I'm in labour...Will a bath slow me down?

[Leonora94]

Really hoping someone's online at this hour of the morning. My waters went earlier today and I've been having contractions since about 7 in the evening but they've only just got into a pattern and have been able to be timed really from about midnight. Currently every 6/7 minutes lasting a minute but I can breathe and talk through them. I thought a bath might help chill me out but the last thing I want to do is to slow anything down. Any advice (FTM knows nothing!)

I don't think it slows it down. I was advised to have one in hospital to help with the pain.

Bath will ease the pain. I laboured for hours in the bath at home, reclined with DC1.

DC2 Induced so had really long hospital bath, completely stretched out in it, put the presure into my back rather than down. I was having contractions fairly close together. When I got out LO was born very quickly.

Didn't slow mine down and made me feel much more comfortable. Good luck!

Good luck.
As crazy as it might sound, get your favourite tunes on, and enjoy the excitement of the last few hours before you meet your baby.

I got into the bath at the end of my labour with DD and it slowed things down. I'd spent a lot of time in the shower in early labour with her though and found that helped. I wanted to keep moving though as I found sitting/lying really painful while it was getting established.

If your waters have gone it is not advised to have a bath I don't think

coffeeandcrumpet is right. Once your waters are broken, bacteria in the bath water can get up into your uterus and affect the baby. Don't risk it.

Thanks for your reply's guys, I was worried about that but rang the midwife unit they said a baths fine. Just kept it plain water - it really helped with the pain and didn't slow things down. Still 6 minutes lasting 1 minute but much more intense now I'm out! Thanks for all your help. Xx

Exciting! Hope it all goes well, keep us posted!

oooh.... !! excited for you. X fingers.

Good luck, OP! I had a bath when I was in hospital and it definitely ramped things up, my labour really intensified when I got out and DD was born a couple of hours after.

Aww this is exciting op

A bath sent my contractions timings a bit wonky for a little when I got out but didn't affect me too much. My bath wasn't deep enough for me to cover my bump though!

Hope you're doing okay OP- hope this turns into a live birth thread

Update??
Or false alarm...

Hi guys, little Orla was born at 9pm last night she's just so lush! This post makes me laugh now because I was barely in labour and the contractions when I was in the bath are laughable looking back now. I was in very early labour!

Ah that's great - welcome baby Orla, lovely name. Well done Leonora, enjoy your little one

Aww Congratulations!
You'll never forget that bath.

x