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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Can anybody explain/ease my mind re a waterbirth?

17 replies

Caz10 · 10/02/2010 20:57

DD was born 2 years ago, fit and healthy, after what I was told was a "textbook" birthing pool delivery. Apart from the obvious pain etc I really had no problems, it was calm and plain sailing all the way, although it seemed to take bloody ages!

Since then I have recommended birthing pools to anyone who will listen and would have said the whole experience was very positive.

Recently however I have been thinking back to it a lot and really worrying, which is pointless as DD is fine, but I can't seem to help it.

What is bothering me is that with me in the pool, no monitors etc, how did anyone know DD was ok? Other people talk about heart rate monitors etc, is that standard for all non-water births? How would anyone have known with me whether DD was in distress or not?

I am suddenly feeling racked with guilt and plagued by the thought that something could have gone so wrong...any thoughts??!!

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pistachio · 10/02/2010 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarmenSanDiego · 10/02/2010 21:04

My midwife used an underwater doppler for my water VBAC.

Are you sure you weren't checked at all? You only really need to be checked intermittently with a doppler. Continuous monitoring is not helpful or recommended for most labours.

Also, bear in mind that a very experienced midwife can tell a lot by looking at you, how well you're coping, your colour etc.

CarmenSanDiego · 10/02/2010 21:05

xpost pistachio

rubyslippers · 10/02/2010 21:06

did the MW use an under water doppler?

i bet she did - mine used one every so often ...

TBH, i can't remember most of the finer detail of my labour and you have probably forgotten!

rubyslippers · 10/02/2010 21:06

x-post Carmen!

JiminyCricket · 10/02/2010 21:09

are there other things you are stressed and worried about at the mo? don't worry about the recommendations to others, they will make their own minds up, and you made a lovely environment for birth and a happy baby, hope this thread helps you get the thought out of your mind.

malteser1981 · 10/02/2010 21:30

Well said pistachio

Original poster

Caz10 · 10/02/2010 21:46

Thank you all!
We are discussing no.2 atm,I think that is what is setting me off. I suddenly feel like I was hugely irresponsible, putting dd at risk because I was being all gung-ho and idealistic about a "natural" birth.

I have NO recollection of an underwater doppler but will ask DH tomorrow, maybe he would have noticed that!

The midwife was so lovely to me afterwards telling me how well I had managed it, it was just the way it should be etc etc, said she wished she'd videoed it! (NO!) The question of dd's safety honestly never crossed my mind until recently.

Towards the end she suggested that maybe the gas and air was reducing the effectiveness of my contractions, and by that point I was so wanting it all to be over that I threw the G&A away and just went for it - maybe if things hadn't sped up after that they might have intervened?

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Lisajane2 · 10/02/2010 21:49

I had a water birth with first and used a birth pool with my second, although she was born on dry land. My MW used a waterproof doppler to monitor heart rate.

Here wp.me/pFWj1-5d is an interesting article on water births written by a midwife which might help to reassure any anxieties.

thisisyesterday · 10/02/2010 21:51

as others have said, it isn't usual to have continuous monitoring, becauyse in general babies are just fine without it!
if there was any reason for concern then I am sure the midwives would have had you out of the pool and been checking everything necessary.

I've had 2 homebirths and for my first the midwives pretty much left me alone apart from listening for heartbeat twice I think during second stage, but that was only because it was taking a long time (ds was back to back)

I think as a general rule babies don't just suddenly become distressed for no reason. if there was a problem that could cause distress then the midwives would pick up on it, esp if you have a homebirth as you have 2 there all the time!

thisisyesterday · 10/02/2010 21:54

sorry, meant to say I laboured in the pool with ds2 and wasn't monitored at all while I was in there. got out to deliver and had HB checked a couple of times

AlmostMumof3 · 10/02/2010 23:02

I've had 2 home water births and recently had similar worries. I asked the midwife and she assured me that they check the baby every 15 minutes and after each pushing bit. (may not have remembered these exactly). Anyway, the point is that I don't remember any of these checks and the midwife said that's exactly how it should be. They use an underwater doppler (or a normal doppler in a latex glove) and don't interrupt you to say 'can i listen in to baby', they just do it very inconspicuously.

sorry if this is written very incoherently, i am having contractions. eek!

Original poster

Caz10 · 10/02/2010 23:08

Oh wow almostmumof3!! Congratulations! Are you getting back into a pool soon then?!

I think if/when dc2 comes along I will get my notes and talk through them - can you do that?

Thank you all so much again

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BertieBotts · 10/02/2010 23:12

I laboured in water, and the midwife seemed to be checking me every 5 seconds with the doppler thing, it drove me mad!! I think at one point I told her I didn't need checking and she could listen to the baby's heartbeat when it was born! I was in latent stages for a long time and was very tired by the end, so the second stage was taking a long time and they did ask me to get out of the pool so they could have a look - I never got back in which I was a bit annoyed about but at the time, I didn't care, I was just fed up and wanted DS to be born.

I think you are right that if your contractions hadn't sped up when you stopped the G&A then they probably would have wanted to monitor you more closely, that is what happened with me anyway (though they still didn't put a monitor on me, TBH it is a bit of a blur, but I know that much.)

BertieBotts · 10/02/2010 23:13

Yes you can get hold of your notes, I think it costs about £6 admin charges as they will have been filed by now. Not sure whether your midwife will be able to discuss them with you or if you will have to make an appointment with someone else.

cpanda · 11/02/2010 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Caz10 · 11/02/2010 21:23

That or I was away with the fairies on G&A!

Very curious to know now, as I thought I was fairly "with it" during the birth, but DHs version of it is that I was not! The midwife changed halfway through and I thought it was the same person the whole time

So maybe my memories of being left all alone are not 100% accurate.

So if I was a low risk pregnancy on dry land they wouldn't have used a heart rate monitor either? That is reassuring.

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