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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

waterbirth - are they nice and is it messy?

58 replies

jenhden · 07/09/2009 21:21

i was just wondering if waterbirths are messy? its the idea of my dh needing a seive that is putting me off but so many people seem to be having them - do they really make it more manageable?

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Restrainedrabbit · 08/09/2009 22:10

Oh and yes they made a BIG difference to me, I love 'em.

Darkmere · 08/09/2009 22:15

I also want to say you might find that you actually like the fact your DH saw all "the mess". I would not have expected to feel like this but I kind of liked the fact DP witnessed it all. We were "in it together" IYSWIM and has definitely made our relationship closer and more open since.

sausagerolemodel · 08/09/2009 22:32

I think there's messy and messy. If you are worried that by the end the pool will resemble some disgusting biological fluid soup, then my experience was not at all like that. Yes there were a couple of bits of poop but the MWs scooped them up (me and dh werent even aware, we only noticed in the pics after!) and really not much in terms of blood/gore at all. Have a look at this you tube video of a water birth in a see through pool. (you'll have to sign in as its considered "adult" material)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz0c2nOHH2I

laneyjay · 09/09/2009 09:04

Had water birth with DD after long labour. When they said I could get in it gave immediate relief and I didn't want to get out. Water gave natural support and is usually kept at 37C so lovely and warm. We were concerned about the blood aspect as my DH really doesn't cope well. I was fully expecting that he would have to leave the room at some point. When DD was born the pool was virtually clear so that was great. I had trouble delivering the placenta so the cord was cut and she was passed to my DH. By this point the pool was very bloody but baby was laid skin to skin on my DH. I found the whole experience positive. Had gas and air and the midwives were barely involved just watched from the side and I even did my own monitoring when asked to using the hand held device. Just told to push when they could see the head. I would suggest to anyone its worth a go. If you don't like it you can just get out. If you are at a unit rather than a home birth, the midwife will deal with any 'accident' you may have.

scarlotti · 09/09/2009 09:11

Am hoping for a waterbirth this time with ds2, my other two have been land births and whilst there was mess, I didn't clear it up and neither I nor dh were aware that the mw was!

Great film on youTube, thanks for the link

May67 · 09/09/2009 10:15

The biggest difference for me was the fact that there was no tearing this time round (DD1 land birth, DD2 waterbirth 4 weeks ago) which has made the recovery much quicker! It was all a lot more relaxed too. I think the land birth was messier but as everyone says you really won't care about it at the time anyway. It really helped with the pain as I had back to back labour.

CarmenSanDiego · 09/09/2009 10:20

I had a lovely waterbirth. The water helps with the pain a lot and is very relaxing. I was also in our living room in a rented house with cream carpets... and not a spot on the carpet from it all! (Thanks to the midwives and dh for clearing up the gunk out the pool!)

ChocOrange05 · 09/09/2009 10:43

I haven't read previous posts so apologies if I repeat. I wanted a home waterbirth but when the time came to get in the pool I just didn't like it (and I love the water) - I was getting too hot one minute and too cold the next. Poor DH was running to the bathroom to get jugs of hot and cold water on my command! I think I got out after about 15 mins.

Having said that, I'm not upset I tried to do it as you can never know until you are in the situation if its something for you.

As for the mess, I think the midwives clean it up!

Good luck!

fufflebum · 09/09/2009 10:52

Had a waterbirth at home for First child. It was great I spent all my time in their, it did slow things down but it was great and I used the hose as pain relief (no other pain relief necessary).

It was not messy, water broke just before second stage, the water was cloudy but no poo or anything.

Interestingly I planned a waterbirth at home for second child and really did not like it at all. Got in and out within a matter of minutes.

My lessson from this are each birth is different and be open to all options.

Practical tip if you have a home water birth make sure you have enough hot water as filling them does take a lot of water and also there needs to be a constant supply to keep water the right temperature. Also becuase I was naked in the water the room was kept quite warm. I did not notice but husband said it was like being in a sauna!

Good luck.

Wixi · 09/09/2009 11:24

I'm 34+2 pregnant with my first and have always said that I wanted a waterbirth. I am hoping that the pool is free when I eventually go in to have the baby. Thank you for all of your positive comments, it really helps to know that it can go well.

smee · 09/09/2009 11:35

Pool was lovely at first as I'd been in labour for a day by the time I got in and it did feel good so I'd recommend, but I got out after three hours as I was wrinkled and hot. So as others have said, depends on the birth - if like mine it's a long one try everything. If nothing else it passes the time and gives your DH something to laugh at inbetween contractions..

Belgianchocolates · 09/09/2009 11:36

I'd say go for the water birth. If you don't like it you can get out. I echo the opinions of many that all birth are messy, but in a water birth that mess will be more contained. Not everyone does a poo during the pushing stage, but midwives are usually quick to discretely remove it if it does happen. Your dh wont need to hold the sieve

rempy · 09/09/2009 11:46

fantastic pain relief for me, delivered both mine in the pool.

I am an anaesthetist, and believe me I have seen much much more mess about on dry land than during my deliveries!

At least you dont need to change the entire bed and scrub the matress if you have the baby in the pool.

OmniDroid · 09/09/2009 12:12

Yes it was nice, no it wasn't messy. I could still see through the water at the end! I did deliver the placenta on dry land though, as it took 50 mins from delivering DD for it to come out.

All the sludge was on the bottom of the pool, and DH just drained the pool with the submersible pump (attached to hosepipe, out of the window into the mains drain), then folded and chucked out the pool liner. Job done.

belgo · 09/09/2009 12:45

They are not usually messy, unless the pump disattaches when empying the pool of rather bloody water post birth, and the pipe splashes water on the floor and the wall paper.

Make sure you have a trial run first using the pump!

MyCatIsAFleaBagNoMore · 09/09/2009 13:01

I had a waterbirth with DD and yes I did a little poo as I was pushing but the midwife just scooped it out quick as a flash and DH didn't even know til I told him (every observant!). Tbh, your as likely to do a poo on a bed as in water and at least in water it can't get sticky on the sheets... nice!.

I found the pain relief brilliant and the whole experience much more relaxing than with DS. I was induced with DS (so much more intense labour pains) and wasn't allowed in the pool, which was a shame really.

Yes it was a bit messy, but it's messy anyway and it's not like they expect you to shampoo your hair and wash in it afterwards.

Builde · 09/09/2009 13:59

If you fancy a waterbirth, then go for it. Midwifes are brilliant at clearing up mess. Birth is messy but they sort of seem to clean it up quickly without you really taking it in.

I had a pool for the birth of my second daughter but actually gave birth on-land. (or rather in the living room).

So, you can enjoy the pain-relieving effects of the water through labour but then chose a different location for the delivery. My midwife wanted my back in the dry to speed it all up a bit.

I did find the water useful but mainly because - on eating a chocolate biscuit - I then felt sick and didn't enjoy the entonex anymore. This left me with no pain relieving options other than the water!

ib · 09/09/2009 14:52

Mine was wonderful. The sieve never came out of its packet.

SweetnessAndShite · 09/09/2009 15:59

I have had 2 hospital water births. Never intended one with my 1st but midwife suggested it as pool was free and I was beginning to get a bit distressed with pain but really wanted to stay as natural as poss. She said "you don't have to have the baby in the pool, you can just labour in there" but once I was in nothing on earth would've made me get out. I also had gas and air with #1.

2nd time round I was really nervous incase pool wasn't free but it was and this time I had no gas and air and also had a natural 3rd stage in the water.

Mess-wise, yes the water was very yucky by the end (blood, amniotic fluid etc) and with DS1 I pooed in the water (but didn't realise till after - anyway they have a big net to fish it out with )
But like some others have said, birth is never going to be a tidy affair.

I know people who've been dying for a waterbirth and couldn't bear it once they got in the water, but for me I loved it and it's the only way to go!

mollynp · 09/09/2009 20:38

i had a water birth at home for my third baby. the first one was born in hospital, the second one on my bedroom floor(on towels on cheap plastic shower curtains). the water provided instant relief and it was sooo nice to get into the pool. my husband said it wasn't that bad clearing it up. we got the 'pool in a box', which my kids now use as a paddling pool (after throwing away the liner!). i would highly recommend a water birth. and i wouldn't worry about what your partner has to put with!

AnnieLobeseder · 09/09/2009 20:39

Lovely, yes indeed! I don't think much in my life has ever felt as good as getting into that pool!

Messy, well, yes, you'll need a sieve, but that's for your MW and DH to worry about!!

Blood-wise, it only got messy once the placenta came out, so if (god forbid!) I were ever to do it again, I'd get out for the placenta delivery.

blinder · 09/09/2009 21:02

I have a pool here, ready and waiting.

do you HAVE to have a liner ? I don't have one and LO due any day...

(sorry for brief hijack)

SilverStuddedBlue · 10/09/2009 11:03

Waterbirth...mmmm lovely. Cramps in thigh more painful than contractions! Only potential problem for midwives was accurately assessing blood loss after birth, but they were experienced enought to do this, and blood loss was predicted anyway.

frankthefoetus · 10/09/2009 11:46

I also have a pool ready and waiting... and no liner. At first I thought it was a waste of money because you can just clean the pool (same as if you used a pool in hospital) but after reading all this I might get one to make the clean up easier?
Good luck with yours blinder!

blinder · 10/09/2009 12:15

you too frank!!

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