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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Water birthing

26 replies

chillisbopper · 20/07/2013 21:25

Hi again,

Sorry if you're all a bit sick of me today, with an unexplained mw appointment and a sick cat I've been on top posting form today. But I did actually try to post this a few days ago and then my phone app crashed and it didn't post, sooo I couldn't be bothered typing it all again straight away lol .

Also sorry if this has been done to death.

My question is about water birth...I'll keep it short (last time it was an essay !)

I'm due my first in November, a little boy , and I'm thinking of having a water birth.

I've read about it a bit and watched on 'Don't Just Stand There I'm Having Your Baby' and 'O.B.E.M' but I'd like some more honest opinions than a TV show...

Anybody got any experiences of water births they're happy to share? I'd love to hear them.

Also has anybody actually delivered the baby in the water (I read a lot of woman get out to deliver) and still had the injection to deliver the placenta? My NHS book says you usually get the injection after first shoulder is delivered but I can't see how that would work delivering in the water and I want the injection but I want to deliver in the pool so worried i'll have to choose...

Thanks in advance

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DrSeuss · 20/07/2013 21:35

Delivered in pool, sat there with DS for a bit, got out, delivered placenta.
Be aware that you must meet very strict criteria for this, weight, blood pressure, age etc. some of these things cannot be known in advance or can change mid labour. If the midwives say you are unsuitable for any reason or that your circumstances are unsuitable, then that's a no. DD was not a water birth as there were complications. Water births are great but healthy babies are best of all.

5madthings · 20/07/2013 21:39

I had ds4 in a pool, lab our was just under an hour long and he was 10lb 13oz, I had a natural third stage so no injection and I stayed in the pool to deliver the place ta, is as holding and feeding ds4 whilst I delivered the placenta, it was lovely :)

5madthings · 20/07/2013 21:40

You can deliver in the pool and then get out to have the injection to help deliver the place ta, they like to do it as the babies shoulders are delivered but they dotn have to :)

Kneedeepinshittynappies · 20/07/2013 21:42

Water labour but did get out to deliver. Wanted to have her in the pool but another back to back baby and just needed some pain relief to get to finish line . I asked for exam to see where I was at, when mw said 7, I decided to get out (thinking a while to go) dd born 20 mins later. Sometimes wish I'd stayed in bloody hindsight but still loved the pool while I had it.

Re the injection, I seem to recall mw saying I couldn't have it in the pool, although constant contractions at the time so memory might not be great! Makes sense though as had gbs and had to have drip out of pool also.

stargirl1701 · 20/07/2013 21:44

I laboured and birthed DD in the pool. Amazing! I opted not to have the injection.

rindercella · 20/07/2013 21:47

I had DD2 in a birth pool. Very quick labour. Got to hospital, got in the pool (just after my waters broke) and DD2 was born within half an hour. It was comparative bliss. DD2 was whisked away from me as the cord was around her neck, but she was fine. I had the injection and then delivered the placenta outside of the pool.

If you can. go for the birth pool, it saves the ring of fire

Good luck

barleysugar · 20/07/2013 21:50

I had my third in the pool, to be honest it was the best pain relief I've ever experienced, but I do believe it slowed my labour down and made pushing harder. They had to quickly empty the pool right at the end as baby was not coming down fast enough, it was all a bit chaotic with midwives calling for a paed ASAP. I had to have the injection as the placenta was coming away in bits, so sat down in the bottom while they did that. That was a bit grim tbh, but it had to be done. Of course, this may not happen to you, but don't fear, they can empty the pool in about 10 secs if they need to and use gravity to speed things up!

I'd say go for it!

Dirtymistress · 20/07/2013 21:52

Two pool births here. Both delivered in pool. Got out to deliver placenta both times. Both very straightforward births. No damage. Really liked pool first time, less so the second for some reason but ds2's birth was fast and I couldn't get settled anywhere. Would recommend but I have nothing to compare it with.

mummyplonk · 20/07/2013 21:54

The birthing pool was wonderful to labour in, I so wanted baby to be delivered in water but the contractions really slowed down so they had to pull me out onto dry land and administer a drip to speed up contractions again, ooh was so angry. I had to be physically removed from the pool, but aparantly it is quite common. Go for it and hopefully you can go the whole whole journey there, my cousin did and video'd it, it was amazing.

mrslyman · 20/07/2013 22:01

DS2 was born in the water, to be honest it wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped but that wasn't really to do with the water but the other circumstances of labour in a particular a midwife who was lovely but more used to strapped to the bed inductions so was totally out of her comfort zone. Oh and I basically got in during transition so rather than thinking oh lovely water I was wondering why I wasn't strapped up to an epidural or if it was too late to ask for a section

I would recommend trying it though as it was definitely nicer to be in the water once I got over transition. I delivered DS in the water then had the injection once the water was drained and DS was being dried.

Brices · 20/07/2013 22:10

Had the home water birth for first child, the pain relief when you get in the water is immense!

Yes baby into water, the best bit was waiting for her to receive all the blood and waiting for the cord to stop pulsing, she literally changed colour in front of me. If you can I would definitely delay cord cutting. For the placenta delivery they asked me if I wanted the injection, said yes (lets get on with it attitude) quick into thigh, and very soon after placenta out - job done! No question raised about water delivery / third stage..

Second child was epidural in hospital, never felt one contraction. If a third child would have to be the epidural.

Obviously only speak from personal experience but after first birth, in the days, weeks, months after my brain played like a videotape on and on the saga of the pain. I was in a shock afterwards. And with the second pregnancy started to stop sleeping as worrying about coping strategies re: pain from about 30 weeks.

I am complete wuss about pain though!! Good luck with your research and your plans, exciting times!

ipanemagirl16 · 20/07/2013 22:12

I had both my babies in a birthing pool & I totally recommend it. I found being in the water very comforting, particularly between contractions. Both babies came quickly & I delivered in the pool. Delivered placenta outside of pool without injection. Go for it & hope all goes well. X

Lorelei353 · 22/07/2013 10:47

I had a water birth and loved it. Arrived at hospital and was 6cms. Got in pool about 40 mins later and had DS about 45 mins after that. Pain relief and general atmosphere was great. LOVED being the first person to touch my baby and pick him up out of the pool and straight onto my chest. Midwife guided me back into a step into the pool. We delayed cord clamping for a few mins but they gave me injection into thigh while in pool (wanted quick delivery to get sample of baby's blood to see if rhesus positive or negative). Delivered placenta out of the pool 10 mins later.

Would recommend considering it but don't obviously set your heart on it in case circumstances don't allow it on the day.

justhayley · 22/07/2013 13:58

You should read "The waterbirth book" by Janet Balaskas it's lovely. I really really wanted a water birth but my labour was quite quick and once I got to the hospital was examined and then asked if I wanted to move to the pool I wasn't thinking straight and told the MW to f off and stop asking me questions bit gutted would have loved to experience delivering in the water but hey there's always next time.
Good luck x

GreatSoprendo · 22/07/2013 18:17

Yep - labour and delivery in the pool, stayed in for a bit holding DS, then climbed out to deliver placenta. Wasn't coming easily so had the injection and delivered placenta easily while lying on a bean bag. You can have the injection with water birth definitely - they will just give it either in the pool or as soon as you hop out.

I have nothing to compare it to, as this was my first baby - but if I had another I would definitely hope to have another water birth. Relaxed atmosphere, one to one midwife care but very much allowed to follow your instincts and go with the flow. It was a good experience, even though DS was 9lb 12oz!

eccentrica · 22/07/2013 21:46

yes, had water birth, delivery in the water and 100% recommend it.

was only in for about 10-15 mins at end but pain relief and relaxation was incredible.

weirdest thing was her head came out, then had to wait for next contraction to push the rest of her out. remember sitting there with this little dark head underwater, between my thighs, 3 midwives and dp looking on expectantly!

had syn injection in the water, delivered placenta 20 mins later out of the water (actually in the loo!)

squalorvictoria · 22/07/2013 22:17

You don't HAVE to have the injection as the baby is being delivered. I delivered in the pool, got out of the pool, and the placenta showed no sign of showing up (I wanted a natural third stage) so I gave consent for the injection then.

Caitycat · 22/07/2013 22:25

I loved my waterbirth, I am in no way an earth mother type but didn't want any other pain relief it was so good! Had intended natural placenta delivery but bled quite heavily so they gave injection. I delivered placenta on the bed (my choice to do this, I think they said I could stay in pool but once baby was out I wanted to get out!)

Caitycat · 22/07/2013 22:27

PS although DrSeuss is right about the criteria, my hospital did have a pool at the consultant led end and some "riskier" births do use it - they have some sort of advanced monitors.

AmandaPandtheTantrumofDoom · 22/07/2013 22:29

Bear in mind that many units don't like to administer the injection on a delayed basis unless there is a clinical indication to do so (i.e. the placenta isn't coming).

The main benefit of the injection is decreased blood loss, but it increases the risk of a retained placenta. If they wait to give the injection, it is often clear you aren't expected to have problematic blood loss, but the risk of retained placenta increases. So they prefer you to have a natural third stage.

In my case this combination did happen, but because the placenta didn't want to budge.

nannyl · 23/07/2013 14:20

i delivered DD in the pool, then waited over an hour to deliver the placenta (naturally, no injection) into the water.

you dont have to have the injection and even if you do want it you can have it any time after.

i waited half an hour for the chord to be cut, breast feeding in the pool, then had another half hour waiting for the placenta.

(all at home)

Knittingnovice · 23/07/2013 14:25

I wanted to have a water birth with DD2 (DC3). I laboured in he pool for about 3 hours, but my labour stalled and the midwife broke my waters, when I got back in the pool it was all wrong ( I can't really explain it) and I ended up with a drip & epidural. But I am glad I had the option.

LittleMissSnowShine · 23/07/2013 15:21

Good thread! I didn't go near the water with DS1 because I was throwing up so much and he was back to back so labour went on forever and I was just weak and exhausted and not really with it so I didn't fancy the pool that time round.

This time round I am due again in 2 weeks time and I've been considering the pool, even just for pain relief and if I end up needing the drugs, whether epidural or diamorphine, I can get out and have them, no problem. DH isn't keen on water birth though - a friend of his told him a bit of a water birth horror story that happened during his DD's birth and he just wants me to go for epidural (I didn't the last time) and not try anything 'too new age'.

I can show him this thread later though and see if it helps put a more positive spin on it for him.

MikeLitoris · 23/07/2013 15:24

I had a wb in a cons led unit.

It was amazing!

Delivered in the water and got out about 10mins later for the injection and placenta delivery.

izchaz · 23/07/2013 20:23

I quite like this site for info www.homebirth.org.uk/ have a look at their water birth section for waterbirth stories and experiences. Good luck!

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