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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Anyone had a waterbirth in hospital that can give me some info about it??

19 replies

Gem021 · 25/03/2009 13:44

Im only 18 weeks pregnant with my first baby and ive been thinking about having a waterbirth at hospital, just wondered if anyone else has had one im looking for some information on it, ive looked it up on the net but i want to hear some info from someone whos actually done it. Would be very grateful. xx

OP posts:

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dinkystinky · 25/03/2009 13:47

Had a waterbirth with DS2 in the birth centre (MLU) of London hospital in February. Never planned on one - but there was a pool in the delivery room I was shown into and in labour at 10cm dilated I decided I wanted to labour in water. It was great - very grounding - and DS2 was born in the water around 20 minutes after getting in the pool which was wonderful. One thing to know - you cant guarantee that you will be able to use the pool in hospital (and cant use it if induced/medical issues meaning you need CFM) so if your heart is set on a waterbirth, you may wish ot think about a home birth...

StarlightMcKenzie · 25/03/2009 16:01

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2Helenback · 26/03/2009 09:37

I made it to the pool room, but due to lots of things I never even got as far as the plug going in. The main reason was I had pethidine to force me to sleep betwwen contractions, and once you've had that the pool is a definite no-go. If you want the water birth in hospital it also comes down to luck as some woman failing to progress may be taking up the pool room!!!

nappyzonecannotcycleuphill · 26/03/2009 09:42

i had my ds in water in hospital - it was a very positive experience compared to my dd who was born in hospital on 'dry land' - still hurts but kind of took the edge off - that said i laboured alot more quickly as he was my 2nd. It is unreal when you look down and you see a head coming out of you! I never got that experience first time round.

I didnt set my heart on one so it was a bonus - i got there and was told no nice rooms as v busy so had to go in a high dependency room - i said no chance of a water birth then half laughing half moaning and they said actually the high dependency room is adjoining the water birth room and is not in use so yes - i was well chuffed!

ouchitreallyhurts · 26/03/2009 10:45

Was refused access to the pool with dd1 due to having had a small bleed at 36 weeks and also they were very busy with first time mums in labour that day but with dd2 I used the birth pool and as nappyzone says it took the edge off and was a much more positive experience than the first.
have had 2 home water births since and they were fab.
good luck!
xx

Original poster

Gem021 · 26/03/2009 13:17

Starlight mckenzie, im in basildon and they do have the birth pool facilities but i havent been there and checked out the birth rates or number of trained midwifes yet as ive only been thinking about it after one of my friends gave birth in water and said it was fab.
Thanks everyone for your comments theyve helped me to decide that i would definately like to have a waterbirth. xxx

OP posts:

KKx · 26/03/2009 21:35

I really wanted a water birth and I was in the water up until 15 mins before DD was born. The transition period was just getting too much for me (5 sore contractions) and I wanted something a bit stronger than gas and air. So I came out the birthing pool and lay down ready to start pushing. But when I came out the birthing pool my waters broke and my baby had done her first big black poo inside her sack of water.

So if I had still been in the pool and this had happened my perfect water birth would have looked quite different

me23 · 26/03/2009 21:53

Just wanted to add that my unit will 'allow' you to use the pool if you have had pethidine as long as at least 3 hours has passed since you had it.
I've been at a few births were the women laboured in water and it is so relaxed and the women really do seem to benefit from the water.

flockwallpaper · 27/03/2009 22:09

I got into the pool at 6cm dilated and it did make the contractions easier to manage but I think it made me too relaxed (if that is possible!) and it slowed labour down. I needed a drip to get things going again, so I had to get out of the pool to have DS.

flockwallpaper · 27/03/2009 22:10

Just pointing out a possible downside - I think next time (if there is one), I would wait until I was almost fully dilated before getting into the pool.

VanessaParody · 27/03/2009 22:40

I've had 4 water births. Two at Crowborough Birthing Centre and two at home in a rather deep, but otherwise normal, bath.

I do most of my labouring standing up/swaying/walking around and get in the water, on my hands and knees (kneel on a folded up towel for comfort) when I feel the need to push.

Needless to say, DC3 was born in under an hour and I was in the water for just 3 pushes that lasted a total of about 2 minutes.

Downside is having the odd bit of poo fished out of the bath in a sieve (there will be other bits of blood/tissue etc too). But on the plus side you can get showered off immediately post-birth and then again if you stay in the water until the placenta is delivered.

All that warm water, bliss.

Best wishes for your pregnancy & birth.

CherryChoc · 28/03/2009 14:22

I didn't give birth in the water but I did spend most of labour in the pool.

My tips:

Let them know asap that you want to use the pool. A good time to is when you ring to say "I'm in labour but contractions still over 5 mins apart - expect me in the next few hours" This means they won't put someone else in the pool room just for the sake of it.

Don't worry about it already being in use - my midwife said she has seen this happen only once in her time as a midwife and there is only one pool at our local hospital and they publicise the fact they have it.

Stay at home as long as possible. Then stay out of the water as long as possible. Then hold off the gas and air as long as possible!

Take your own towels. In fact go to Asda and buy some nice fluffy ones, you can get a bath sheet for about £8 and they are soo soft and nice. I didn't and the hospital towels are horrible.

Take a hair tie and tie up your hair before you get into the water (I ended up using a bit snipped off some rubber gloves and it made my hair such a mess and I didn't have the energy to wash it for about 3 days)

Good luck! I loved being in the water and hope to have a waterbirth next time. Also I think it really helped with the crowning stage as DS had his hand by his head and I pushed him out very quickly (both of which usually lead to bad tears) and only got a 1st degree tear.

CherryChoc · 28/03/2009 14:23

Oh and I didn't notice them scooping out the poo as I had my eyes closed at that point.

shoneshine · 28/03/2009 21:21

I was in the pool for most recent birth and went in at 3cm dilated, was contracting every 5 mins or less and pretty strong. Knew it wouldnt be too long as was third birth and they got shorter each time, first only 6 and hlf hours. Our beautiful ds2 was born into the water and my husband (out of the pool) was the first person to touch him) he passed him to me. It was amazing and I cannot reccomend it enough! Obviously its not for everyone and there are some cases when you cant have a waterbirth but if you can go for it! I also didnt need stitches Hth, njoy your pregnancy and birth! Xx

Lotster · 31/03/2009 00:38

I loved the water for the time i was in it, had to get out for forceps in the end, boo. I'd suggest take a dressing gown to keep warm in case you have to get out for checks. And small water bottles and a couple of straws so you can be fed a drink! I found that a great tip.

iSOLOvechocolate · 31/03/2009 01:21

Is a fantastic experience and I would choose to do it any other way

I laboured in 98 with Ds but had to go into theatre with FTP, but in Dec 06, I gave birth in the pool with Dd. I never had any other thought in my mind.

Good luck.

Jenski · 31/03/2009 11:04

My first was born in water in hospital and was it was fabulous. Laboured and gave birth in water. I think it keeps everything quite stretchy so less chance of tearing.

DD2 was born in the same room as the pool but due to very speedy birth I was unable to actually get into the pool.

DD3 - different town. When I phoned the hospital to let them know I was coming I asked for the pool, but on arriving it was being used. I asked to be next to use if still labouring, but they let someone in before me . So gave birth lying on my back on a bed - not quite in my birth plan!!

I would really recommend water, but keep telling the hospital that you want the pool on the day!

iSOLOvechocolate · 01/04/2009 00:03

wouldn't choose to do it

iSOLOvechocolate · 01/04/2009 00:07

LOL! I wouldn't choose to do it any other way.

You can always take your own pool in just in case you can't have access to the in house pool. I took my own in both times. The first time, there was no in house pool and the second time there was and it was available. Now though, they have a properly equipped unit...now that I've no chance of doing it again .

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