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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Birth Pool v's Normal Birth 😕

64 replies

LittleMrsSophieB · 02/01/2017 15:42

Hi I'm 31 weeks and nows the time everyone's started to ask "what your labour plans?"... we'll to be honest iv not really given it much thought I keep thinking to my self "iv got pleanty of time to think about that"

What I would like to know Is what do people recommend... (Pros and cons) iv thought about using the birth pool but I'm not sure this is my first baby and not sure what to expect... any opinions will be great xxx

OP posts:

pinkcardi · 04/01/2017 10:33

I would consider labouring in the pool, buy would absolutely recommend delivering out of it.

I had a water birth and sustained an unusual 3rd degree tear in the process. I've subsequently spoken to various consultants and senior midwives who say that there is an increased risk in the pool. My hospital has now changed its policy to encourage delivery out of the water for first time mothers.

Don't mean to put you off, the pool is lovely, but I do feel that I would have benefitted from delivering out of it.

Sabsy1 · 04/01/2017 15:23

My plan was to have a water birth, but when I found out that baby was in posterior position and by the scan "large than average" I went for an epidural and it was amazing. They had pull him out with forceps and I had loads of stitches....
I heard awful stories about extremely painful posterior position births, so I was over the moon that the whole process was pain free and quite enjoyable.
Keep your options open and see how it goes, and prepare that it might change and don't be disheartened.

ExConstance · 04/01/2017 15:31

I had two water births, one in a private hospital and the other at home. I felt so uncomfortable in early labour that it was a huge relief to get m huge whale like body into the supportive water. I just lay on my front with my chin over the edge, gently moving my arms and legs, it turned the frustration ad discomfort into something more constructive. At the hospital they let you have a session in the pool again with your baby before you went home, utter bliss.

Natstar98 · 04/01/2017 15:35

With all 3 of my pregnancies I wanted a water birth but wasn't allowed because of high risks. But I did spend a while in the bath and that was a great way of relaxing and eased the pain a little. The pool room in my hospital is much bigger and nicer than normal delivery rooms. So I say go for the pool, try it and if you don't like it get on the bed. Give birth where ever you feel comfortable. And most of all enjoy it :)

Strokethefurrywall · 04/01/2017 15:36

My doula used a very deep bath (no time to set up the pool) in the hospital where I delivered, which I think I got in from about 7-10cms if I recall.

I found it fantastic to help manage the contractions with hypnobirthing but at transition I wanted to get out as I just wanted to pee and felt I was getting overheated.

I had an OBGYN assisted birth which was great as he was happy to allow me to labor any way I wanted but come 10cms, took over to ensure that baby made it out safely and I delivered in one piece with no damage (home births and water births aren't really the "norm" here).

Second baby was an epidural labor and delivery and just as fantastic as I slept through it all until my OBGYN woke me up and told me it was time to push!

rightsofwomen · 04/01/2017 15:36

I would have loved to have laboured and birthed in the pool. "Problem" was that DS2 was out before it was full up enough. We got in afterwards for a cup of tea!

I don't think I would have enjoyed it for my first.

Molehillfromamountain · 04/01/2017 15:37

I've had one of each. 1st birth in MLU in pool with gas and air, fast labour 6 hrs start to finish. Amazing pain relief but I ended up with a 2nd degree tear.
2nd birth at home on knees on the floor (next to the pool ) even faster labour at 2 hours, no pain relief and no tearing this time.
If I had a third, I'd opt to try the pool again as the pain relief was great but I didn't find it unbearable on dry land. Good luck!

mummydawn07 · 04/01/2017 15:37

I've doe both my first was a slow long painful labour and it was normal delivery, 2nd my labour was a lot quicker, I had no plans of having a water birth but the midwife asked me if I would like the pool filled up (well it was more of a corner bath) so I said yes... best decision I made instant relief when I got in all the back pain just sort of melted away I only had gas and air for 2nd too.. and my labour was just very quick out in 2 pushes midwife pulled her up and put her on me, there was the added bonus of baby being cleaned as she came out too lol, only thing that I didn't like was having to climb out with the cord hanging down between my legs, so that the placenta could be delivered.

grannytomine · 04/01/2017 15:39

I have 4 kids, with three I tried the nice warm bath, not the same as a pool but it was warm water. Each time it stopped labour. For home birth I wash rushed to hospital, next one ended up as emergency c.section and last one was a horrible forceps. The one without benefit of warm water was a fantastic delivery. Won't be the same for everyone but it isn't magic, no harm trying but just be aware that it won't work for everyone.

LBOCS2 · 04/01/2017 15:40

With my first I didn't really like the idea of a water birth - and a good thing too as I ended up being induced due to preeclampsia and had an epidural. That birth was fine.

No 2 I went into labour spontaneously, before I went to hospital I spent a long time in the bath (DH had to chivvy me out as he was genuinely a bit afraid I'd give birth in the bath), we got to the hospital and I got into the pool as soon as it was full. Started pushing as soon as I got in, she was born within 15 minutes, it was lovely.

I had a 2nd degree tear with both so I'm not sure it made much difference for me!

MyKidsHaveTakenMySanity · 04/01/2017 15:43

I've had two 'dry land' births and one in a birthing pool and honestly I could have kicked myself for not having a pool with my first two as well. The contractions pain went immediately from an 11 (absolute agony - please kill me now) to a 5 or 6 and completely manageable.
I recall not really having a concept of time or awareness of my surroundings with births 1 & 2 (I don't handle pain well at all and our hospital didn't do epidurals) but I was completely lucid and in control in the pool with my last birth. Heck, if I had thought about it, I would have caught the baby myself!
I definitely recommend a birthing pool.

Aki23 · 04/01/2017 15:45

My midwife emphasised it was birth wishes only - waste of time as the only thing I got from it was the natural birth with g&a only - and I didn't get a choice anyway as very short labour!

moggle · 04/01/2017 15:46

I fancied a pool in our lovely birthing centre but when I got into our bath at home for a bit of early labour relaxation my contractions went from every 10 mins to every 3 and stayed there! I was at hospital a few hours later 8cm dilated, wasn't allowed to use the birth centre as they thought I had too much blood. She was born in the labour ward a few hours after that with help from the mini ventouse cap just to pull her round the last bend (she had turned back to back). Was absolutely fine on dry land and not in the beloved birth centre. Only tens machine for pain relief. A small tear which needed a couple of stitches and didn't cause me any probs later on. Not sure I'd bother trying water if we're lucky enough to have a second. I was so focused on what I was doing breathing wise I couldn't really think about getting and out of a pool. but who knows next time might be completely different!

londonrach · 04/01/2017 15:55

Id leave your birth plan as wide open as you can as you never know whats going to happen.

socktastic · 04/01/2017 15:58

BE very prepared for your plan to go out the window. I wanted a pool; it was on my birth plan. However I was diagnosed with hypertension, induced and the wee man was born within 40 mins of waters breaking as he was in distress. All I got was gas and air! (Although it did mean I have very little recollection of those 40 minutes!)

BertieBotts · 04/01/2017 16:06

Birth pool was amazing. I'd planned a home birth and bought an inflatable one but didn't end up using it as I transferred into hospital. The only thing that kept me from falling apart when transferring was that the midwife mentioned the birth pool room had been free when she left!

I didn't give birth in the water but it was amazing for labour pains. I definitely want to use one again, hopefully would get to do the actual birth in the pool next time.

Redpony1 · 04/01/2017 16:17

May i ask how a pool helps pain? Genuinely interested for the future, as i suffer with serious back pain (not even pregnant yet! & have a very low pain threshold) which i assume isn't as bad as labour pains, but a bath has never soothed it in the slightest. I am also scared about the gas & air, had it a few times & it's been utterly useless. Concerned i am immune to pain relief.

My birth plan will be - as many drugs as i can take!

socktastic · 04/01/2017 16:58

It's supposed to act like a big hot water bottle, the warmer your muscles are, the pain is reduced. Some people swear by them. I got a bath in the room in the ward while I was contracting but they got worse. That was due to the progress of labour rather than the bath not working.

BertieBotts · 04/01/2017 17:48

I don't know how it works but it's bloody brilliant.

If I could make an educated guess, it helps to relax the muscles meaning you don't tense and make the pain worse. It also helps stabilise the temperature. I became a bit princess and the pea about my surroundings so water was more constant.

I have a low pain threshold but the pool and gas and air made labour manageable for me.

BertieBotts · 04/01/2017 17:49

It isn't the same in a bath, you're not totally immersed in a bath. The pool is bigger and deeper.

MrsMerchant · 04/01/2017 17:52

My first was a long drawn out induction with me mostly horizontal. Pushing for an hour.
My second was in the pool and I pushed for three mins and there he was!

MuppetsChristmasCarol · 04/01/2017 18:06

I would have loved to try a birthing pool, but was a high risk pregnancy so had to be consultant lead in hospital. I had a bath in the fancy big baths at the hospital in the very early stages of labour though, and it was quite nice!

Don't stress too much - you can't really plan these things. I've managed to block out most memories of labour anyway!

Original poster

LittleMrsSophieB · 04/01/2017 18:34

Iv totally enjoyed reading everyone experience of birth pools today is the first time I was admitted to the hospital so it's given me something to read as I was in for 8hrs being monitored for high blood pressure I now have to see the midwife weekly from now until baby comes so not sure how I will stand on having a water birth so i'll have to ask her next week and see if it's still an option xx

OP posts:

Horseshoe1 · 04/01/2017 18:52

If you want to make god laugh, tell him your birth plan!

Seriously, I did all the hypno courses and wanted to be super natural but in the end I had such a long and troublesome labour I feel like I tried out every sort of birth and every sort of pain relief! The day I spent in water was the best bit - it really eased the pain (though I didn't progress so eventually had to abandon that). Book a pool but don't set your heart on anything as your body might have other ideas.

Wolfiefan · 04/01/2017 18:56

I had awful back pains with every contraction. DH poured warm water from a jug over my back. (May have threatened him with physical violence if he stopped!) back to back baby and existing back problems. The water was amazing. I think I actually said to the mw I didn't know how anyone did it on dry land!

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