Question about waterbirth

[slushy06]

I am not pg I have just had dd so this is to cure curiosity only but was wondering about these two questions.

1. What temperature is the water I mean I cant stand being in water that is not fairly warm so if you plan to deliver in water is it the same temperature as a newborns bath.

1. Both of mine screamed as soon as they are born if born in water would they have not screamed or would they scream when removed from water.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer these questions for me.

Hi. I had dd in water. It's body temperature, and I think the idea is that because it's the same temperature as your body the baby doesn't realise it's been born until it's lifted out of the water, and so doesn't take a breath until then.

I had several weird moments when dd had her head out under water but the rest was still inside (waiting for an age for a contraction!). The midwives kept warning me not to touch her, I think because it would have made her realise she was out and she would have tried to take a breath under water.

When she was completely born I had to scoop her up quickly to get her face out of the water and then she took her first breath. Until they're out of the water they just get oxygen through the cord as if they were still inside.

That's my understanding of it, anyway.

1. it should be body temp, not too hot and not too cold it should be as close to the body temp as possible so it does not shock the baby as he/she is delivered

2. babies born into the water don't cry under the water UNLESS they are stimulated to take a breath, they would cry once they were out of the water and breathing

Thanks for your reply was you cold and did that not make cc hurt more as a cold bath makes my period pains worse.

i had ds in water - when i first got in i actually thought it was a lot hotter than i imagined almost lie ooo thats too hot and eased in - like a very warm bath but sooooooo nice.

Mine only had a little cry as he was lifted out the water onto me but i tried to keep most of him submerged to keep him warm.

Waterbirths are fab.

See I dabled with the idea of a home water birth on dd but I didn't research it soon enough and didn't have the confidence.

But you all make it sound grand Never mind maybe in the future dc3 will be a water baby.

Slushy - no, wasn't cold, I think the room was very warm though, and apparently you have to get in right at the end, otherwise it's just annoying.

I had dd in hospital, in a midwife unit. I wouldn't have felt confident to do it at home at all though, too much worry about whether the temperature was right, water sloshing on the floor, weirdness of having a big pool in my living room etc.! It did seem to ease the pain, but then I had a fairly constant intake of gas and air by then too!

I really liked it, but I know people who tried it and were just 'blah, not for me, let's get out again' so I think it's like anything in labour - horses for courses... Maybe it wouldn't have been your thing when it came to it anyway.

i had my first on dry land and it went on for ever so ds water birth was more magical anyway as i knew what birth was like and also i got in the pool at 9.30 and had him at 12 so it was all quick in comparison and i also knew i loved gas and air so made the most of it knowing it would be my last !

Water births are just fab. Iv'e had two now and like philb I also had several contractions where dd2 was partly out. It was the most sureal experience of my life.
Both births were at mlu's and were wonderful experiences. Only downside was I only had two hours in the pool with dd1 and 45 min with dd2 before they were born as active labour was quick . Good luck

I have another question about waterbirth...

When I gave birth to my first baby (who was back to back) a ventouse was used and I was lying on my back being monitored. When the head crowned the doc said something like "you're vagina is too small for this baby's head, I need to cut you..." which turned out to be fine, I have no problem from it now.

So, my question is, when you give birth in water, will the MW be able to have a look when the head is crowning to see if you might need to be cut? Or is there no such thing as epiosotomy in combination with waterbirth? Of course I'm hoping for no cut at all, but I think rather a cut than bad tear...

Do they even do epiosotomies in birthing centres or do you have to be in a consultant unit ie "proper hospital birth"? Luckily the hospital bit is upstairs from the birthing centre but I don't fancy running up the stairs dripping wet with a baby head stuck between my legs!

sorry I mean your vagina, not you are vagina...

I'm pretty sure a midwife can do an episiotomy in a birthing centre if needed, and also at home. It's less likely to be needed if you're not on your back and some drs do them routinely for ventouse anyway. Without the ventouse and in a more upright position (as you would likely be in water) your baby's head would be stretching your bits more naturally anyway. The water also softens everything and generally helps .

I've never heard of an underwater episiotomy -nor of one being needed. I guess if baby's head wasn't coming out in the pool after a long time, they might suggest you get out of the pool?

My dc3 was a big baby - 11lb - yet his was a quick and easy birth, and I did not tear (just a little graze that did not need stitching). I put this down to it being a waterbirth. I laboured on dry land for a couple of hours before I got to the pool. About 4 contractions in the water, then reached transition. I know it was transition because I did exactly what I did in the previous two labours: threw the G&A across the room and shouted "This is not working!". But this time, unlike then, I did not lose it, but regained focus very quickly.

I was in the water for maybe 10 or 15 minutes before ds2 was born, so I don't think the water softened my perineum. I am convinced that the reason ds2 came out so gently is that (a) the water supported me so that I was upright and relaxed and(b) the water gave me just enough pain relief that I was able to concentrate on letting my body get on with birthing. I did not actively push, and felt a very gentle stretch when ds crowned, no burning, no need to resist the urge to push. The key being relaxed.

When I has my DD last year I was told that the water was kept at a constant 37 degrees to match body temp. Water was lovely and warm, room was almost a little steamy and it was very relaxing, well maybe helped me to relax a little! I chose a water birth partly because it was meant to be a more calming way for the baby to make the transition from me to the world, however, the midwife did say that in 12 years of water births she had never heard such a noisy baby on delivery. She screamed the minute she came up. Regarding your episiotomy q, I am fairly sure that you are less likely to have one if you have a waterbirth - this may be wrong, it has been a while since I read into it. I think it's something to do with the head being born more slowly. Your midwife can do this but you would have to get out of the pool I think. I was in the pool for about 6 hours. I had had a long and slow protracted early labour and had been 2cm for 15 hours before I had some gas and air but by that point my contractions were every 2 minutes. Another 6 hours and got in the pool at 6cm and it gave me some instant relief. I had to get out maybe 2-3 times, you are encouraged to go to the loo if you have been in there a while. After the first couple of monitorings with the hand held doppler I did them myself. The midwife just passed it over. I had no intervention at all really despite the fact I had 2 midwifes and a trainee doctor and midwifery student. Eventually the midwife just said I could push if I was ready and then it was over very quickly. This was my first baby so I have nothing to compare it to but I would reccomend the water for relief. Good luck!

Thanks - I will deffo go for waterbirth this time! Sounds lovely. Or, as lovely as labour can be...