Water Birth Experiences?

[kylieeee]

Hey lovelies,

Obviously not guaranteed, but if by some miracle I can have a birth plan that goes TO PLAN, I'm leaning towards a water birth.

I'm sure at the time it'll be the least of my worries... but I am concerned about a little floater in the pool 😂🤦🏽‍♀️

Can I hear about some of your experiences please ladies? Are water births as nice as they say? And where does the poop go😂

Also, read a lot about having to get out of the pool to deliver placenta.. is that the case? Don't really think I'll be wanting to move after birthing a bowling ball. I'm not gonna be rushing back up the ladder to do a cannon ball or swan dive. Lol

I bloody loved giving birth in the water. I knew I’d perhaps like to give the pool a try but hadn’t completely set my heart on it and I thought I’d probably like to get of the pool to deliver (because of the mess). I couldn’t have jumped in the pool quick enough. The relief I felt from being in the water was huge. It really helped to take the weight off and I was able to lean over the side and find a position I felt comfortable in.

I don’t think I pooed, but if I did, I want aware of it and the midwives didn’t make a deal of it. I delivered my little one in the water. No way on earth was I getting out of the pool and I was surprised that the water after was clearer than I’d imagine it being. I was able to hold my son in the water for some time and getting out of the water to deliver the placenta was actually fine. I just wish I’d been allowed to spend more time in the water. The end phase of my labour happened more quickly than anyone could have expected and I was ready to push as soon as I got in.

I had a waterbirth with my ds 4 months ago and loved it. Although I was only in the pool for half an hour as ds arrived very fast! I did poop myself (unfortunately) as my ds was putting so much pressure on everything that when my water broke in the pool it all came out at once (sorry tmi!). But once you get out they drain all of the water and mess so it's not too humiliating 😂

I did have to get out of the pool for the placenta to be delivered. Opted for the natural method and it came out no problem. Tbh you're on such an adrenaline rush after your baby arriving that getting of a pool really isn't a big deal. And the midwife does help you out and onto the bed.
Anyway hope it all goes well for you and you get your waterbirth if that's what you opt for. X

Great water birth experience here. Very calm and tranquil (compared to first birth). Partner was given little fishing net to fish out poo! I can’t remember if it was utilised or not!!! I had to get out to deliver placenta but by that point was ready to get out. Think it really helped with pain relief.

@Scubalubs87 @Lizbiz89 @Spinderellacutituponetime so nice to hear you all had such amazing experiences with the pool. I'd never really thought about it much and I don't know why, I absolutely love a bath.. might ask if I can take a bath bomb in😂😂 the idea of being on a lumpy hospital bed just doesn't appeal to me but I suppose it all depends on the day!

The fishing net comment made me LOL. My other half is quite a keen fisherman so I'm sure it'll keep him entertained 😂😂😂

I turned up at the hospital in labour and the Midwife said “oh, I’ve filled the pool for you, come on in and have a cup of tea”. I didn’t even know they had a pool! I was in there 12 minutes and I gave birth, so it did the trick. Didn’t get chance to drink my tea.

It was the best of my three births, the water very much helped me relax. I stayed in the water with my baby for a while, I don’t remember it looking dirty and it certainly doesn’t in the photos. I actually can’t even remember delivering the placenta! I remember having to get out for it vaguely I think. Good luck and enjoy your new baby :)

I had a water birth and I appear to be in the minority but I'm not sure I'd do it again. I couldn't get into a position I felt comfy in like with my other 2 births. Though my midwife wasn't particularly helpful and just kind of left me to my own devices.

Didn't poo, or if I did I didn't notice. Did get out to deliver placenta, but they don't let you sit in it for a while anyway, you will need to get checked over and so will the baby, and even if you don't poo there will be blood etc there (sorry but it's true!) So I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor.

Very calm environment though, I can see why some women love it.

2 water births. 2 on dry land.
Water births were fantastic for me.

I had water births for both my DD's and I loved it. I think the warm water really helped and sort of supported me when I was getting into some bizarre positions. Like PP I don't think I pooped but if I did the midwives must have been quick to fish it out
Obviously everyone's experiences are different but if I were to have another DC I'd opt for a water birth again.

@WYP2018 oh my god that sounds like my dream birth!! I'd defo be sipping that cuppa between contractions so glad you had such a lovely experience and 12 mins has to be a record! Tell me your secret!!

@Byorderofthepeakyblinders I hope my midwife is a little bit more attentive than yours was, that sounds awful for you I hope you managed to get as comfortable as you could

@LadyOfTheFlowers love the term dry land haha nice to know you prefer the water, gives me a better idea! Thank you x

@Beetlebum1981 The amount of poop stories you hear about, I thought it was a given lol! To be fair I'm quite an on tap pooper, TMI but I can pretty much go any time any place haha so I'm sure someone will need to clean the filter after me thank you for the advice. I think a water birth is going to be my chosen plan. Fingers crossed I get the choice! Xx

Mine is a slightly different perspective. I also planned a water birth with my first. In the end by the time they had filled the bath I was getting on fine without it and already quite far along, so I didn't use it on the end.

Sounds ridiculous but by the time I was in the midst of contractions it just seemed like another thing to get on the way! With my second I dont think I bothered requesting it.

Can't advise on the pooing but in my personal experience it is 50/50 if you do or not 😜

@kylieeee to be fair the other midwives with my other children were amazing. The one with the water birth wasn't bad at all, she just very much left me to my own devices. On hindsight I think my uncomfiness may be similar to the previous poster in that I had progressed a lot before I got in. Maybe if I'd got in it earlier it would have helped more.

@kylieeee

The dry land births were only because for the 3rd and 4th there were not enough staff to accommodate it (you need a midwife to yourself, though saying that the 2nd one she just kept one foot in the door as I'd done 1 water 14m previous and told DH to holler if needed)

In comparison I really felt restricted on the bed. Found it hard to shift my bulk around to get comfy, especially once it all kicked off. In the water changing position was effortless.

I loved having a water birth. It really helped to be in the water especially when it came to the baby actually coming out. Really took the edge off the pain down there.

For me the poo kind of came out in several very small bits. Don't know what happened to it, the midwives dealt with it. When you're in labour it really is the last thing on your mind!

Holding my son in the water for the first time was the most magical moment of my life.

Yes you do have to get out of the pool for the placenta bit but that didn't really bother me. The bed was right beside the pool so it didn't really feel like that much of s big deal.

Good luck

Loved my water birth, my daughter was born in her sac which was quite something. I had to get out to deliver the placenta which was a total ordeal and worse than the actual birth. The water is such a good pain relief, much better than the tens machine they'd given me before getting in

The only downside was is I bled a bit after the birth, not a worrying amount but enough to make the water go very red and look like I was bathing in my own blood. You also get a lot of your show etc floating around with you 🙈. I didn't poo though which is a bonus!

I didn't like it, like another poster I couldn't get in a comfy position, and the heat of the water irritated me. I was in there for around two hours I think, I got out during the pushing stage. It was kind of nice to float around between contractions but that was about it, I was also vomiting a lot, so that wasn't great either in the water. I preferred hugging a giant beanbag on the floor.

Midwife sieved the poo out that apparently happened during the pushing stage.

I got in nearly passed out through the heat and only lasted about 10 mins. My sil had a water birth and loved it. Partners could get in also, I asked if anyone ever had and apparently not. The fishing net put them all off!😁

Loved it! Really helped with pain relief.

No idea about floaters, if there were any no one made a fuss and took care of them quickly and quietly!

Would really recommend it. Good luck!