Water birth V Hospital birth.

[Grace52616]

I've heard magical things about home/water births. My mind is without a doubt made up, I would like a home birth in a pool. (Baby #4 due in April)

But whats everyones experiences, which have you preferred?

I had a water birth in my local mlu - would highly recommend being in the water!

I keep thinking though, what if the water isn't warm enough!?

But im looking forward to it none the less. Just apprehensive about the 'unknown' - What benefits do you get from being in the water? X

I had a water birth with my 3rd also in a mlu, it's definitely more comfy than being on a hospital bed and helped with my back, I'd get crippling backache if I laid flat on my back.

I had a water birth in a mlu with my 2nd, I tried to with my 1st but she wasn't in a great position & I needed an episiotomy, (still in mlu) labouring on my back felt like I was really fighting gravity!

2nd time round I got in the water when my tens was no longer distracting me enough. Experienced 1 contraction between taking tens off & getting in the water, it really made me appreciate the heat of the birth pool!
I felt a bit over whelmed by the heat of the water at 1 point but dh was sponging my face with cold water which really helped.
I was probably in the water 45min before DS came out, it definitely felt easier to go with the flow of the contractions & get into any position when in the water.