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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Anyone ever hated or regretted their waterbirth?

30 replies

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 27/05/2014 20:58

I plan on having a waterbirth next time round and everyone always seems to only have good things to say.

Obviously I wont really know what its like until I am in the thick of it (no.matter how many blogs I pin on Pinterest!)

Anyone actually dislike theirs or regret doing it?

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Original poster

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 27/05/2014 21:30

Bump

OP posts:

rachyconks · 27/05/2014 21:34

Not at all. It was fab. I just wish I could remember more of it! I just wanted to say that the midwife kept saying throughout that if I felt uncomfortable or wanted to get out at any time it was no problem. I almost did as it was all getting a bit much (I was roasting because of labour and the heat of the pool), but DS arrived shortly a after. So glad I stayed in!

stargirl1701 · 27/05/2014 21:35

Nope but I love swimming so I'm very comfortable in the water.

bouncinbean · 27/05/2014 21:38

I loved the hours that I was in the pool - possibly too much as I didn't make much progress and in fact I think things slowed down too much and I ended up having to leave my nice warm pool...
No regrets or dislike but it doesn't always work out (ended up on a drip and ventouse) but I would go for a water birth next time again and hope for a baby to come out swimming!

SqueezedMiddle · 27/05/2014 21:41

Not me (c-section queen), but hVe many friends who have had water births. Mostly positive. Two didn't like ot. One started in the water and just found the tepid temperature annoying and got out and gave birth on all fours in the waterbirthing suite. The other found it lovely right up until the end stage, then felt cold and knackered Nd got out and laboured on a bed.

goshhhhhh · 27/05/2014 21:42

No- loved it. Helped with pain relief - generally made it easier.

CusheyButterfield · 27/05/2014 21:46

I loved it and found it did help with the pain. However, it totally slowed my progress labour and I had to get out to be put on the drip to quicken labour. It was fab and very calming, but it didn't work out as I'd hoped.

Fcukfifa · 27/05/2014 21:46

The water birth wasn't available until I was 7cm into a back to back labour.
I gave it a go and got in, swore that it was too fucking hot, shouted I couldn't breathe, poo'd then scrabbled out of it.

10 mins later had epidural and returned to a normal person.

Fcukfifa · 27/05/2014 21:47

The water bath I meant :)

AngelaOctopus · 27/05/2014 21:50

I tried to have a water birth and was in there til 8cm dilated. It was good whilst I was there but in the end I had to get out as needed more pain relief.

lolalotta · 27/05/2014 21:52

Nope, fantastic! Still hurt like hell, but was a comforting/ soothing distraction!

makati · 27/05/2014 21:54

I've had two water births. I love swimming and found it really relaxing...as much as it can be under the circumstances!

theressomethingaboutmarie · 27/05/2014 21:54

Loved it. Was so pleased that I chose to have a water birth with DS and that the facility was available. It did get a little claustrophobic when DH made it a bit too warm but otherwise, it was comparatively terrific (DD was born with me flat on my back on a bed due to monitoring for pre-eclampsia and me not knowing enough to object).

QueenOfThorns · 27/05/2014 21:58

Things progressed so quickly for me at the end that I was only in the pool for about 10 minutes before I started pushing, but it was great. I do love being immersed in warm water generally though.

It looks like your request for water birth haters has just attracted a load of us who loved it, instead! Sorry about that.

As a few people have said, if you don't like it, or it slows things down, you can always hop out again, so there's nothing to lose, really!

shelsco · 27/05/2014 22:03

Loved it. Have had two labours out of water and two in pool. Ones in pool were much quicker and less painful (despite less pain relief). I know some people have said it slows things down but I think sometimes it can speed things up as well. When Dc4 was born (half an hour from getting in pool) midwife said that she thought it made labour much quicker. I didn't find it too warm at all. But then maybe I wasn't in long enough!

Original poster

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 27/05/2014 22:29

Lots of birthpool enthusiasts! Very very helpful and good to know I can get out as and when I need to.

OP posts:

Standingonlego · 27/05/2014 22:37

It was great, did it for both DS1&2. However unlike others upstream I am definitely not a water person, would rather run than swim and been in lovh big bathtub at home a handful of times in nearly 10 years (I do shower!!!)

Hang in on dry land as long as you can then get in :)

dreamingofwineandcheese · 27/05/2014 22:39

Loved the water, my contractions quickened once I was in the water which the midwife said was because I was so relaxed. I managed really well with the pain as well with just a bit of gas and air which I think was due to the water. I had to get out towards the end as needed more monitoring but I am definitely hoping to be in the water again for DC2, hopefully for the whole thing this time!

RainyAfternoon · 28/05/2014 06:41

I am hoping to get in the pool with my third - both times before it wasn't available. My sister found it irritating. I think if you like baths you'll probably like the pool, but if you're the type of person that only ever has showers as baths are a faff you might not like it so much?

Sleepysheepsleeping · 28/05/2014 06:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tinkywinkyshandbag · 28/05/2014 07:09

I've worked as a doula and had some clients who wanted a waterbirth but then did not find it as comfortable as they thought, it's also quite common for women to labour in water and then get out for pushing. I had a waterbirth with my second and absolutely loved it. Good luck!

Brices · 28/05/2014 07:09

The first was water, was quick, four hours.
The second had an epidural, the wonder of modern medicine.
Came home and sold the birth pool immediately!
Not that I hated it, I didn't know any different, liked how it felt more "normal" to have no clothes on when husband and midwives had clothes on because I was in my pool. Gives partner "their" responsibility.

But overall would always choose decent pain relief (for me decent pain relief not sitting in water)

PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 28/05/2014 08:23

I loved my two (hated the epidural I had first time with a passion).

The good thing about water though is that you can get out! So if you try the water and hate it, it's only the time to climb out and dry off and it's done. With other things (epidural, diamorphine), if you try them and don't like them they can't be undone and need to wear off. Don't think that there is any harm at all in trying it if you are a suitable candidate for a water birth.

Sweflo · 28/05/2014 11:10

I really wanted one. Had my 3 child, but was unable to due to first I was strep B pos. I went overdu so they had to induce me and the ended up with a emsc. I was so disappointed in the beginning now I'm just happy bay is alright ..good luck with what ever you are having xx

hyperspacebug · 28/05/2014 14:24

I liked being in the pool at the birth centre until midwife told me to get out as they thought it was slowing down my labour. (I didn't entirely follow their reasoning)

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