How safe is a water birth really?

[decafgirl]

I'm really keen to use the pool for pain relief in labour and my hospital has 2 pool rooms so fingers crossed.

However I find myself keeping this a secret because so many people have such a negative reaction to it. They basically think I'm going to drown my baby which obviously I'm keen to avoid!

Is it just old grannies (and my mother) scaring me for no reason or is there some truth in it? At the moment I've said I'd like to use the pool for pain relief but I'm undecided as to whether or not to actually give birth in the water although I've heard the pain on getting out of the water and onto land can be traumatic in itself.

Aaagghhh! Please advise!

Another waterbirth fanatic - ds2 (March 05) and dd (Jan 07) were born at home in a birthpool (hired from Gentlewater) and both were FANTASTIC experiences which I'd repeat again in a moment. I was only in the water for a short time both times (about 10 minutes with ds and 20 minutes with dd), but had no tears or grazes either time. I just can't imagine giving birth on dry land following my experiences - not only does the water ease the pain, it also provides a kind of softening / cushioning effect so somehow your bits and bobs don't feel as vulnerable!!

As both labours were so fast we only had one midwife present, which I think is against guidelines (you're supposed to have 2 present for a home delivery), but she was so experienced she was fine with it. Ohhhh I'm so envious, I'd do it for you if I could!

I'm so pleased I started this thread! This has all been so positive and has really helped me focus on getting a water birth regardless of what the worriers think!

I'm 38 weeks now so hopefully it won't be too much longer (I'm still at work for another week though, I know, I know..) so now all I need is one of those threads that tell me how to get things going...

xx

Hi, I'm guessing that decafgirl had probably given birth by now. hope all went well
So, may be not for her now but for someone interested I have a Beautiful Hexagonal Birthing Pool For Sale.
Here's what I wrote in another thread:
Very soon my husband, my little one and I will be moving houses and with sadness I have to find a new home for many of our things. Including a wonderful hexagonal pool in excellent condition with brand new birthing kit. It is a great pool that you can have for
personal use and/or, as it is a proper hiring pool, you can hire it and soon you'll get your money back. It is an excellent opportunity as water births are becoming more and more popular, even encoraged, in some areas! Grab a bargain, it can be yours at the price of hiring one twice!!! (if that makes sense)

RRP £1,590 (wow!!! expensive)

I'm selling it (incl the kit) for a low price £380 o.n.o. Reduced £350 (or near offer)
Pool Kit Contents. The contents of the Hexagonal Birthing Pool Hire Kit include:

· 6 fibreglass panels plus bolts, washers and wing nuts
· A permanent liner
· A new disposable liner
· A new 15 metre filling hose
· A new round and multi-purpose mixer tap adaptors
· A ground pad
· A new foil-backed heat retention cover
· 2 new thermometers
· A new water strainer
· Full instructions & information pack
· A plastic step to assist entry and exit
· A submersible water pump and 10 metre emptying hose
· RCD safety plug adapter

I prefer you to come and pick it up (London E11) email me for full address and phone number.

But if you want me to post it I can. The cheapest I found is £35. If you know of a cheap delivery company I'm happy to use it.

You'll love it.
(email me for a photo)

Shouldn't you have put that on the for sale boards, rather than crashing this one??

So sorry, it was the first time I came to this website, my first message ever and I didn't even know that there was a sales one at the time.
I'll see if I can get it erased.
cheers

I chose a water birth with my third child i was 2 week over and had to be induced.

I thought it was the best birth i have had. It was that calming i almost forgot about having gas and air.

I had a water birth and it was brilliant, very quick and easy. Babies have a diving reflex so don't breathe underwater.

Both my dc have gone on to do swimming classes from around 3 months old and in these classes you submerge them, I've had the pictures taken as I think it is amazing what they can do so young

Sorry Anaki. I've been a right moody cow today. Please ignore me.

Ummmmm.... looks like I'm going to be the sole devils advocate on this thread... There was a case two months ago in Ireland (it was in the papers) where a baby drowned in a home water birth. Water was found in his lungs. They surmised that there was a delay of a few minutes in getting him out of the mum, and in the interval, he drowned. The midwife and the parents of course disagreed over how long it took for the baby to come out fully, I think he was stuck half way for clearly, that bit too long.. There was no mention of touch stimulation, so maybe the groping to get him out caused him to take a breath of water. They didn't know, but had to put down drowning as his cause of death. It's probably a very very low statistic/percentage, but it was enough to give me the heebie geebies, so I'll be having a birth just 'normally' out of water this time. I hope decaf girl that you decide to go with whatever is most comfortable for you, and this case was clearly a very tragic freak event, otherwise their use would not be so widespread or popular - they're in all the hospitals now, and as with any birth, things have to be monitored and checked at all times to make sure you and the baby are doing well. Good luck.