Experiences of waterbirth please

[Lizbiz89]

My second baby is due in 11 weeks and I'm really keen on having a waterbirth. My first birth was horrendous so I'm keen on being more in control this time. Would you recommend water births if you've experienced one?

My last labour was in a birthing pool. It really was amazing at alleviating labour pain. I wasn't able to push in the water though, so I just had to get out and do that on the bed. Definitely worked for me, but to be fair all 3 of my births were very easy. Hope that helps!

My first was in the pool. second would have been but she was in a hurry and it was still filling when she popped out!

I would recommend it, you feel supported and less heavy, it does help with pain, and I preferred it to being on the bed for the second one. Not that I had long to think about it.

Give had two water births and would really recommend them. The very best advice I was given was by a midwife who told me to let the warm water relax you during each contraction and not fight the pain (sounds wishy washy but helped me).

I live for people asking this question! I've had water births for both my two and recommend them to everyone, I could not have laboured without the pool! Ever since I was a teenage my period cramps have been down my thighs, and contractions were no exception, horrendous on dry land, and such a relief in the water! Delivered both my sizeable babies (7lb13 and 8lb2) in the pool with only gas and air. Being a bit floaty meant I wasn't worried about trying to find a comfortable position, I was toasty warm (but not too hot), relaxed and chatty between contractions (albeit talking drunken nonsense thanks to the gas and air!) and there's plenty places to grip and wedge yourself if you need to push. Definitely definitely worth trying. Plus my midwives both times have been AMAZING, the absolute bare minimum of intervention, I really felt like they trusted me to know what I was doing and just go with what my body told me, not once do I remember them coaching or instructing me. I'm all nostalgic for it now! Ha ha, madness to be nostalgic for labour, but honestly, I've never felt more chuffed with myself lol

I LOVED mine. I'd already had two births before, one on a bed and one kneeling over a beanbag thing but the water was amazing. My pain went from an 11/10 to a 5 or 6. Instantly.
It still hurt but I was in farm
More control and felt much more aware.

Loved it for my first, though had to get out to assist visibility at the end when things slowed down.

Hated it with my second and only lasted about 15 minutes in the water :( But I didn't have access to gas and air which may have made a difference.

Thanks for the replies! Definitely confirmed what I wanted to hear! I will be adding water birth to my birth notes. I'm also doing hypnobirthing so fingers crossed I'm going have a much more positive experience this time around.

Waterbirth for my third. First ended in a section; second was a marathon labour and involved pethidine, drip to speed up labour, epidural and episiotomy; third was a waterbirth at home. It was such a different experience. I still feel emotional about it a decade later. It wasn't pain free but it was in a different league to previous experiences.

I have only laboured once and it was in a pool with gas and air. I found the water so relaxing and it really helped with the pain. I had to get out and go on the bed half way through to be examined and I couldn't wait to get back in.

However, I had severe tearing and lost a lot of blood and the downside of being in the water is that it's really hard to gauge how much blood is being lost, especially if the birthing suite is dimly lit like mine was. I had to get out and on the bed to deliver the placenta and swiftly lost conciousness. Long story short I had blood transfusions and I'm fine but it was a bit touch and go.

I absolutely don't want to scare anyone off water births and will opt for it again next time but if you feel ill, light headed, dizzy or just odd whilst in the water be very vocal about it.