Water Birth

[PaintedEgg]

Has anyone gave birth in a birthing pool? How was the experience?

I'm hoping to be able to use this option (it seems like the most relaxing one for me), but I would be keen to read about experience of others :)

I loved mine. I couldn’t with my first as I was consultant led but with my second I was straight in the pool and he was born within an hour. It might have been due to him being my second, me being older and more chilled in general, and I stayed at home until I absolutely felt I had to go in, but it was a totally different experience to my first, I felt more in control, more switched on to what my body was doing. I’d definitely recommend if you can but being open to changes if they happen of course.

As soon as I became aware of the option I knew it was the right one for me. I just couldn’t imagine giving birth ‘on dry land’ for some reason! Anyway it was great, go for it

I'd wanted water birth with all my dc, but didn't get it for various reasons, until my last. I did labour in the bath at home with one of my dc, which was very helpful, but would not have worked in advanced labour as I was unable to move around in the home bath tub. With my last dc, by the time I got to the pool in hospital I was in advanced labour, and he was born in the pool about 15min after I got in. It was amazing, absolutely the right decision for me. I felt safe, warm, physically supported. The difficult thing for me was to keep my bum under water as I moved in response to my body's needs, so I got the midwife to help me with pressure on my lower back. I literally breathed out an 11lb baby with no pushing and no tearing. I still remember his face appearing as the midwife directed his body forward so that it seemed he swam up towards me. His eyes were open underwater. Wonderful. Such a gentle birth.

I had a water birth at home with a birth pool we hired. I didn’t labour much in it as baby came faster than expected and we hadn’t filled it up yet! I think I was in for the last 30 minutes or so.

It was fantastic! The water was very soothing but most of all I love how it protects the space around you. I had a very hands off birth and lifted DS out of the water myself, it was very instinctual and peaceful. Very different to a lot of the experiences I hear about.

For some reason I think things are more stretchy under water.

I stayed in the pool for a bit after and birthed the placenta in there too.

Hoping to have the same experience with my second DC 😊

I also had a water birth at home, I found it amazing pain relief. The weightlessness alone helped hugely.

thanks everyone for the replies!

I feel very much reassured that this is the best plan for me - somehow even thinking about being in water makes me feel more relaxed. a bath is my "go to" whenever I feel a little under the weather too so it seems natural for me that when in pain or discomfort I need to hop into the water

another question, a bit daft one most likely, but did you guys wear like the top part of bikini when in birthing pool?

Birth was pretty naked thing for me 😂 I wouldn’t want a top. When I lifted baby out of the water the immediate skin to skin was important to me, within minutes of being born DS found the boob and started feeding completely of his own accord because they were right there! He was my first so didn’t have any previous experience of breastfeeding either.

We were wrapped up with towels after DS had been born whilst still the pool, being against my skin would have helped baby with their temperature.

Definitely recommend water for labour. You can always get out if you feel like you would prefer to be somewhere else when in labour. Follow your instinct.

Some people like to wear a top, but I couldn't stand the feel of clothes during labour so for my water birth (second baby) I removed all clothes without a thought before getting in...

thank you - to me it seemed obvious i would be naked, but someone mentioned wearing a top during the classes so I thought I'd ask.

to be fair the last thing i was is a piece of wet fabric stuck to me while i give birth 😅

I’d bought a top thinking I’d wear it, but when it came to it I got naked and didn’t even consider the top. This was completely out of character but really, there were more pressing issues on my mind!

Had one DC in water, was such an incredible relief the moment I stepped in. No other pain relief apart from 2 paracetamol but was in some ways my easiest birth.

Another DC the midwife wouldn't let me in water as my contractions were irregular and she thought it would slow them down. To this day nearly 10 years on I regret not standing my ground(as it were) to get in. Would have been a much smoother birth, I think, if I had.

Give yourself options for birth clothes - take the bikini top or vest just in case but most likely you will either definitely want it off or not care at all what you are wearing

I had a water birth at the midwife lead birth centre, and I'd highly recommended it.

It was a lovely room with lights that looked like a star scattered sky, with the option to play music, and aromatherapy oils in the water.

We had the room quite dark for the most part, and it just created a really lovely atmosphere to welcome our baby.

I wore a bra top, the non underwired bralette type, kind of like a sports bra but much comfier.

I'll be doing the same again in another few weeks for DC2.

I think it depends if you like baths or not.

I started off in a birthing pool first time around but got out after about 15 minutes.

However I don't like baths so I have no idea why I thought a water birth would be a good idea.

I didn't bother second time around.

Get in right at the end, when you’re pushing, OP. Hold off for as long as you can. It’s the best feeling in the world.

I had both of mine in a birthing pool. Loved it both times, I found the warm water really helpful. I personally needed no pain relief for delivery as the water just seemed to help.

i was at the MLU and in answer to your later question was naked both times. Literally didn’t care once baby was coming.