Another attempt at a waterbirth?

[DoubleHelix79]

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and starting to think about birth options. With DD (now almost 4) I laboured at home for the first 12 hours over night (waters had gone naturally), then early in the morning I was starting to be really tired from being in pain for quite a while and we went into hospital. I then laboured in a pool for another 12 hours but didn't manage to push out DD and only got there with the help of an epidural and some induction drugs. I was just too exhausted from pain and lack of sleep, and labour progressed really slowly. By the time I got the epidural all I was doing was cling to DH and whine "make it stop, make it stop". Gas and aid didn't seem to have any effect on me - not sure if I'm less sensitive to it, or whether there was a problem with the apparatus (not much seemed to come out). I did like being in the pool and being able to move around though.

Now DC2 is due in April and I'm starting to try and get my head around having to do it again. I am somewhat tempted to try another waterbirth in the MLU but I am aware that being in the water can slow things down. I really don't want to be in the same situation again. On the other hand it's my second, which tends to be faster for a lot of women. Arg. Help me think this through please!

2nd babies are a different ball game. I had a long labour first time, in the water for a bit but ultimately exhausted and gave birth on my back on a bed, exactly the opposite of what my birth plan said!

2nd one I had at home in a birthing pool. I say go for it, but whatever you decide congratulations and good luck to you and remember, if the baby gets here safe, it went perfectly x

Agree with PP, I had a 37 hour and accepted all forms of pain relief 1st delivery versus a text book water birth 2nd time round lasting approx 90 mins. Good luck x

Thank you both, that is really encouraging. Even if this labour isn't any faster I'd probably be quicker asking for pain relief to avoid becoming too fatigued.

Agree 1 very long labour dc1 (36 hours plus from first contraction) and had to get out of the pool. Dd2 from first real established labour to birth was 6 hours and she was born in the water.

With my first I had 26 hour labour and epidural. I was exhausted. I had 3 more babies after that, all straight forward with just gas and air, ranging from 4-6 hours long. My last baby was a water birth, it was amazing! Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised this time. Fingers crossed for you !

Thanks everyone, those replies are all helpful. Feeling more confident about trying again (fingers crossed the pregnancy continues as uneventfully as it has been so far)

I laboured at home for 24 hours and got told that it was a quick first labour! Definitely attempt water birth if that's what you want but I always thing plan to go with the flow.

Did anyone show you how to breathe with the gas? You have to do long deep breathes for it to work well, no panting, really fill your lungs. I lived the gas!

They did show me how to work the mask, but I didn't seem to get to grips with it properly. I'm normally fairly assertive, not sure why I didn't insist they look into it again. I just kept going even though I didn't seem to get any pain relief. This time I'll prep DH to keep an eye on it and follow up if needed. I clearly turn into a shrinking violet in labour.

Out of interest I've tried looking into insensitivity to gas and air, but haven't found any papers on the subject. One study suggested the response varies somewhat, but I haven't seen any cases of insensitivity being discussed. It acts similar to an opioid, which would mean insensitivity is unlikely if there isn't a chronic pain condition or a case of overuse. User error seems much more likely...

My first birth I was in the pool about 9 hours after having been at home for about 12 hours first and I was exhausted in the end, pushing took forever as I never really got the urge. It was lovely but second time round while I wanted a water birth again, I was determined to stay out of the pool a little longer/be a bit more active so it wouldn’t slow things down again. Did you try a TENS machine? My second was a bit different as I ended up being induced and it was less than 2 hours from having my waters broken to giving birth but I went for a walk with my TENS machine on and only just made it back in time to get in the pool. It was great to have another water birth and so much easier this time round as I wasn’t so knackered, I felt great afterwards Good luck I hope it works out for you!

Do you know that the pool is available? I was told I wasn't able to because of Covid but that was back in April so they might have changed things now.

With my 2nd plus babies my womb did the pushing, my 1st stages were slow but 2nd + baby the pushing was quick, likely a few pushes despite being huge.

Like many other ladies on this thread I attempted a water birth first time but ended up with an epidural (which came as a complete relief), induction drugs, hours of pushing, ventouse and a PPH. Gas and air did nothing for me. Second baby was born at home in the birthing pool four hours after I felt the first contraction, and I loved the gas and air so much I wanted the midwife to leave it behind! Crazily I sometimes wish I could go through my second labour again (I can only imagine my post partum hormones were particularly strong!)

I believe the ratio of nitrous oxide to oxygen can be adjusted. I was given the gas and air before labour started so they could break my waters (I was induced) and I found it ineffective when I had a few practice breaths so the midwife adjusted something at the wall and it was suddenly very effective!

Good idea to try a TENS machine- can't hurt to give it a go.

I had no idea the ratio of N to O could be adjusted, that's really useful to know.

I'm planning to ask about the pool at the next appointment. The midwife seemed to imply that the MLU was operating as normal, but better to make sure I guess.

Am due my 5th baby in 3 weeks woohoooo

Going to attempt another water birth myself as its marvellous.
I highly recommend it. With just gas and air and pethidine some hours before, I coped better than on the bed. It can slow down things though. My 3rd was born in the birthing pool at 39 weeks with a horrific 36 hour labour. Only spent the last 4 hours in the pool mind you.
With my last baby girl born in 2018, I was all for a water birth again. Got in the birthing pool and it slowed everything right down. Midwife suggested breaking my waters and then said I could get back in the pool again after. However another midwife took over her shift and point blank said I couldn't get back in the birthing pool because she had a bad back. I was very upset as I wanted to deliver in the pool again but was concerned I would come across rude and cheeky if I had asked for another midwife. When I explained this with my midwife, she said that I would have been absolutely in my rights to have asked as it's my birth and I am the one in pain. I begged her again but she was very blunt in letting me know she can't bend Down.
I'm definitely having it this time around. However my hospital has only one birthing pool and my bmi is slightly high. So just hoping for the best here really.

Wish you all the best too OP

@PopsicleHustler Your 5th - congratulations! Hope all goes well.

I was under the impression that going back in the pool after pethidine wasn't an option - will explore that further. Spending more time out of the water and moving around also sounds like good strategy potentially.

I had pethidine with my 3rd and 4th child and was allowed in the pool, albeit ssome hours later I believe you cant go in straight away. The pethidine can make you a bit woozy. Maybe that's why....