

Only complaint was that midwives would not believe over the phone how far along I was and so consequently when I arrived at the hospital they took one look and said "oh, time to fill the pool" well yes - that's why I rang first. It takes ages to fill, and seems even longer when in pain.

When things slowed down, I think I should have got out of the pool for a bit and don't think I would have minded if I accidentally gave birth on dry land. However because I'd asked for a water birth no body suggested this, and I couldn't really speak to ask. I did change positions within the pool a lot at this time though.

The main reason I would do it again was that it was totally non gory for my husband, but he could look down and see the head crowning. Plus you get a clean baby.

Babblan · 21/01/2004 18:43

I wanted a waterbirth the first time around, but since there was meconium in the water they insisted in continous monitoring which literally strapped me to the bed. I hated it and in the end I had a emergency c-section. In May I am having my second baby and they have told me that continous monitoring of the baby is compulsory this time as well, so there is no way I am going to have a water birth. To me it feels like I am being forced into having another c-section since my movement will once again be restricted and I will be tied to a bed with a short string.

Blu · 21/01/2004 18:58

Mears, re Strep B: I hadn't been on antibiotics before the birth because my Strep B status wasn't confirmed until DS was a couple of hours old. Because of length of labour, and 60 hrs since waters were leaking, the peadiatrician insisted on antibiotics even though DS had no symptoms.

Another major plus about having a pool at home: it gave DP something to faff about with and panic over at the first twinge of a contraction, and me a good laugh.

Probably time for another creme egg now

Original poster

mears · 21/01/2004 19:08

You know it really amazes me how wtaerbirth is considered t be not suitable for high risk women yet we happily pump opiates into them and epidurals. What is wrong with a pool of water. There may be instances where delivery is not recommened but why not pain relief for labour? The reason cited in our unit is incase woemn don't get out if you ask them so don't let them in in the first place. I think if you develop a relationship of trust and you can explain why you recommend coming out for delivery, most women would comply. I do not think that not being trained is a valid reasom in this day and age. There is loads of literature out there and midwives should take it upon themselves to learn. Waterbirths are great - you do nothing

OP posts:

starry · 21/01/2004 19:16

With ds1 I planned a waterbirth but once at the hospital in labour was told by my midwife that she had no experience and was not happy to deliver in the pool.
With ds2 (at a different hospital in another part of the country) I was told this was encouraged but when I went into labour and arrived at the hospital I was told that unfortunately there was something 'wrong with the pipes' (of the pool not MY pipes I hasten to add) and therefore was unable to use it. I later found out from anothr midwife that the pipes had been up the creek for at least 2 months and nothing had been done about it during that time!

Original poster

mears · 21/01/2004 19:21

Thanks everyone. I am now going to collate this info and present it as an appendix of women's views in my assignment. Won't be back for a few hours now. Got to go and get it done

OP posts:

princesspeahead · 21/01/2004 19:22

mears, as you know I had a fantastic textbook water birth at home for my third. but I must say if someone had told me just as I was entering transition that I had to get out of the pool I would have flatly refused. I was told by my midwife that I could deliver in or out of water, my choice, and I thought I'd deliver on dry land but NO WAY JOSE did getting out of that pool cross my mind and I would have been very rude if she had even suggested it at that point! Just think... you have been beautifully supported by the water, you are warm, you have been amazed at how effective the pain relief is... and at THE most painful point, someone tells you to negotiate the high step out of the pool, and give birth with no similar support, wet and cold? Uh uh....

princesspeahead · 21/01/2004 19:23

ps wasn't monitored in any way, wasn't subjected to any internals - it was great. I think I might have had my pulse taken, and that is IT. lovely

zebra · 21/01/2004 19:30

That's funny... I leapt out of the pool between CTX, I guess you'd call it transition (had just thrown up) because I realised I just couldn't do it in the pool. Baby came quickly as soon as I settled on the birthing chair. Too much water -- my legs were floating away from me!

Original poster

mears · 21/01/2004 19:31

no monitoring of baby's heart rate PPH?

OP posts:

princesspeahead · 21/01/2004 19:33

nope, not a dicky bird. that may also be because the midwife was in the room for 5 mins before I started to say "I think it is coming" and he was born 10 mins later though. dh nearly missed it as he was busy in the kitchen making her a cup of tea

princesspeahead · 21/01/2004 19:34

v nice experienced independent midwife who does about 20 home waterbirths a year btw.

butwhatdoiknow · 21/01/2004 19:48

Mo2 'yogurt-knitting hippy' - cool !!!

Im due in 2 weeks and due to have bubba at home. Thought about getting a pool in as we have room but in the end they seem to have so many reasons for putting you off and gettingyouinto hospital thought it would probably be a waste of money!!

Flip

1 2 3