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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

is this a silly reason to want a waterbirth.....?

21 replies

mad4mybaby · 18/08/2008 17:53

To try to not tear? No other reason. Am pg with #2 and ds came very quickly and MW thinks this one will be even quicker.

If this birth goes anything like ds i think hiring/buying a birth pool will be a waste. The minutes contractions started they didnt stop so was in agony till i gave birth. Couldnt even get changed when got to the hosp (at 8-9cm!!) this time round im planning a home birth so i know that would be diff as id already be there but cant work out wether its worth getting one just to try not to tear as ive read its supposed to help prevent it? Tore quite badly with ds with nasty stitches and was in agony for months...

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PinkyDinkyDooToo · 18/08/2008 18:01

I thought about this for DS2 as had the same thing, speedy labour and tear with DS1. I didn't do it as I couldn't really affors the pools with a heater which is what you need if you will be quick, because obviously you will need to have it set up beforehand, assuming you know this anyway.

I think its a perfectly good reason for a water birth

twocutedarlings · 18/08/2008 18:03

Not a silly reason at all, i had an epiciotomy (sp??) with DD1 so know all about being stiched unfortunatly However with DD1 (fast delivery also) i only had a tiny tear (it healed with 3 days).

Im also Pg with DC3 and planning a home waterbirth i was looking on this site.

www.aquabubs.co.uk/new_page_2.htm

Its pricey but you can leave it filled and ready to go, so might be an option for you.

HTH

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 18/08/2008 18:06

would love that but really do not have the £'s esp as dh not completely happy with a home birth, there is no way he'd agree to spending that sort of money... If i go to the birth centre 20 mins away they have a birth pool...... i would prefer home birth but they have it all at the birth cente..

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twocutedarlings · 18/08/2008 18:07

How big is your bathroom?

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 18/08/2008 18:10

not tiny. but it is sort of L shaped. I did think about this but i was having a bath the other night and decided there was no way i could give birth in it because it isnt that big plus the water doesnt cover my bump and ive read you need it to to be effective? Or is that for pain relief? Could only use the bath if i went into labour into the day as ds room is right next to bathroom and is a light sleeper so wouldnt be an option in evening/night..

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Flamesparrow · 18/08/2008 18:12

I like a waterbirth because you get a clean baby Now that is a silly reason

belgo · 18/08/2008 18:14

at clean baby! Not sure if that's always the case though.

Water is supposed to help prevent tearing.

twocutedarlings · 18/08/2008 18:14

I was thinking the exact same thing the other night while laid in the bath LOL but ours is tiny.

My problem with a birth pool is getting it all set up in time, i am considering the one that i posted a link for but i have visions of my DDs swimming around in it LOL.

Flamesparrow · 18/08/2008 18:15

I got a second hand pool if that is any help? you can buy sterilising stuff for them etc. Mine had never been used before, she ended up overdue or something.

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 18/08/2008 18:15

yes there is that! With 2 yr old there is no way i could leave him in the room with it up esp as hes a real water baby!

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Original poster

mad4mybaby · 18/08/2008 18:17

i also cant work out if we'd fill a birth pool in time because i had a bath (full) and then ran ds bath hour later and the water wasnt that hot, do have a combi boiler but im not sure id want to rely on it if you cant run 2 baths (ds only 1/4 full) on it when birth pool will be more water than 1 full bath....

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pickie · 18/08/2008 18:19

I did have 2 homebirth both in our bath tub and it was fine. Bump certainly wasnt covered but that didnt matter. My MW checked the bathroom to see if it was ok for them to work in and although small it worked out very well. Only thing she very strongly reiterated was to make sure you stay in bath when pushing as as soon as baby has been out of water you MUST come out. (hope this makes sense)

Didnt tear which was surprising with DD as went from 3 to 10cm and pushed her out in 15 minutes!

hanaflower · 18/08/2008 18:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StarlightMcKenzie · 18/08/2008 18:38

This reply has been deleted

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SoupDragon · 18/08/2008 19:02

I do think it's a bit silly to want one for only that reason. I tore just as badly with DD (home waterbirth) as I did with DS2 (hospital birth).

SoupDragon · 18/08/2008 19:06

In fact, I may have torn worse with DD as I had an episiotomy with DS2 to protect my previous 3rd degree tear.

Having said that, I still preferred my waterbirth We've got a combi boiler and what I did was to fill the pool in early labour about 2/3 full with the hottest water the boiler could produce. Then I put the heat cover on and topped it up with cold to the right temp when it was time to get in. Kept the hose running from the tap to the pool to top up if necessary (NB, remember the first water through the hose at this time will be farking cold!)

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 18/08/2008 19:19

ok if i may pose another question: to those that had fast labours do you think water helped you not to tear? i.e not having hours to lay in water to soften up?

OP posts:

Littlefish · 18/08/2008 19:43

I tore with dd even though I had spent about 3 hours in water by the time she was born.

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 18/08/2008 21:03

oh. just did a bit of googling and there was this site saying their ISNT any evidence that water helps prevent tearing.... i hate it when you get this

OP posts:

Elkat · 20/08/2008 20:27

I was lead to believe during my pregnancy by some books and some posts on this site that having a waterbirth does reduce tearing. Didn't have time to look into it myself, and had always fancied one, so just went for that. I had a water birth, but also a bad third degree tear. However, the midwife who lives opposite me says that the research is dubious and there is no hard proof. Not saying which one is right - I haven't looked into it, haven't got a clue - but I have certainly been told both sides. I think for me, having a water birth may have contributed to my tearing because it was very 'hands off' labour. It was also back to back (which I didn't know until I was already in the pool) and the mdwives just encouraged me to 'go with how I felt'. Well, I felt like pushing, so the baby came out in about 8 mins - but this stage is not controlled at all... and given that I had previously had an episiotomy and 2nd degree tear, perhaps a bit of support down there, and being told to pant etc might have helped prevent it?

That said, it was lovely to labour in the pool - and I agree with flamesparrow, it is great to have a nice clean baby ;-)

theangelshavethephonebox · 20/08/2008 20:33

I had a waterbirth and a second degree tear - like Elkat it was a very "hands off" labour and birth and the mw never told me to pant or anything like that - so perhaps could have been managed better? It was a very good experience apart from that (and I never felt the tear, it healed quickly etc) and would definitely go for waterbirth again.

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