Birthing pool: painful to get in and out of?

[MusicTES]

Hi all! I think I posted this in the wrong group earlier, so I'll quickly go again!

I'm a first timer and considering using a birthing pool for pain relief and, should it feel right, birthing. But I'm only 5'2 and the birthing pools are deep - so how easy is it to get a leg over the edge of these pools? I know I won't want to feel stuck in the pool and I'll want to move around and get in and out. So realistically, how easy, difficult or painful is it to get out? I assumed that with baby engaged and hips opening, it could be painful to try and get out of the pool!

Thanks for your thoughts! X

I'm 5 foot. Midwife helped me in in between my 2 minute contractions and getting out was only scary as I hadn't birthed the placenta yet, my birthing partner held my daughter. It was all very quick and not a significant part I remember although I can imagine I probably kicked up a fuss about getting in lol. Once your in it feels so nice and when it's time to get out you've just had baby so you're on cloud 999 anyway x

Also there's steps to get in. The pools are so spacious although I stayed on my knees holding the edge the whole time. Even turning over with my daughter in the water and the chord attached was easy from what I remember. The midwife will help and guide you and somehow these women have super strength, you can lean on them for support x

@MusicTES I wondered this too, I'm the same size as you and have no birth partner to help, and SPD! My local hospital started up with the birthing pools for pain relief and births last week (and I'm now 40+4, gotta be some benefit to going over due date!) so really would like to get in the pool 🙂 if I can get myself in and out that is!

If it's a fixed pool in hospital it will have steps. If there's an emergency we're trained to evacuate you quickly and that can include wheeling a bed to the edge at pool height and getting you on it.

The soft blow up ones are easy to get in and out of and if baby is in an odd position then the act of getting your leg over the side can get baby moving. 😀

You might surprise yourself! I thought I would want to move around - once I got in that pool I wasn't getting out for or anything or anyone! The amazing thing about it is that you can change position do much more easily as the water supports you. I do remember a momentary eek moment getting out whilst still attached by the cord to deliver the placenta thinking 'don't pull the fucking cord'! But I got out and on the couch for that bit easily. There were fixed steps in the hospital pool.

@GlennRheeismyfavourite that's what I'm wondering - I don't specifically want a water birth but I would like to use the pool in labour (didn't get to with DD sadly). Our local, quiet, midwifery unit apparently has births in the baths all the time where women don't want to get out once they're in! (And one on the toilet where the lady didn't want to get off!)