How long did you stay in the pool after birth?

[lovelynecklace]

Did the blood/ goo etc bother you? Some of the pools on OBEM seem so dark and gruesome!

Is getting out of the pool after birth sore/ difficult?

I have nothing to add but I'd like to know too!!

I barely noticed it, too elated with my baby and a bit high from the gas and air.

I literally don't remember noticing anything about this. I got out fairly quickly I think.

Not long either time as I started bleeding too much. The water was bright red and they needed to check all was okay. But once I’d been sorted out they let me have a bath in the pool for ages afterwards.

I definitely would like to try labouring in the pool but aim to get out and deliver on dry land. I can't really explain why

First time I had to get out pretty quick cos the water temp had dropped (homebirth) and they said DD would get cold so hopped out onto the sofa with the cord still attached and birthed the placenta there.

Second time I think I stayed in a bit longer. Got photos with the baby and midwives etc, but he had quite a short cord so it was a bit awkward. Again, hopped out onto the sofa for cord cutting and then cuddles while waiting for the placenta. I had done an enormous poo this time but tbh I didn't even care. Just made sure the photos were in black and white 😂

Both times "hopping out" involved a fair bit of manhandling by midwives and DH to get me out, dried a bit and dressing gown on before plonking down on the sofa to snuggle a baby.

Is the manhandling slightly less pre-birth?

I work in maternity and I think it’s most common to get out for the placenta. I think one main bonus of that, is after placenta is out you are already both warm and dry so can be left alone for golden hour without interference.

I did the majority of my labour (~3 hours) in the pool and then got out 15 minutes before my DC was born. It wasn't actually my choice to get out (issue with the pool 😩) but I'm glad I did as it seemed to really speed up the labour and I gave birth standing up just next to the pool.

Yes, usually. As there’s no baby/cord still attached (very slippery when wet!) and you are a bit more stable in terms of blood pressure, adrenaline shakes etc

They get you out pretty quick so the baby doesn’t get cold

Stayed in the pool while it was drained after birth for placenta removal then was helped out straight away, so not long at all!

I'm prone to nervous shakes so maybe that's influencing me too.

Thank you x

10 seconds - my arse touched the water and "nope".

I birthed in the pool then sat on the side with my feet still in to birth the placenta. I still got my golden hour too

I laboured in the pool for DS1 for a bit but got out maybe an hour before he was born due to bleeding. I just stepped in and out holding DH’s hand. I think I was in there 2 hours and the pool stayed a nice temp. I definitely noticed an increase in pain when I got out, and growled at DH who was taking too long with the TENs machine! With DS2 they started running it then turned it off and said I couldn’t go in due to previous PPH.

I got out after a few mins to deliver the placenta. I thought being the water for labour and birth was great. I wouldn't have wanted to stay in long after even if I hadn't been encouraged to get out after she arrived.

I got out fairly soon after the birth. Didn't occur to me to think about the colour of the water. A few hours later when we were leaving I looked in the emptied pool and saw a load of gunk residue, and asked DH if that came from me!

I’d stay in pool OP - I had three water births - the first the community midwives weren’t trained to do water births and made me get out .I had a tear and had to have stitches. The final two with independent midwives I stayed in and no tearing at all. Also much easier to move positions when in pain. Stayed in to deliver placenta and got out to have a bath.

I remember wanting to get out quite promptly as it felt very cold all of a sudden.
Went for a hot shower.

I got out almost immediately to deliver the placenta on the bed (I had retained placenta in a previous birth so was advised it was better to have active management of that part).

I don’t think I would have particularly wanted to stay in the water though, it looked like there’d been a shark attack 😂

I loved giving birth in the pool overall and would definitely recommend it.

The water was still pretty clear for me but I got out after about 10 mins to deliver the placenta and because I got really cold. Getting out was tricky but not as bad as expected. There was no way in hell I would have been able to get out to birth the baby though, I tried to get out for a wee about an hour before she was born and the contractions hit like a train, sank straight back into the water and just hoped I didn't wee.

Two water births - in both I had the jab to hurry the placenta along and delivered it in the dry. Must have been out of the water within 5 minutes tops.

and yes the water was a bit scuzzy. But one of my children was almost born in the caul (my waters only broke in the last couple of minutes), which was fairly intact in the bottom of the pool when they drained it. That was quite cool.

Probably 5 minutes, possibly less - I was happy to stay in there longer but they were very keen to get me out of there so they could check me and the baby over etc. the blood and goo didn't bother me (and I'm pretty grossed out by that kind of thing usually!)

With two water births I stayed until placenta was delivered. Last one I got out after DD was born as umbilical cord was short and it wasn't that comfy holding DD whilst she was still attached.
Is easy to get out of pool afterwards , no gunk in pool but there might quite a bit of blood, depends first DC was like a scene from.jaws but I tore badly. last DC hardly any blood. Tbh eitherway you won't really care after just giving birth.