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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Water birth - is it messy?

40 replies

mumhum · 26/02/2015 15:35

I am keen on a water birth with my second baby. I am 34 weeks and had my first at 36 + 2 so was not allowed then as premature. But is it really messy? I am not particularly squeamish, but I don't fancy the idea of floating around in my own blood and poo. First baby was premature and labour less then 4 hrs so struggle to remember how much mess there was on the bed then!

OP posts:
Interrobang · 26/02/2015 15:38

There are some videos on YouTube so you can see how it varies.

Original poster
mumhum · 26/02/2015 15:50

Was hoping for some honest views and experiences from mumsnetters. I would have thought most mess comes after baby is out?

OP posts:
Interrobang · 26/02/2015 16:12

I am sure people will be along, but in the meantime, those videos are really eye-opening, imo!

sunnydaylucy · 26/02/2015 16:12

I had a water birth with DD2. I thought it was good, although my midwife was insistent that I got out of the water to deliver the baby. Which would have been fine if she had mentioned it before I got to that stage Shock. That stage was so quick there was not a hope of me getting out in time. So she ended up stressing because she had to deliver in the water.
I don't remember any mess but I'm sure there was! (Gotta love Gas!)
The major downside to me was that I had to take my TENS machine off (obviously!).
If this helps I didn't opt for a water birth with DD3, it didn't make that much of a difference, pain wise, to me.

Messygirl · 26/02/2015 16:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
mumhum · 26/02/2015 16:13

I had just gas and air with DS1 and found pain ok. Have heard it can slow down labour though?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 26/02/2015 16:16

I had one with DD and never looked at the water so, in my mind, it was totally mess free!

Original poster
mumhum · 26/02/2015 16:17

Thanks Madrigals. Did you pick up your little one and bring them to the surface, or was that for the midwife to do?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 26/02/2015 16:17

There will be a little fishing net for the MW to deal with anything solid.

Although there was none of that for me, obviously...

SoupDragon · 26/02/2015 16:19

My MW brought DD up to the surface.

daimbardiva · 26/02/2015 16:24

I had one and it was a lovely experience and, as far as I'm aware, mess free :)

Messygirl · 26/02/2015 16:44

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MisterSafetyCatchIsNotOn · 26/02/2015 17:02

Madrigals I remember you from another thread a while back, congratulations!!

OP I'm hoping to have a water birth too for my second due in July and have watched lots of YouTube videos! It strikes me as less messy on balance than doing it on dry land (although I really didn't notice the mess last time, that is for someone else to worry about!), I suppose delivering the placenta might be a bit icky in the water but I think most people get out before that.

Messygirl · 26/02/2015 17:48

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imip · 26/02/2015 17:51

I vomited do much during labour in the birthing pool that I had to get out. I was in agony and my vomit was EVERYWHERE.

I ended up having a c-section - it was not at all the birthing experience I expected!

ChutesTooNarrow · 26/02/2015 18:30

I do not recall any mess at all. However my husband, who cleaned out the pool afterwards, may have a different memory! I didn't look at the water tbh, and had the lights quite dim. Are you planning a home birth? This may not be relevant if going to hospital. I lined the path from the pool to the couch with bath mats and covered the sofa in towels. These were chucked straight in the washing machine afterwards and were all fine. The placenta was delivered into a cardboard tray the midwife had. I really don't think the pool clean up was too arduous, we had a water pump thing that pumped the water straight into the sink, and then the liner was gathered up and put in the bin.

FirstAidKitten · 26/02/2015 18:44

I've had 2 home waterbirths. I only had slight grazes internally so didn't stitches and there was very little blood. Tiny bit of poo bit the midwives take care of that and you REALLY don't notice or care.

I had DD1 on all fours, DD2 I was sitting leaning back. Midwives kind of guided both babies out to me but it was just that, guiding.

Totally amazing experiences Smile

Go for it!

solstice930 · 27/02/2015 10:36

I'm hoping for a water birth for my second baby (I'm also 34 weeks!). I used the pool for my first labour, and got in around 7-8cm. It really helped me relax, and took the edge off the pain. However, it completely stopped my labour - after 2 hours I hadn't progressed at all. Once out, the contractions came back at full force, and I was fully dilated within an hour or two.

I am hoping for a better outcome this time, but just to warn you it can slow labour down (and not just in the early stages!)

FirstAidKitten · 27/02/2015 15:17

Ahh see I only got in about an hour before they were born, both times.

First time I had no examinations but my body was pushing on it's own by the time I got in. Second time I was 9cm. Both labours were about 5 hours.

Messygirl · 27/02/2015 15:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JuniperTisane · 27/02/2015 15:48

^^ Blush The midwife was fully aware I had eaten chilli for dinner the night before, and not because we told her. Turns out kidney beans are:
a) less dense than water and
b) not especially fast at digesting...

Lemondrizzletwunt · 27/02/2015 15:53

If it helps, OP, there's a good water birth on Childbirth: All or nothing. MW's usually scoop out the poo, so don't worry about that, and the only blood that happens is when the baby is born and/or afterwards. The transition phase in water can also be longer, for some reason, so that's why people say it slows labour, AFAIK.

NoRoomForALittleOne · 27/02/2015 17:22

I did look at how much mess there was/wasn't when I delivered DD3 in the water. There was virtually nothing although I didn't poo during pushing nor did I deliver the placenta in the water. When I scooped DD3 out of the water she was less slimy than the others had been so I guess that some yuck was in the water but it wasn't noticeable.

Snowflake15 · 27/02/2015 17:31

Can I ask a newb question? What are the benefits of a water birth? Is it just the soothing effect of the water takes an edge off the pain?

Original poster
mumhum · 27/02/2015 17:33

Thanks for all the comments, DS1 shot out so slowing things down a little may not be a bad thing. My local hospital (East Surrey) has 4 pools so fingers crossed I get the option on the big day. I was on all fours with DS1 and struggled to change positions which is another reason why the water appeals.

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