Bathing in Labour .......

[Broadie]

Planning a home water birth, birth pool in a box in the dining room packed up still - but hubby primed to pump up and fill whenever required! Most birth stories I have read - MW's appear to suggest in early labour to take a couple of paracetamol and run a warm bath. But at the same time the general consensus is that you shouldn't get into the pool too early so as to not slow the labour down.

This confuses me as I don't see the difference between a warm bath or a warm birthing pool - and why is a bath ok in early labour but a birthing pool not ok? Sorry if I am being dense? can anyone give me any guidance on this?

Thanks in advance debs

anyone?

No idea, good question though I'd be interested in the answer.

I hated the bath in labour though, I wanted it to cover my bump and my back which dp had to gently point out wasn't possible!

I thought it was something to do with the depth of the water having different effects?

I think it's probably that they have a lot of women calling the labour ward wanting to come in when it's only braxton hicks, and generally if you get in the bath the bh will stop- if it's proper labour the water will help with the pain etc.

I'm assuming if they're avocating getting in the birth pool it's when they know you are in proper labour and it's all go. Or perhaps if they want to slow things down, if it's progressing too rapidly for the labouirng mother to cope with, or when midwives haven't arrived yet etc?

Hmmmmm, I was under the impression that most mw claim to know how your labour is progressing just by listening to your voice on the phone - but there seems to be an overwhelming number of people who have been told to take a bath in the early stages. But I don't then understand why a bath wouldn't slow the labour down but that a birthing pool would.

I mean to be honest I would prefer to get in the pool than the bath - but not if its going to slow everything down.

If anyone does know the answer I would be grateful
debs

bath in early labour is going to ease the pain and if it is false labour, probably stop it, so then you know it is too soon to go in ! if you got in a birth pool in early labour, the same would happen, and if it was false labour, it would slow and stop.

optimum time to get in birth pool is around 5 cm .

before then, it can prolong labour, when you are in established labour... also the relief you get when you get in in strong labour is so much more intense than if your labour builds up in the pool.

advising women to have a bath in early labour is a good way to help with the pain and find out if the labour is real or not, without filling the birth pool .

get in the bath or pool when you feel you need to though.. the rules are not set in stone, but if your labour slows then you might want to get out again.

Thanks lulumama (and James and the) that all makes sense - I tend to be a bather leading up to labour - weeks prior I head to the bath. I got the pool this time as it seemed right the tens machine did nothing for me and I must have had 5-6 baths instead. Pool seemed like a good investment.
Thanks again debs