Stupid questions about water births

[thingsjustpopintomyhead]

1. How hot do they get? I have fainted a few times coming out of a hot bath, does this mean I can't go in the pool?
2. Can you wear your glasses?
3. (the really daft one) do you feel clean afterwards? Or still really sweaty and gross?

The weirdest things come to my mind, honestly. Thank you for answering.

You can choose the temperature as long as it's in the safe range for the baby. It doesn't have to be hot at all, just warm.

Yes you can definitely keep glasses on.

Blood and quite possibly poo will end up in the pool. Plus you'll still likely bleed a little after coming out. And you'll definitely feel sweaty and a bit gross! You'll want to have a shower (and then maybe a bath) later that day, but not until after you've had lots of snuggles with your baby, and fed them 😍

I found the pool was an enormous help with the pain.

1. not overly hot but your midwife will adjust for you.
2. im sure you can wear glasses if you want - not a regular glasses wearer (reading only) but my only thought is would they get steamed up like if you were exercising? But your head’s not underwater (or shouldn’t be lol) so can’t think of a reason why not.
3. you will still want to have a shower after because you bleed after the baby is born - you don’t feel like you’ve just got out of a lovely bubble bath and scrubbed yourself clean or anything! But I definitely didn’t feel “dirty” just felt nice to have a shower once I’d cuddled the baby and had a couple of stitches. I also went home that day so wanted to shower and get into clean clothes.

Yes I was wondering if glasses would steam up haha.

Thank you both, that's really helpful. I didn't know you can set the temperature!

I was the opposite, worried about the water not being warm enough. So I had baths in 37 degree water to see what it was like. The water I gave birth in was 37.5 or something and I found it very comfortable, I very didn’t sweat. Although not long after getting in I was ready to push. I wouldn’t have thought it was hot enough to steam glasses up, I’m pretty sure I’d have had mine on.
I had one small trickle of blood and the midwife lifted the plug and that bit drained away. I stayed there holding my baby for about 45 mins. Seems a long time at the time.
yes I was offered a shower after, didn’t feel dirty but I took it.
it was a lovely experience, really helps with the pain, along with gas and air.
I always recommend a water birth, wish I’d had the option with my first.

I mean ‘I certainly didn’t sweat’

I’ve had 3 wbs, yes you can wear your glasses, you can also either be naked or wear bra/bikini top/small loose skirt. The water is comfortable but not hot, it has to be above a certain temp because if it’s too cool there is a risk of the baby taking a breath under water when it’s born.

i bled quite a lot but it dilutes well in the water so I would say I felt significantly cleaner after my wbs than my births on dry land! I had cuddles with dc for a while in the pool and then they usually like you out to deliver the placenta.

i always recommend wbs as they make the pain more bearable and the atmosphere more relaxed, you relax more because the warm water is soothing to the pains your body is experiencing. I’ve had 2 dry and 3 wbs and would opt for wbs every time given the choice (if there’s any issues or risk factors the choice can be taken away from you)

my only advice would be, don’t get in too soon- it can stall labour sometimes if you get in too early, I usually get in when I start making funny noises with the contractions and in the not knowing what to do with myself stage!

Wore my glasses in both my wb. No steaming up even.

I did feel cleaner.

IME they won’t let the pool be hot.

I had to ask them to add more warm water because the pool was actually cold after a white. It's definitely not steaming hot, just body temperate, the baby will be born into it so it needs to be safe.

I didn't wear my glasses they got in the way too much

You can't set the temperature!

It needs to be between 36.5 - 38.5. The midwives won't let you deviate!

It's not hot enough to be so steamy that your glasses steam up!

The temp will be around body temp, so it's safe for baby to be born into (labours are unpredictable and they won't want to be adjusting temp if baby makes a quicker appearance than expected)
The water definately gets a bit minging with blood/fluids/poo etc so you'll want a shower, but won't visibly have blood on you like a birth on dry land etc
Can't comment on the glasses but can't imagine they'd be steamed up as the water isn't hot enough.
x

Well, I found mine too hot - not sure of the actual temperature, but I didn’t like it. When it cooled after a bit of time, I said I preferred it, but the midwife said they had to top it up for baby to be warm enough. And it felt too hot again. I’m the queen of super-hot baths, so was surprised, but I guess it was how labour made me feel

You can get this for your glasses www.amazon.co.uk/Anti-Fog-Eyeglasses-Cleaning-Tablets-Screens/dp/B088K8QKVQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=1TPM74MAZ75DZ&keywords=anti+steam+wipes+for+glasses&qid=1660016312&sprefix=anti+ste%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-6

My DH uses it for wearing masks, running etc and it stops them steaming up.

I found the water too warm, but I get hot and bothered when in pain, so it didn't help me, most people like it though.

Mine was too cold so I gave up and got out!

Just re the temperature: pools shouldn't be hotter than 37.5 degrees which is about body temp, so warm but definitely not hot. There isn't any evidence for how cool they can be. some trusts and midwives have temperature ranges that they won't deviate outside of. If you really want it cooler you can remind the midwives that Nice guidance doesn't specify a minimum temperature, just a maximum.

The water is around body temperature, think about it, they're not going to have the baby born into roasting hot water.