Am I the only person in the world who found that the birthing pool INTENSIFIED the pain?

[mumblesmummy]

I mean things were bad enough as it was, and I'd been so adamant to use the pool. When I got in, my bump felt weightless and lovely, then the contraction came and OH MY GOD. It was the most horrific pain of the whole labour. I tried to stay in for another one, but it was just as bad. I couldn't cope with it so they had to sort of drag me out.

I REALLY wanted a water birth... so I don't understand why the hell is happened.

Anyone else have the same experience? Or know why this happened?

I'm one of the few people who really didn't find the birthing pool much of a help.

It did intensify my first labour by suddenly speeding things up, but in retrospect that was probably good. I got out to give birth.

With my second labour, I stayed in the pool the whole time, and found it limited my movement, possibly that's why my dd2 remained in a difficult position. after she was born I was so desperate to get out, I couldn't hold her because I was so weak I thought I would drop her in the water.

I do have one friend who got into the pool, had one contraction, got out again and asked for an epidural. She was very happy with the epidural.