Erm, has anyone ever been told by a consultant that waterbirths lead to worse tears?

[wasabipeanut]

I went for my first consultation yesterday with a registrar to discuss my birth options this time round following my em cs last time.

My request to labour in water was met with a flat "no." When I asked why I was told that "some of the worst tears I've ever seen have been in women who have laboured in water." I questioned this because I believed that one of the benefits of a water birth was less liklihood of tearing or at least reduced severity and she said I was wrong. Apparently the water washes off your natural oils and the skin is less flexible - like when you go all wrinkly after being in the bath for ages. I then pointed out that even if that were true surely the risk would apply equally to all women labouring so why does anyone use water? She said I was at greater risk from tearing as I hsven't yet passed a baby through my fanjo - but surely neither has any 1st time mother and they don't get told that waterbirths aren't an option?

I didn't want to get into a fight but I'm a bit pissed off to be told what I can and can't do - especially if the evidence its being based on is wrong. I have a long time to go yet and I dont feel the need to set anything out in stone yet as a lot could happen between here and now. But if the pool is available and I go into spontaneous labour I'd like the chance to use it.

Bit deflated but don't really know what to do?

I had a water birth with DC with a second degree tear as I wasn't aware I was pushing and the midwives do stand back more than for a land birth - I didn't mind though, it healed quickly. I don't feel that is was the water that made me tear, the fact that it was change of shift and the midwife wasn't in the room was more of a factor! I did get to deliver DC1 myself though.

I had a land birth with DC2 (quick and easy induction, no water pools at all the the blardy hospital) and would pick a water birth over it any day, tear or no tear.

ask for HER evidence base - you are entitled to see the research backing up her assertion.

In my exp. (2 waterbirths, 1 land birth, 2 consultant led, 1 midwife led) the consultants tend to try to swerve you away from anything too 'faffy' in case they need to come in and get their hands dirty.

I have also found the consultants i have had have been 'old school' and don't believe in anything other than straight forward land births and would love to get you up in stirrups if they could. I also met an 'old school' midwife on delivery suite with DS2 who tried to fob me off using the pool as I was 'at the wrong end of the corridor'

I again will be consultant led this time.

Some people have great consultants, this is just my experience.

DC1 - pool - 2nd degree tear
DC2 - pool - Slight graze
DC3 - land - 1st degree tear

I would write a letter to the Head of Gynecology and obstetrics and ask for a new consultant. It sounds like a pile of rubbish to me. She is lying to you in order to put you off you choices. She should be supporting your choices.

I had one waterbirth - fast labour, just me and dh present. after the terror that was my first labour in hospital, I could not have wished for a better outcome.

oh, not even a graze.

From what you have said, it seems to me the Consultant is trying to frighten you out of a wb. Probably because they can't have you flat on a bed, constantly monitored and totally under their control if you are in a pool.

They will (rightly) be more vigilant because you are a vbac, however they would prefer to do that by the lazy method of having you hooked up to machines (out of water) rather than manually monitor your bp, hr, temp and baby's hr while you are in the pool.

Statistics show you will have a better outcome birthing in water. Sorry I don't have any evidence to back this up, but I done the research a year ago when I was pg with my ds2.

I had a HWBAC and it was FANTASTIC. DS was 9lb 11oz and I just had a graze - due to him barrelling out at high speed! The MW had only just walked through the front door when his head appeared so there was no breathing the baby out going on!

You can get great, supportive consultants, you know! Mine immediately phoned the labour suite to check they had the facilities, and wrote Water Labour In Pool in big letters on my notes - and I had shoulder dystocia with dd. He also manually monitored me with dd, and stopped me having an instrument delivery. Some are just brilliant, so it's worth seeing if you can find one you like.

You might want to read this information leaflet published by the NCT on labouring/delivering in water: www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/decisions/view-39

If you scroll to the end of the leaflet there are some additional sources cited you might want to follow up including position statements on the use of water in labour and delivery from the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

HTH.

There is also an NCT helpline staffed by qualified antenatal teachers you might want to discuss your issue with:

Pregnancy & Birth Line - 0300 330 0772
10am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

You can call our Pregnancy & Birth Line if you have questions about issues relating to your pregnancy or birth, or if you want to chat about your experiences with a fully qualified antenatal teacher.

This should be able to point you in the right direction re. latest evidence and information.

I had a water birth and a second degree tear. I didn't realise until in the hospital bed there seemed to be more blood than I was expecting

I would water birth every time if I could because it hurt sooo much more outside the pool than in.

I wanted to birth on all fours but they kept wanting to examine me so I thought maybe positioning is important in prevention.

Thanks for all these responses - the studies in particular were very interesting. I strongly suspected that this particular registrar wasn't really up to speed on water births!

I don't really know what to do next. The hospital I will be birthing at is pretty huge so the odds of ever seeing the same person twice are small. I never saw a consultant at all at my DS's birth until the head of obstetrics came to fish him out after the surgeon doing my section couldn't quite manage it. The failed induction and, I suspect, the fact that I had been on my back for the preceeding 8 hours had pushed him into a really wierd position.

If they think I am laying on my back while they hook me up to CRM etc. they have another thing coming. I'm not repeating that mistake - water birth or no.

Isn't it all down to the midwives on shift at the time? Is it worth the fight of trying to get stuff agreed in advance?

Sounds like bobbins to me. I think sometimes consultants seem to disagree with midwives almost to make a point..
Have you spoken to your CMW? I'd trust a MW over a consultant tbh, but that's just me.
I'd maybe write to consultant quoting those reports above. If she fobs you off, ignore her and ask for another consultant. Your CMW will know who in your unit has the most natural approach to childbirth.

I had a land birth = 2nd degree tear
I had a water birth = 2nd degree tear

fgs, tearing isn't the end of the world anyway. I didn't mind it either time, didn't mind the stitching and didn't have a difficult recovery and I am a wimp.