waterbirth - can you insist on having a hospital water birth?

[choufleur]

assuming someone else isn't using the pool? do they have to make sure that there is sufficient staff to facilitate this?

If all hospitls are the same as the one I had DC3 in, if the pool is free, you can use it. Didn't seem as if you would need extra staff to facilitate this.

Just wondering as had DS in a pool and trying for another but they thought of not being able to use water fills me with horror as i found it so much easier in water. I was told that you have to have a midwife with you at all times while you are in the water, wondering if this could impact on ability to have a water birth if they are busy/short staffed?

I spent time in water in both my labours - didn't have to have a midwife with me at all times but they did tell dp to call a midwife if he needed to leave the room as they like you to have someone with you. With dd2 I was told I couldn't get in the water when I first arrived at hospital as my blood pressure was too high - shiatsu massage and gas and air soon brought it down though!

My local hospital insists on 2 midwives being available for a water birth. Therefore it is not frequently used. I couldn't bare the thought of labour/birth without water too so paid for an independant midwife and had 2 fantastic water births at home.

this is all rather presumptuous as i'm not even pregnant but i have been thinking about a home birth

I was desperate for the pool but not allowed in as they 'didn't have enough midwives'. I've since found out that might have been a fib as they really ought to have enough and there weren't any other labouring women on the birth suite where I was. I ended up in the bath for transition and pushing (small, uncomfy but did have gas and air, phew).
So yes, they do sometimes say that but this time if they try that one I am prepared to do battle, beg and demand that they call in a community midwife or someone else off the street if necessary so that i can get in that water...! Due in 4 weeks so I'll know soon enough!