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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Does a waterbirth help alleviate the pain of pushing... especially when the head crowns?

40 replies

Beatie · 11/02/2005 20:53

My first labour was quite short and intense 5 hours inclusive of 40 minutes of pushing.

I only had gas and air but the bit I hated the most and the bit I remember is the pushing and when the baby's head crowned.

I am thinking of a waterbirth next time and hoping to hear that being in the water helps to take away some of that pain. Anyone have experience of a land delivery and a water birth who can tell me the truth?

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karen2005 · 14/02/2005 15:19

I had a fantastic experience in the water but ended up with a ventouse delivery after pushing for two and a half hours.

i didn't have any other pain management and found the process and the pain involved manageable in all stages. the water was extremely relaxing. i leant back against the edge of the bath between contractions and kneeled with my hands against the edge for the contractions. the atmosphere was peaceful and soothing. i stayed in the water for about five hours, the most intense part of phase 1 labour and through the transition. i did end up getting out to push becasue i prefered to push standing up/squating facing the wall.

the only downsides are 1) being in the water was so relaxing that i wonder if it slowed me down and therefore i was more tired in the pushing stage and 2) next time around (in six weeks!) i will definitely use knee pads.

i am definitely aiming to do the same. i had a fantastic birth experience first time around.

Portly · 15/02/2005 10:16

Csa - I was naked as by this point I didn't care about how I looked! - before I didn't particularly like the idea of not wearing anything, but it was fine, midwives were so good, you might feel differently when it all happens! It's not really a daft question to ask, I asked the midwife what do I wear before I got in!

collision · 15/02/2005 13:04

I had an epidural in the UK with ds1 and then we moved to Italy. Got pregnant and then found out there was no pain relief at our local hospital. It was the best experience ever as ds2 was born in water. My waters broke at6.30am and he was born at 1.10pm. I got into the pool at around 12, stark naked, and the pain relief was huge......I didnt want to get out. I sat in warm water up to my neck and although it did hurt a bit, it wasnt as much as I expected. Go for a waterbirth as it was really good.

Lasvegas · 15/02/2005 13:56

Only given birth the once, water birth method. In labour at home 3 days, arrived hospital 9cm dilated. Only pain relief was paracetamol. DD was 7.5 lb. In pool as soon as it was run and gave birth & delivered after birth in there. Total of 3.5 hrs. It was exhausting but the contractions not so bad that I considered gas/ air etc. Didn't need an stiches, found the whole thing pleasently surreal. I had been on a hypnobirthing course prior to it so maybe this helped. Had been trying for a baby for 4 yrs so maybe this helped me psychologically to deal with the contractions. CAT me if U want to discuss more.

Cooperoo · 15/02/2005 18:09

I had a wonderful waterbirth with my dd. I laboured out of the water until I was 8 cm though as I had specified I wanted to deliver in the water not just use it as pain relief and so they wouldn't let me in before that. Had to walk to the pool room and then stand waiting while they checked the temp of the water and heart rates etc and that was the worst bit of the whole thing, seeing this bath and not being allowed in! I was naked by the time I got in having been labouring in a t-shirt. I am really self conscious of my body and this was a real concern for me but by the time I got there it seemed natural to strip off. Wonder now what the midwives thought but will never see them again so don't care really. DD was 8lb 7 and I just had a tiny tear that didn't need stitches. The best bit was the lack of VE. When I wanted to push I did and that was all there was too it. I could move around easily. I had gas and air as well but this actually made me bring up bile and didn't help towards the end. The temp of the water had to be maintained at body temp at my hosp and my comments after the experience were that it had been harder work for the midwives than it had been for me. (I was a bit more realistic when that post labour high had worn off).
I was very keen for a second water birth and was determined to book a pool and have the baby at home to ensure I had the best chance of getting it however as I am in Cyprus on a British forces base that option has been taken away from me. I will be able to use a bath for pain relief though and this is what I am intending to do.
Good Luck. Hope you get what you want.
P.S. Another poster refered to a calm baby that was a good sleeper. My dd was a fab baby feeding and sleeping well and only ever crying when hungry. She hardly cried at all the first day but was alert and scored 9 and 10 on the agpar test thing. I am sure she was so calm due to her gentle introduction to the world.

roisin · 15/02/2005 18:17

Having had two, I'm a huge fan of waterbirths - as described below. But I wouldn't claim it makes a calmer baby. DS1 actually didn't take a breath spontaneously, so our wonderful calm atmosphere erupted into 5 minutes or so of panic and chaos! I don't know what his apgar score was, but certainly not 9 or 10. He was also a particularly cranky, unsettled baby, and was a poor sleeper too.

So I would make great claims for water as a stress-soother and pain reliever, but I wouldn't agree with any higher claims!

Beetroot · 15/02/2005 18:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Tessiebear · 15/02/2005 18:27

I had a wate birth with DS2 and i dont think anything quite takes away the feeling of the head crowning!!! It felt the same as with DS1 (not a water birth) - Apart from that i think it helped [

Cooperoo · 15/02/2005 18:47

I have to agree with what Roisin added. I have only had one baby and so my comments are only based on her. All babies are very diff and I think I was very lucky with dd as a baby. She is making up for it now as a toddler!!! Still recommend a water birth though!
HTH

pupuce · 15/02/2005 19:50

Having seen many waterbirths (and I'd like to hear what Mears think as well) I find babies born in water are generally much clamer at birth, most don't even cry. Babies born on dry land always cry.... not so in water.

motherinferior · 15/02/2005 19:59

Come late to this thread to say my pushing stage was, I think, much less painful in water - I started having that 'burning' feeling as she crowned, but then didn't feel that at all after I got into the water and pushed her out (only three pushes, too).

Er...she was a bit of a bugger for sleeping, for ages, far far worse than her big sister who was an emergency ventouse in highly medicalised circumstances. I honestly don't think that the birth really affects much afterwards - I found the first six weeks of both my babies' lives utter hell

pupuce · 15/02/2005 20:24

I am talking AT birth here... just to clarify.

motherinferior · 15/02/2005 20:28

Sorry.

But yes, for me, the pushing stage was MUCH easier in water than I think it would have been otherwise. And utterly amazing.

carol3 · 15/02/2005 23:27

Hi had my third child in the water took alot of the pain away as easier to move and change position did n't find the pushing stage easier as felt like i was pushing against water. amazing though i expected the baby to float but she sank to the bottom of the pool! the midwife said pick her up when your ready, it was amazing seeing her head break the surface of the water and take her first breath would recomend to anyone.

HunkerMunker · 15/02/2005 23:32

Had DS in water and it was incredible. Cannot honestly remember the head crowning (and it was 37cm, so I really ought to!). But I know I couldn't have done it nearly so easily on dry land. Water made me feel buoyant and energised - mostly

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