Water Birth Experiences?

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Hi, I am only 13w-ish but already discussing birth plans with midwife. She has recommended trying water birth, or at least using the pool for pain relief during labour and after reading about it, I am really game for trying to have baby in the pool. She also said to try other methods of pain relief and only use epidural as last resort, as she said that in her experience it slows labour down.

However, as usual had differing opinions from friends/ family etc. with my mum's comment being 'if they offer you epidural, take it', but I'm not keen. Have two friends who have had epidural and both needed assisted delivery (forceps and ventuous). The idea of water birth (or using pool in later stages of labour) with gas and air sounds good to me, if I can hack the pain, and I was wondering if anyone had any recent experiences of it? Thanks

My experience was three years ago but thinking about it a lot recently (for other reasons, career wise) and just happened on your post. I also did hypnobirthing and really recommend it. I absolutely loved my water birth and from my experience the water helped keep me calm, gave me my own space and I only had a bit of gas and air for the last hour. I believe it helped my labour progress well. The HB teaches breathing which combines well with the water in my view. I love swimming and water anyway. If you are the same it might help your decision? I also appreciate its its not for everyone. Whatever you decide, good luck and hope it goes well

I should also add the pushing stage was straightforward and I was lucky enough to not need any intervention. I had my son in the water. The memory of him 'swimming' up to meet me is, I think my best ever memory! He also now loves this story when we talk about it....

Thanks missyt - yes I do love swimming (and taking baths!) so it's good to hear your experience. I have to admit that I have mostly only heard good things about it and think it is worth a try.

I've had three they were lovely also had one not in water, not quite so lovely!

Off on school run, so can't post much more, but marking my place in case you want to ask anything specific

I gave birth to my little one in a birth pool at home. Only got in at the pushing stage because I didn't realise I was so far on, and was trying to keep going for as long as I could without bothering the midwife. But by the time she arrived I completely believed that I could do no more, and could not cope any longer. Then I sank my body into the warm water of the pool, and it was heavenly. Found the strength to push my baby out into the water and then scooped him up into my arms.

Give it a go. Read up on natural labour. Make the most of having a supportive midwife. Good luck.

Oh, and forgot to say , giving birth in water has been proven to decrease tearing and the need for stitches. Even more reason to give it a go.

Had one five weeks ago and it was fab! It did slow my labour for about half an hour, then things picked up again. Would definately recommend it.

My water birth was magic

It was very much what i wanted (i wasn't able to have an epidural) so needed the water for comfort and some pain relief

it was so wonderful to be in the water and supported by it - i managed with gas and air and DD shot out in two pushes

I would highly recommend it

DD was born underwater and she was slowly brought up to the surface - was very calm and so was she

I had no stitches and just a slight graze

If i am crazy enough to have DC3 i would definitely have another water birth

Amazing - only ended up being in the pool for the pushing stage (mainly as i had stayed in bed in pretending it wasn't happening for an hour).

30 mins later one 9lb 9oz baby boy appeared, no stitches/tears and just a graze. Though it probably says more about my nether regions than the water though!

In terms of pain relief I used a tens machine prior to the pool and natal hypnotherapy throughout - which i'm still not entirely convinced about, but given that was all the pain relief i had there must be something in it. Which is a shame as i was looking forward to gas and air as it's the only good memory from dd1's birth, apart from dd1 of course.

If there was to be a third i'd be in the pool again like a shot.

You could always start off in the water and see how you get on?

Birthing pools are fantastic! Definetly go for it if you get the chance.

Water birth four weeks ago. Used gas and air for pain relief. The best thing about it is being able to move around (relatively) comfortably. DD was born underwater though I didn't see as I was a bit out of it. Was lovely cuddling her in the warm water though, and cutting her cord.

I did tear quite a lot though - I think DD must have had her hand against her face or something. Part of labia stitched back on, consultant in to check if had torn hrough vagina to rectum (I hadn't) and apex of vaginal tear pretty much at my cervix . Small tear in perineum. Sounds horrific but surprisingly was not that bad - I refused a spinal block and a trip to theatre and was stitched up with gas and air, and lots of local anaesthetic. Not saying this to scare you, but to show its amazing how well you cope with stuff.

Oh, and I pooed LOTS in the pool I was constantly aware of the midwife scooping bits out. Like the tearing though I just didn't really care - gas and air i fantastic stuff

just had water birth - amazing. highly recommend it. no pain relief at all, the water was lovely. natal hypnotherapy also v good for getting over previous bad delivery and thinking positively.

previously had epidural - disaster, ended up with forceps and horrible experience.

you can start off in pool and if things get too painful you can get out and have pethidine or epidural if you need it.

My labours are too short for water birth unfortuneatey as that's what i've always wanted.
I was pushed into an epidural with my third and hated every second of the most boring experience of my life. It wasn't childbirth, I just sat on a bed as if I was in
a waiting room watching the clock and listening to the radio ( which is shit at midnight btw!)
I risked my spinal cord for that? Never again.

my labours were fairly fast (dd2 was approx 2 hours, dd3 approx 3 hours, ds about an hour and a half) and I still had water births

the trick is to have one of the pools that can be set up already filled and heated to the right temperature

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's great to hear from women who have done it already. I'm going to try and go for it as long as I am able to - my midwife is very supportive and I think that will help a lot.

ItsAllGoing...ouch sounds painful just showed DP and I don't think he wants to come with me now!

had my first in water (13 hours from start to finish, last 4.5 hours in pool). Water definitely reduced pain of contractions, I had to get out to be examined and to wee and contractions were much worse outside the pool. Agree with other posters about the privacy...although I had 2 midwives in the room for most of the time it felt really private in the pool. when DD came up out of the water and I held her it was the best moment I have ever had. i had 2nd degree tear and stitched outside pool under local.

I had a water birth 5 weeks ago (first baby) - I loved it! Was the most intense, exciting experience of my life. I was 5cm dilated when I got in - I'm a bit hazy on the time I was in there - my notes say 2 hours 45 mins but not sure if that includes the time I spent in the assesment room - anyway it seemed pretty quick. I was only pushing for half an hour ish.

I had loads of gas and air - dh held the mouthpiece over the side of the pool to me.

The water was lovely and warm - as soon as I got in I felt much safer, much less scared of the pain and much more in control.

DD swam out (although as ItsAllGoingToBeFine said above, I was too out of it to actually look down - DH said it looked amazing though!) - I did reach down and feel her head at one point though.

I did need quite a few stitches - possibly it would have been better to get up on my knees to deliver, might try that next time!

Also - I was quite dehydrated and had a temperature afterwards - so was given a drip. Think this may have been due to the heat of the water (?) - so my tip is make sure to drink lots of water.

I would absolutely recommend the birthing pool - it was a fantastic experience!

Another positive experience here - had a water birth at home last week. It was fantastic relative to my hospital birth, and I feel great four days later. I found the water really helped me manage the pain and relax. I just had some entonox when dd2 was literally on her way out. It was great to move around freely and change positions as much as i wanted. No stitches or intervention required. Was also lovely to have my baby handed up to me from the water, and to have been lucid enough to really take in the whole experience. I would give two caveats though - if you get in too early it can slow things down, i had to get out twice as my contractions started waning due to be too relaxed?! Also, I would only recommend it if you are fairly confident that you can cope with the pain at home. The water does help you manage it, but it does still hurt obviously! I know it varies, but where I live you can only use entonox if you are birthing at home, so you have to be pretty sure you won't suddenly feel that you need stronger pain relief or you would need to transfer in anyway. Although i think in some areas the midwives will provide pethidine or some such. HTH.

This is a fantastic thread -- I've been tossing up whether or not to have a water birth for my first baby, and you lovely ladies with your positive experiences have totally convinced me.

Can I ask what you wore in the pool? Were you totally naked, or bikini top, or t-shirt?

Ooh, I love this thread! I was in the water for my labour (I'd had 3 baths before I went in too!) sadly (OP you may want to look away!) I had to be EVACUATED from the pool due to a fire in the next room!!

Being on dry land was nowhere near as comfortable. I'd love to have a waterbirth next time (if I ever get bloody pg!) but as I ended up with an EMCS I'm not sure they'll let me

Good luck OP, I really hope all goes well for you xx

Hi. I laboured in birthing pool for DS1 and 3 and delivered on bed as got a bit doolally.

But DS2 was delivered in the bath at home (planned home birth). It was wonderful. No tears.

Don't think I'll have any of those options with DC4 as we're abroad now and no water birth facility here. .

For DS1 I was totally uninformed about birth. He was back to back and so 50 hour labour moving up the painkillers from tens, G&A, diamorphine to finally epidural and then ended up with section - v. traumatic - cried for weeks.

DS2 was 7 hour VBAC and was strapped to a bed with monitoring and managed on G&A and diamorphine but honestly not an enjoyable experience (did the first 8cm on nothing as hospital told me I wasn't in labour and left me in the waiting room ). Got 2nd degree tear.

DS3 (9 weeks ago) was amazing and I would go through labour again tomorrow if it could be like that again. Got VBAC waterbirth from about 4cm through to delivery and managed on that plus the G&A. Was amazed at the pain relief the water gave. Also prepared with hypnobirthing CD and believed that helped a bit. Only got 1st degree tear. Whole experience was so calm and I was butt naked but couldn't have cared less. Can't recommend it enough to people .

Ps you're right about the epidurals leading to more ironmongery in the final stages but you have to go int with a completely open mind in my view as each birth is different.

beanlet
for ds1 i kept bra on, but ended up gettin gout of pool and having cascade of disaster intervention
for ds3 i was naked at home in pool. great, but sadly most of photos a bit revealing!

not going to repeat what everyone else has said, just wanted to say I had a fantastic experience using the birthing pool for DD and am planning the same for DC2 due any day! It is definitely worth a try, the water is a fantastic natural pain reliever.

I went to the MLU at local hospital and both pools were available when I got there. Ended up in the pool for about 8 hours and as long as I remembered to huff the g+a regularly it was a great experience rather like a health spa only with cheaper decor and a glorious view across er, Tooting - got fed grapes and water and banana and MrNC massaging my neck for hours. Bliss!

Unfortunately labour didn't progress any further - maybe I was too chilled out? So had to get out and then my SPD got really bad and I needed an epidural for that. The two-level beanbag to kneel on was fab too.

Go in with an open mind - I said I wanted to avoid unnecessary intervention but obviously if there was a reason, then I was OK with it. They tried a ventouse delivery telling me it was unlikely to work and I'd probably need a CS if it didn't, but might as well try - to everyone's pleasant surprise ds just popped out!