Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

Would you recommend a water birth?

56 replies

crimblecrumbles · 23/01/2022 20:03

I'm pregnant with DC2 and considering a hospital water birth this time but know nothing about them. Do they help with pain? What do you wear? Do you actually give birth in the pool? Are there any cons? TIA x

OP posts:
changingstages · 24/01/2022 09:43

well, you can try it - that's the brilliant thing about doing it in hospital. I really wanted a water birth, was really nervous because the MLU kept closing down due to staffing issues but on the day it was open. I gave the pool a go. DD was back to back and frankly it was so painful that at one point I genuinely considered trying to drown myself. At that point i thought, this probably isn't going to give the pain relief I need, and begged for an epidural.

BUT in between contractions it felt nice and I can imagine that if she hadn't been back to back (there were other complications too so we'd never have made it as a full water birth) it would have been good.

I was in a kind of bikini top but I stripped it off in seconds as it was pissing me off, so was naked while in there.

mummyh2016 · 24/01/2022 10:25

@firstimemamma

I had a water birth back in 2018 and it was incredible. I had to get out of the pool briefly so they could check something and as soon as the midwife said I could get back in I was so happy I just blurted out 'I love you!'

Was just in the water in hospital for the last 2 hours as I'd mostly laboured at home. Had gas and air in the pool.

Pregnant again and hoping for another water birth but trying not to get my hopes up to avoid disappointment.

A word of warning - you're not allowed to birth the placenta in the water so you do need to get out for that bit.

I gave birth last week and delivered the placenta in the water, maybe it varies by trust.
Original poster
crimblecrumbles · 24/01/2022 16:51

Thanks everyone. I think I would like to try it and see. I'm a bit worried about seeing what goes on...! With DD1 I didn't see any of the gory bits which suited me! I know I probably won't care when I'm actually in labour but I'm just preempting anxiety. Might be best I get out for the delivery.

OP posts:
lostindubai · 24/01/2022 19:02

@firstimemamma I delivered the placenta in the water. All was OK but they couldn't tell how much blood I'd lost (because it was into the water) and it turned out quite a lot because I fainted in the shower afterwards! Only time I've ever fainted. But I didn't need to stay in or anything. Just something to be mindful of.

Flingingmelon · 24/01/2022 19:07

Loved mine. I was off my face with gas and air for the majority of it though - not sure how much of the enjoyment was that.

Wore a bikini / crop top until DS arrived.

Flingingmelon · 24/01/2022 19:09

Didn't get out btw. Didn't really notice the gore - I'm very squeamish usually.

Musmerian · 24/01/2022 19:14

I’ve had three water births although during my first the community midwives made me get out to deliver as they hadn’t had the training. Very frustrating.That was the only time I tore so I’d recommend staying in throughout. I was at home so wore nothing and found the warmth and being able to move helped enormously with the pain.

morechocolateneededtoday · 24/01/2022 19:22

Delivered both DC in water and highly recommend. The weightless feeling when you get in is such a relief, both were very calm births and I was upright on knees and holding on to side when I delivered them. I was able to catch my own baby and bring them out of the water. Stayed in there for a while having skin to skin before getting out for placenta to be delivered

optimistic40 · 24/01/2022 19:26

Yes! Had one with my first and it was great. Second one I wasn't allowed and was really disappointed.

User310 · 24/01/2022 19:28

I’ve had two and it definitely helps. Would very much recommend.

miltonj · 24/01/2022 19:37

I had such a long labour that I didn't stay in for long, found it helped a bit with the pain while I was in there. It was too cold really for me though. The midwife kept adding more warm but it wasn't comfortable.

musicalfrog · 24/01/2022 20:22

@miltonj it needs to be at core body temperature so baby doesn't get the urge to breathe until it's out of the water. 37 C or thereabouts. Shame it was too chilly for you, sounds like it was below 37. Sad

Dilbertian · 24/01/2022 21:07

@crimblecrumbles

Thanks everyone. I think I would like to try it and see. I'm a bit worried about seeing what goes on...! With DD1 I didn't see any of the gory bits which suited me! I know I probably won't care when I'm actually in labour but I'm just preempting anxiety. Might be best I get out for the delivery.
You don't need to make any decision beforehand. Try it and see. If it feels right to stay in the water for delivery, go ahead. If you don't like it, get out to push. Do whatever works for you.
SirSamuelVimes · 25/01/2022 10:02

I'm a bit worried about seeing what goes on...! With DD1 I didn't see any of the gory bits which suited me!

I don't remember seeing any gore tbh. I had the room dark (midwives used a torch when they needed to see) and for the most part I had my head and arms up on the edge of the pool looking out, so no idea what was going on behind me! Even when I turned over for the final couple of pushes and the actual birth, I don't remember seeing anything gross. Maybe because I wasn't focused on it? Or maybe there just wasn't any.

VitaminA · 25/01/2022 10:06

Had a water birth with DC2 and wouldn't do it again. I couldn't find a comfortable position, the warm water seemed to add to my exhaustion and it slowed down the contractions. The pain was still horrific. I birthed on land with DC3 and was glad I did!

FridayiminlovewithRobertSmith · 25/01/2022 10:09

I was in a midwife led centre and had been anti birthing pool, but got in for pain relief. It was glorious- exceptionally relaxing and unquestionably the best pain relief I had. I got out for my midwife to check my dilation but was too far gone to get back in. I’d happily have given birth in the water.

IggyIggyIggy · 25/01/2022 10:22

I've only had the one baby and went in to it absolutely fearless Grin I was of the opinion that it really can't be that painful if sooo many people have babies and then even have more than one.

I decided I would have a homebirth and ordered a 'birth in a box' which consisted of a pool, everything to go with it, including floating tea lights and petals GrinGrinGrin

I was allowed gas and air, which the midwives brought. 5 hour labour start to finish and I did use ALL The gas and air they brought. But, I stayed in that pool for the last 3 hours and delivered my son in it. Whilst I didn't have petals and tea lights I was actually really relaxed once the midwives had arrived and assured me I wasn't dying and I didn't need my mummy.

BertieBotts · 25/01/2022 10:24

I've been in water with all three but not delivered in it although I wanted to, it just never felt right at the time.

First one it was bliss, got in around 2 hours after I hit 4cm, later progressed to gas and air in pool. Got out because nothing was happening at the end and they wanted to have a look, but in hindsight with two more births behind me, that's just how my pushing stages go.

With second, appalling, got in much too early because of the amazing memory of the first one and it did nothing at all. Got out and asked for an epidural instead.

With third, relied much more on calming/distracting/pacing self techniques for the earlier part, got in just as I was starting to really struggle to cope and it was bliss again. Just solid relief. That allowed me a couple of hours of very deep inner relaxation to cope with each contraction until I wanted gas and air to be told I had to get out! (This is not UK) decided I wanted the gas more than I feared getting out of the water so got out. It was fine.

Well worth it as long as you use in conjunction with other coping strategies! In UK they won't let you get in too early so won't have the issue I had with my second.

Nyfluff · 25/01/2022 10:29

I was in a wheelchair with SPD when I gave birth in a pool at home. Baby was back to back and had cord around the neck and the water made it a calm experience. I spent the final few hours in the pool and didn't tear. With such awful long back labour I couldn't have managed elsewhere.

SirSamuelVimes · 25/01/2022 11:12

@IggyIggyIggy

I've only had the one baby and went in to it absolutely fearless Grin I was of the opinion that it really can't be that painful if sooo many people have babies and then even have more than one.

I decided I would have a homebirth and ordered a 'birth in a box' which consisted of a pool, everything to go with it, including floating tea lights and petals GrinGrinGrin

I was allowed gas and air, which the midwives brought. 5 hour labour start to finish and I did use ALL The gas and air they brought. But, I stayed in that pool for the last 3 hours and delivered my son in it. Whilst I didn't have petals and tea lights I was actually really relaxed once the midwives had arrived and assured me I wasn't dying and I didn't need my mummy.

Ha! I also used a pool in a box at home - but it was my second baby so I knew that any tea lights would be a non starter! Grin

My midwives brought the wrong gas and air cannisters so I couldn't have them - thank goodness for the pool, or I wouldn't have coped and would have to have transferred in to the hospital. Also lucky I labour quickly, by the time they arrived and realised I wouldn't be able to have the gas and air I was probably half way through.

Original poster
crimblecrumbles · 25/01/2022 11:46

Thank you ladies, so good to hear some insight. With my first I thought pools were hippy nonsense and wanted the full on hospital treatment 😂. Was pretty horrific so I'm quite excited to try something new and less clinical this time.
A lot of you are saying you still tore? Or do you still think it helps? Xx

OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 25/01/2022 11:50

I didnt tear with my 2 water births.
I had done quite a lot of perineal massage beforehand though so I'm unsure whether one or both of these things were helpful. Or the fact it wasn't my first birth.

SirSamuelVimes · 25/01/2022 11:53

I didn't tear in the pool with dd2, which is astonishing considering she shot out in one push, rather than pushing out the head and then waiting for the next contraction. Imagine a champagne cork and you're about right!

I had 'labial grazing' with dd1 (delivered on land in hospital) so not a full on tear, but did need a couple of stitches whereas I didn't need any with dd2. Dd1 came out a bit more slowly as well, so I do think the water birth helped me the second time around.

BertieBotts · 25/01/2022 17:24

I think it helps reduce tearing. There are studies showing this as well. It's just that if you have a birth where they probably would have used instruments on land you are likely to tear in the pool/if you do happen to tear badly then it can be a bit hard for them to see what's going on and do anything to mitigate it.

With DS1 I had a bit of a small tear/graze and my antenatal teacher said "Aha, I bet you didn't do your perineal massage!" I had not, but when I went on to say his arm was around his head, her mouth dropped open and she said ONLY a first degree tear? Normally that causes really bad ones. So I think the water must have helped.

mummyh2016 · 25/01/2022 17:38

I didn't tear, just a small graze.