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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Why can't you have a waterbirth if you're overdue?

20 replies

hairymcleary · 03/11/2008 03:38

DS was 11 days late, so waterbirth was not possible with him, but I can't remember why you're not allowed to have one if you're overdue.
I was allowed to get into the bath during labour, so wondering what the difference is.

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thegingerwhinger · 03/11/2008 10:15

Don't know? Dd was 9 days late and I had a waterbirth, and would have had one until they wanted to induce me at 40+14.

Sorry, no help at all but I've bumped your question up!

mabel1973 · 03/11/2008 10:26

i was a week over and had a waterbirth. Not heard of this before tbh.

MrsMattie · 03/11/2008 10:26

Were you induced?

Poledra · 03/11/2008 10:36

No idea why - I didn't have a waterbirth with DD3 but that was because I was induced. Did you have any other medical ishoos which might have been the reason why you weren't able to use the pool?

foxytocin · 03/11/2008 10:42

rubbish is what they are telling you. ask them why with the evidence to back up.

as long as you and baby both have healthy vital signs, no reason for refusal.

Cosette · 03/11/2008 10:48

I was 2 weeks late, induced and had a waterbirth - although I wasn't actually supposed to give birth in the water, just labour there, but it all happened a bit quickly.

My induction was having waters broken, rather than syntocin or anything, which presumably would mean you couldn't go in the water. Are they concerned about the size of the baby? That was the reason I was given I think, and at the time I wasn't particularly fussed about giving birth in the water, just wanted to be in it for a while.

As it happened DS came rather quickly and his shoulders got stuck, and I did have to get out of the pool in order to deliver the rest of him - so not entirely sure whether that counts as a water birth or not? He was big at 10lb 4oz.

notnowbernard · 03/11/2008 10:55

I had waterbirths with both of mine and both were overdue

Am not sure you can have a waterbirth if you've been induced though

stillstanding · 03/11/2008 11:01

I would have been allowed a waterbirth when mine was overdue but not after I had been induced. (Cosette, you are lucky indeed!) The reasons I was given was that there are likely to be more complications in an induction (do most not end in a c-section?) and monitoring needs to be done practically all the time.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 03/11/2008 11:01

Waterbirth is fine if you are overdue.

You will not be allowed one if you are induced as you will have to be continuously monitored.

Original poster

hairymcleary · 03/11/2008 11:22

I wasn't induced, just had a v long labour (48 hours from waters breaking to delivery)... it's good to know that being overdue won't stop me this time!

OP posts:

stillstanding · 03/11/2008 11:26

love your name, hairy!

boogeek · 03/11/2008 11:27

Of course you can - I had both mine in the water: DD1 was 18 days overdue and I was in labour for 43 hours! DD2 a week over (6 hours).

Tangle · 03/11/2008 14:50

I'd definitely ask "why" as it's more than likely a hospital protocol rather than a medical recommendation. Even if it is a medical recommendation it's just that - a recommendation, which you should be able to choose to follow or not. Even continuous monitoring is a contentious issue - I'd ask what evidence they have to show improved outcomes for that one as well before agreeing...

(does it come over that I'm contrary ?)

liahgen · 03/11/2008 14:54

actually it depends on "hospital policy" whether you can have a waterbirth if you are induced.

At our hosp, (maidstone) if they manage to get you into labour with just prostin, you are still "allowed" to labour and birth in water. However, if they have to use drip, arm, then you would have to have more monitoring.

hth. As someone said, ask ask ask, why why why, and what do they have to back up what they are telling you

PeachyFizzesLikeADampSquib · 03/11/2008 14:57

it's that bloody can't word again! grrrr

induction fair enough if monitoring needed but afaik a 'normal' pg is between 38 - 42 weeks, and unless there's concerns then why on earth not?

I do hate this can't thing; 80% of the time ime if you argue they back down immediately and the yse of the word just gts me riled- if the Obs had said 'You cannot have seventeen pigeons in flamenco outfits cutting the cord whilsr drinking large amounts of drambuie' I'd have been straight in there with a letter to the pigeon fanciers and avian dressmakers!

Tangle · 03/11/2008 15:13

"Allow is not a word to use to a mentally competent adult." (Mary Cronk)

That said, its far easier to refuse an intervention (be it induction, continuous monitoring, CS) than it is to insist on the provision of a birth pool.

chocbiscuits · 03/11/2008 15:25

I think at our hosp you are 'allowed' to have a waterbirth even if you've been induced provided that you did not require the drip, continuous monitoring, probably epidural route.

Having said that, there's only one birthing pool so am crossing fingers (at 40+1)

AnnVan · 28/11/2008 11:15

DS was born at 40 +17! I was in the pool for first few hours, they also said you can have a waterbirth if you're induced, but not if they have to give the drip.

turtledove23 · 28/11/2008 13:04

I think maybe you couldn't have one first time round as your waters had gone for more than 24 hours. You can be in your own bath, but not in a birthing pool due to infection risk. If you are not induced but overdue you can still do whatever you want.

turtledove23 · 28/11/2008 13:04

(assuming all is well with you andbaby, that is!)

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