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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Water birth - experiences of...

26 replies

selee · 24/08/2007 16:10

I have laboured for several hours in a water pool with my first baby (and loved it), but due to meconium being passed I got out for the actual delivery. Can anyone who has actually delivered in a water pool, tell me of their experiences, as this is what I am hoping to do with my next baby due very soon?
Thanks x.

OP posts:

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notnowbernard · 24/08/2007 16:23

Hi, had both dds in water pool in hospital. I too laboured in the pool. Once I'd got in, there was no way I was getting out! Obviously have nothing to compare it to, but found it to be overall a positive experience.
I did get 2nd degree tears with both, though, and needed stitches. BUT... it wasn't problematic, at the time or afterwards. Hope that helps.

notnowbernard · 24/08/2007 16:25

Congratultions, by the way!

Forgot to say, both babies were really chilled out when they were born...dd1 didn't even cry. Both were really 'clean' too. And latched on straight away - dd2 within minutes.

Was a bit of a messy affair though, I have to say

Loopymumsy · 24/08/2007 18:34

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Original poster

selee · 24/08/2007 19:10

Thanks for your messages. I really am hoping to use the pool again, providing it's not already in use! I found delivering on a bed, after being in water, quite a bit more painful, and would like to consider that staying in the water will help me cope better with transition/2nd stage.

OP posts:

inkstigmata · 25/08/2007 14:28

Delivered DD1 in a pool (at home). I spent about two hours in there before MW said push. Likewise, no way was I getting out once I was in. I was going to repeat the experience with DD2 but she was born too fast (at home again) that MW didn't even arrive in time (DH subbed admirably). Didn't bother with DD3 since I supposed she would also be rather too quick This time MW arrived with 10 mins to spare at least.

For the "dry land" deliveries (love that term ) I was on all fours on the bedroom floor. I wouldn't have adopted any other position if anyone had told me to

belgo · 25/08/2007 14:35

selee - like you, with my first birth, I had to get out of the pool and deliver on 'dry land'.

with my second birth, I laboured for several hours in the water. It helped with mobility during contractions, but didn't help with the pain.

I delivered in the water and felt like I had no support. The midwives supported me using towels around my back. It was a difficult birth becasue the baby was OP (lying back to my back) and the water didn't help at all at this point.

After my baby was born I didn't want to hold her because I was terrified of dropping her into the water.

In summery, I like the water for the labour, but prefer to give birth on a bed.

belgo · 25/08/2007 14:39

inks - it's funny what you say about wanting to deliver on all fours. I live in Belgium and wanted to deliver on all fours. The doctor shouted at me saying 'all women in belgium give birth on their backs' and .

I refused, and ended up giving birth on my side.

The pain was too hideous to lie on my back.

sarahlou1uk · 25/08/2007 14:41

Both mine were born in pool.
DS was born in the hospital pool after 5 hours of labour. At one point they were going to ask me to get out as I also passed meconium, but left me in as I was so close. Got to 'catch' my baby boy as he was born and brought him up to me. Fantastic.
DD was also born in pool but at home this time. Laboured outside pool until I needed to get in and then she was born 30 mins later. No meconium this time, and also got the chance to 'catch' my daughter and bring her up.
Would prefer to give birth in pool again instead of dry land if I was planning on another (but there won't be a next time!) I have a bad back and couldn't imagine anything as horrid as having to lie on my back to give birth on a bed. Plus, all the yucky stuff is left in the pool for someone else to clean up! TBH - at home, we had a pond pump which we used to pump out the water down the drain (after dh had used the scoop!).
Good luck and just go with what feels right for you at the time.

inkstigmata · 25/08/2007 14:57

@ belgo: I have a good experience of the HBMW team where I live (N London)--they never tried to impose anything like that. Anyway, all fours was simply the way it was gonna be

meandmy · 25/08/2007 15:03

it was fab, had been allowed home after check up at 3pm went back got to hospital at 9.30 ish was in pool 10.30ish had just gas and air and i gave birth at 12.51am, stopped in pool cuddling dd till gone 2am whilst i delivered the placenta, felt so relaxed i kept falling asleep loved it i had 8lb 5oz dd (first dc) and got away with just a graze (midwife said if i had not been in water i would of had some nasty tears!) dd was calm and relaxed me too she only cried when she was taken out of the pool!
i would definatly do it again, i do reccommend taking lots to drik in sports bottle or beaker, and your own music as the music the hospital provided was dreadfull!

gingeme · 25/08/2007 15:42

Good afternoon selee. I delivered ds3 in a pool in hospital and plan to again with this baby in January. Very very relaxing and the pain relief was very good. Baby was extremely relaxed when born and didnt cry till he was given his vit k jab. I did have stitches after however but my mw said it would have been alot more had I not been in the water. Go for it and good luck.

NappiesGalore · 25/08/2007 15:45

you should do a thread search as well as this thread... you'll find lots of discussions /threads on exactly this.

good luck. i loved my water births. almost worth doing it again imo!

inkstigmata · 25/08/2007 15:48

With DD1 I had to get out of the pool pretty soon because the cord was very short and would barely stretch to the surface (I think it was about 18 inches deep)

gingeme · 25/08/2007 15:58

meandmy did you deliver the placenta in the water too? I wasnt allowed as I was told they wanted to keep an eye on the blood loss.

inkstigmata · 25/08/2007 16:00

@ gingeme: FWIW I was recommended not to try that. Sat on a bucket.

gingeme · 25/08/2007 16:07

Yes thats what I had to do which was quite a feat while mw trying to dry me off a bit to keep me warm and bf baby to help the placenta along which didnt work anyway so had to get on the bed and was threatened with surgery but it delivered about 10 mins later by itself. Phew!

gingeme · 25/08/2007 16:09

Im in North London too. You werent with the Emerald Green Team was you? Theyre fab

meandmy · 25/08/2007 16:10

yep did it was as big as my baby!

gingeme · 25/08/2007 16:14

Might ask if I can this time then. Didnt like sitting on a bucket type thing after such a fab labour and delivery. Even the mw said she was disapointed I had to do that.

inkstigmata · 25/08/2007 16:31

@ gingeme: No, Whittington Hospital home birth team. Was much better service this time than last (2004 and 2001). Some of that money thrown at the NHS has done good at least.

meandmy · 25/08/2007 16:32

just put pics on my profile have a look if you not squeemish!

belgo · 25/08/2007 17:26

great pics meandmy - your baby's eyes are very open!

meandmy · 25/08/2007 17:28

thanks, yep that was as soon as i took her out the water

Original poster

selee · 27/08/2007 18:31

meandmy - fabulous photo's !!! thanks for all the messages .
hoping it won't be too long for me now, am due this week!

OP posts:

Eaglebird · 30/08/2007 11:13

I'm hoping to have a water birth when I have my 1st baby in October.
Probably a silly question, but when the baby's born in the pool, does he float to the surface? Or does he sink and you have to dive down to grab him?
Also I'm a bit worried about tearing. If you give birth on dry land, the midwife can help control things, but I'm not sure what happens in a pool. Do you use your hands to ease the bay out & so protect your perenium?

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