Waterbirths

[pigleychez]

First time mum here...

Whats everyones thoughts on waterbirths? I quite like the idea but just need some more info.

Any previous waterbirths here?
Any good/ bad bits?

I am quite possibly the biggest pansy known to mankind, I cry when I bump my funny bone. So if I can cope with giving birth, you can too. I'm not saying it doesn't hurt, but it amazing how us woman deal with it.

I had a water birth in the hospial, in a lovely little room with fairy lights. I was on my back for 2 hours with not much happening and then a new midwife came in and told me to go on my knees, my dh pulled me up from under the arms at every contraction and this helped to push dd out in under half an hour.

I can't even imagine a dry birth, it seems very clinical to me. I hope to have water births with future babies, but as mentioned above, I'll keep moving and get on my knees.

Good Luck, I know how scary the birth seems, but it's not a competition and if you want drugs there's always some on hand.

foghorn - I couldn't say whether it slowed my labour down or not - although my last two were so fast that it's unlikely. I suppose if I'd stayed on my feet longer with DD1, I might have knocked an hour or so off, but 7 hours is still pretty good for a first baby.

DD1 - 7 hours (3 in water)
DS1 - 3 hours (30 mins in water)
DD1 - 1 hour (5 mins in water)

foghorn - i had a long labour (did i mention that before?!) and had 2 stints in the pool - the first time (after i had been having intermittent contractions for about 12 hours) i was in for a couple of hours and i think it did slow things down, although my mw didn't measure me as i think she knew i would be discouraged! Later on when things still weren't progressing and after i had been having contractions for about 20 hours my mw suggested i get back in to relax myself (she was a wise bird)so i got back in and after about an hour my waters broke and everything moved on from there, my ds was born about 3 hours later. I think if i had been in hospital i would have been taken out of the pool, measured and promptly stuck on a drip to speed things up but being at home with just the mw popping in and out it was more relaxed, although i did want it to be over NOW!! most of that time
sorry long post, HTH
ps did you have a LO due in nov 06? If so i was on your postnatal thread! Respect to you for having another one so soon!!

Had a lovely experience of waterbirth in hospital. Very relaxing and allowed hubby to be very involved sitting behind me throughout. (he did look like a prune when he got out after being in there for 4/5 hours with me! - very amusing!)

My only reservation is that I tore and needed stitches. I feel that this was because the midwives couldn't see what was going on and therefore I wasn't told to pant/stop pushing therefore pushed throughout and didn't allow my body time to stretch. Might be worth trying to make sure this doesn't happen if you have one. Maybe it was my midwives not paying attention rather than the waterbirth per se.

Norks - Good times. Certainly didn't appear to make things too slow for you

Fairylights - yes I had DD2 in Nov 06, this one is due in August

I really wanted to try a waterbirth with DD2 and I was actually labouring in the pool room but when I got to the hospital I just wanted to get on the bed and not move. Afterwards I felt very disappointed I had actually been in the pool room and not used it.
I will be in hospital again this time so fingers crossed the pool is free.

Had waterbith in hosptial - absolutely loved it. Only thing I found was I got a bit too hot as the water had to be kept at a certain temp. Was great being supported by the water - didn't get rid of pain but managed on a few puffs of g&a. Was totally different experience to my first(induced)birth.