Water birth questions

[elm26]

Hi everyone

I am leaning towards the idea of a water birth with DC2.

I’m almost 18 weeks pregnant and just thinking of my options.

I had a hellish induction with DD, lasted 6 days, I was so sore and tired, DD was back to back and I had 2 failed epidurals.

If all is well this time (DD was induced at 38 weeks because of IUGR), I like the idea of a water birth.

I feel the cold easily and I like a hot bath, I know the pool won’t be “hot” but does it stay warm?

How long do they leave you in the pool after giving birth? Are you out immediately? What if something like a haemorrhage happens?

Do you wear a big T-shirt/night dress or something like a tankini top?

Sorry, I’ve got all of these random questions floating around! I’m sure I’ll think of more.

Thanks in advance!

I had a water birth and really feel the cold - the temperature was kept warm. But I was also in a lot of pain so being cold was the least of my worries.

You can get in i.what ever you like. I was pretty far gone when I got in, I had a dress on. I can't remember what I planned to wear.

I was out within 5 mins as I had a hemorrhage. They help you out, lay you on a bed and press the big red button, then people rush into the room and sort you out.

Hoping for another water birth in November. It really helped with the pain and was relaxing.

Yes the water stays warm. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. I just had a bra on (at that point I really didn’t care what I was or wasn’t wearing).

You can get in and out as you wish. I got out straight away after giving birth due to a potential issues that turned out to be nothing. I think I probably would have wanted to get out regardless.

Second birth, everything happened very quickly so there was no time to have a water birth and by then I didn’t even want to get in.

Ask for a pool and water birth but just see how you feel on the day…

I had a water birth with DC1 and loved it. It was calming and helped with the pain. I feel the cold too but there was a thermometer floating around and when the temp dropped they would let some water out whilst refilling with some warm water so it stays at a constant lovely warm temperature.
I think I stayed in for a few minutes after the birth just holding the baby as the midwife said I could, but obviously even with no complications, they still want you out fairly quickly so baby doesn’t get cold and to deliver the placenta, get stitched up if needed etc.
I just wore a black cami top in the water. I wouldn’t go for anything too long or baggy as they use a mirror under the water to keep checking that everything looks ok.

I had two water births (and only have two kids so can’t compare it). The water was warm and stayed warm and I found it really helped with the pain (though I also had gas and air) and with supporting me to be more upright which I wanted in labour. I really liked it, but I suspect there is an element of personal preference.

I was out pretty quickly after the births, but don’t remember that feeling rushed. I did hold the babies each time before I got out. I was very lucky and had straightforward deliveries with minimal tearing. The birth centre I was in is part of a hospital so I would have been transferred if the were problems. I think one birth I was naked and one wore a bra - I wasn’t too bothered at the time.

I had so many people tell me how wonderful a water birth would be that I was genuinely surprised it still hurt! It was undoubtedly better than when I had to get out of the pool. But, don't make the same mistake as me ... A baby is exiting you ... It's not 100% painless

Still recommend it though. More comfortable and I felt like I had more privacy and my own space. I wore like a vest top I think. I laboured in the pool but ultimately ended up delivering on dry land (long story) so I don't know how long you stay in after delivery, sorry

I've had two.

As everyone else said it is kept warm, first time I was naked as I hadn't planned for a water birth it was just offered and I took it 😂 2nd time I wore a bra.

1st time I was asked to get out to deliver as babies heart rate had dropped (didn't actually know that was the reason until this pregnacy 5 years later! This time round it was in the pool, I held the baby for a short time then was asked to get out when I was ready to deliver the placenta. I'd say I was in the pool for maybe 10 mins after?

I highly recommend a water birth, I do think it helps to manage the pain

I had a water birth with my second, it really helped with being able to move around and was very warm, midwife kept it topped up. I wore a bikini top under a tshirt on the way to the hospital then naked from waist down in pool.

I would really recommend Positive Birth Company and an exercise ball. I had a terrible first birth, 26 hrs & forceps. Realised after doing PBC for my second he was probably back to back. Spent last 3 months of 2nd pregnancy making sure baby was in right position (no sitting back in chair/sofa - sit on exercise ball or lean forward on it so gravity pulls baby round). Also used aromatherapy and an app to help breathe through the contractions during early stages.

second birth took 6 hours start to finish and I left the hospital 3 hours later - so much easier!

I really think the nhs should do more to help women understand the mechanics of birth and how important it is for them to feel calm and safe, I really think there would be less complications/interventions.

My second labour was surprisingly fast after a slow induced labour first time. They started running the bath about an hour after I was 5cm and by the time it was ready I was starting to push! Just about managed to get a bikini top on and make it into the pool and the relief at that point was amazing. I used gas and air as well but the warm water was great. Obviously still painful but I felt like the pain in this labour never got as bad as my induced first labour, and I had an epidural before I started pushing. They had to get me out of the pool quicker than normal as baby had done a poo, and I wanted the injection for placenta delivery. The pools are only a few steps from a bed so you can be moved very easily when needed :)

I used a birth pool for pain relief all three times but never gave birth in it. Second time round I didn't get any relief from it at all. First and third it worked better because I waited much longer before getting in.

They do stay warm, it's important for it to because it would be too cold for the baby otherwise.

I had two water births - albeit a while ago now - I was naked both times (but at home so maybe I would have felt differently in a hospital or birthing unit). Agree with PP that you probably don't want anything too floaty on, but I don't think anyone will care if you are naked either of that's most comfortable for you.

It was lovely and warm but not too hot. Even though it was almost 17 years ago since my first one, I can remember the relief getting in. Wait till you are quite far along before getting in though.

I stayed in for a short time afterwards - maybe 10 mins max - but it gets a bit gross and they don't want the baby to get cold.

I loved my water births - I know it's silly but I love that I am the first person to have have held both my kids, as I lifted them up out of the water as they were born. Good luck!

I had a water birth op.

I was in the pool for about two hours...it was warmish for the entire time so I guess they keep the water warm as after two hours a bath would turn stone cold.

I got out after delivering the placenta...had a shower and got dressed.

I just wore a crop top/vest...I wasn't expecting a water birth, it was suggested when I got there that I might want to get in it....if I'd known, I'd have brought an actual tankini type swimming top with me.

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your experiences. I’m just worried as I did not cope with the pain of being induced, I was literally screaming and felt like I was being pulled apart although DD was back to back and they had turned the induction drip up too high so I was contracting too fast and for too long. I feel embarassed when I look back, I was literally sobbing asking my DH to kill me 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m hoping if I can avoid induction, going into labour naturally may lessen the intensity of the induced contractions. I obviously know it’ll still be very very painful but I don’t want to end up like last time so want to do everything I can to avoid induction and I’ve heard that water births can help ease some of the pain.

The absolute most helpful thing for me, more so even than the water (but brilliant in combination with it) was Juju Sundin's Birth Skills. Honestly, read this and practice some of the skills and make yourself a little plan. It's not magic, it won't stop you from needing interventions if you need them but it will help you cope and feel in control with most situations.

I almost had a water birth (laboured the majority in the bath but ended up needing to get out about 5 minutes before baby came!) and I had a great experience. I had a back-to-back labour too but being in the pool was so helpful and calming. The midwife was great at keeping the bath warm - I just wore a £2 vest top from Primark!
Good luck ☺️

Water is kept warm.

I started in bikini then went naked.
stayed in for about 10 mins after for skin to skin time and to birth the placenta.