Can you have a waterbirth if induced?

[Neeko]

Hi. I'm 40+4 today and really want a waterbirth. I used the pool for pain relief last time but ended up with epidural/forceps etc.
Can anyone tell me if they will still allow me to have a waterbirth if I go all the way to 42 weeks and and up induced? Just want to mentally prepare myself.

Thanks in advance.

it is highly unlikley you will be able to have a waterbirth if induced.. induction takes you out of the 'normal' and therefore you will be recommended to have more monitoring as teh drugs given to induce/augment labour can hyperstimulate the uterus and that can cause distress.. being in water does not allow for increased/continous monitoring..you could have a bath in early labour and could possibly stay in for a while, but if you need syntocinon drip to agument/induce, then you can't use the water

Thanks. That's what I feared Guess I'd better get back to the bouncing/walking/pineapple eating and hope it works.

You are still a long way off so don't get too disheartened!

Remember if you and baby are well you do not need to accept the offer of induction.

Have you had a sweep? May be worth a try, and yes you can use a pool after that.

You should also be able to use a pool if you are induced via prostaglandin, after initially being monitored with this method, you will be free to labour as normal.

However you will not be able to use water with a syntocinon drip. As you will need to be continuously monitored and obviously you will be hooked up to a drip. Also with syntocinon the contractions are much more intense and therefore you will probably be offered some stronger form of pain relief (NICE 2007)

Go for a nice walk and try to relax (and there is something to be said for the old 'natural' methods too!)

HTH!

Thanks Homebirthmummy I'm booked for a sweep on Wednesday so you never know. I know not having a waterbirth won't be the end of the world, but still.
Thanks for the prompt replies.

You can have more than one sweep too (obviously not on the same day though!!)

Keep positive, I went into labour with DS2 after my second sweep at 40+10 (apparently it was a 'turbo sweep' - mw's term, not mine!!)

Have you got any caulophyllum? I found that quite effective with DD1.

What's that? I've never heard of it.

Its a homeopathic remedy.

They are little tiny tablets from homeopathic shops and places like that. They can help get contractions going. It's also very good to use in labour as they can make contractions more effective.

Definately worth a try. I think the dosage is one tablet every hour or two? (You'll need to check that though)

Also try clary sage, few drops in bath, or in oil burner (can get that from boots). Clary sage good in labour too as it can keep things going.

i have been induced with all four of my boys as i always go past 42 weeks, ds3 was due on the first dec and turned up on the 23rd.

anyhow i am allergic to the prostin gel they use to induce you, which they discovered when they used it in my first pregnancy.

so with the other boys they have just broken my waters, i have always got to the point of being about 3 or 4cm dilated and having niggly contractions but not going into established labour, they break my waters and then i go into labour, with ds3 i was going to have a waterbirth but my temp was too high so i couldnt but i did with ds4 and obviously i was still induced and there was no problem with me having a water birth at all.

they monitered baby for 20mins after i had my waters broken and that was fine and so i got in the pool and had him 40mins later

i know at my hospital if they just use prostin and arm then you can still use the birthing pool as long as the baby is well and there are no contraindications, it maybe depends on your trust and on the midwife/consultants on duty.

when i was having ds3 there was a really stroppy consultant who kept coming in and out of my delivery room as he wanted me on the bed, continuously monitered because i was 23 days overdue, but the midwife told him to go away as i was fine and the baby was fine, had a normal three hour labour, spent some of that time in the bath and then had him kneeling up, three pushes once i felt the urge to push, very straighforward, it was only my temp (as i had tonsilitis) that meant i couldnt go in the birth pool.

good luck xxx imo its still worth asking about the water birth and remember you dont have to be induced, i hung on until i just got too fed up with mine, they didnt like it but i went in and had monitering and a scan to check all was well each time, tbh i think i just have longer pregnancies, as my mum did with me.

oh yes i meant to say the homeopathic stuff is good i used that and i also had accupuncture when overdue and that gave me really strong contractions, i didnt go into established labour but it def helped get my cervix ripe etc so that when they broke my waters i went into labour easily

4madboys good on you for sticking to your guns and going to 40+23. That takes some patience and strong will!

I wish more people would realise the magic 40 week due date is an average and you are a perfect example how we all vary in pregnancy length.

Big high 5 to you! (I hope that doesn't sound partonising, I genuinely am delighted to hear when people don't routinely get induced at 40 weeks!)

I was induced with the prostaglandin pessary's and they were fine with me getting in the birth pool once labour had kicked off enough.

Thanks very much for all the advice ladies (and for the positive birth stories) I think I'll be at Holland and Barrett (sp) tomorrow. I know I still have plenty of time, but it really helps to know what my options are. There's always someone on MN with an answer

I very nearly had a water birth when induced with DD (2nd child). I was allowed to labour in the water having (like pramdithering) been started off with prostin gel. I would have delivered in the water - they were all for it but DD got a little distressed so they ARMed me and I couldn't go back in after that.

With DS (1st birth) I was hooked up to too many monitors during the induction because I was on a drip and my waters had already gone.

It just depends how much intervention you've had to get you into established labour as to whether the pool is contraindicated.

HTH

Hi!
Just got my copy of Gentle birth gentle mothering by Sarah J Buckley MD.
These are some of the alternitives to inductions used by respondents in a study;

Walking / exercise
Sexual intercourse - helps as the semen deposited near the cervix contains prostaglandins which can help induce labour
Nipple Stimulation - as this can trigger labour by the release of oxytocin.

Herbs such as recommended by homebirthmummy
can be much quicker than other methods ie evening primrose oil.
Do you have time/funds to see a Homeopath as they can give you a tailored consultation and homeopathic remedies which in another book I got says it makes it more effective as it aids you on a holistic level to be ready for labour and birth.
Do you feel anxious about the birth after your last experience as this can delay things? Have you thought and discussed your previous experience as you may have something you hadn't even realised you were more concerned than you realised. (info and theories from yet another book - Birth space, Safe Place by Adela Stockton) The book also recommened Cranial Osteopathy to rebalance and realin the spine.

In yet another book, sorry a real book worm as I like to know everything I can, suggests getting intimate as this can bring it on for the reasons above. It also recommends keeping the labour and birth room with low lighting, calming / sexy music and if labour does slow ask people to stay back and allow you and your partner to have some intimate time to help get yourself back to your zone and turn off your consious brain which slows down labour (Michel Odent).

Hope some of this might be useful, can you let us know how you get on and if any of the above info was useful so I know what is worth a try when I get to that stage.

Orgasm is good too as it releases oxytocin

Have never felt less orgasmic!

Did lots of walking yesterday and have been awake half the night with Braxtons. Planning my trip to the health food shop today and another big walk. Will keep you posted.

Thanks again.

You've still got quite a lot of time before induction....

Firstly it depends where the pools are eg at some hospitals all the pools on MLU and once you are induced you can't go there. Also at my hospital they will not let anyone in the MLU after 42 weeks.

Assuming that there are pools on the labour ward if its just pessaries/ARM and everything normal no reason why not, once you are on a drip not going to be possible.

Just to update you all that I had my DD2 on Monday at 40+6. It was a waterbirth with gas and air and was amazing! Thanks again for all the advice.

Congratulations !