Waterbirth experiences please!

[chloemack]

Hiya, I am 31 weeks pregnant with my 3rd baby. With my first 2 were loooong hospital deliveries with epidurals, 2nd degree tears and plenty of stress! I am hoping for a waterbirth in hospital this time round, I've heard you're less likely to tear and labour is more relaxed & quicker...Any stories/experiences would be much appreciated! Thanks

I had a water birth with my second

Was fab - relaxed even though it was very quick

No tearing - had second degree with my 1st

Really recommend it

I had a water birth last week when I had my daughter (first baby). It was absolutely the right thing for me and if I have any more would definitely have a water birth again if I could.

I got in to the pool at the point where I was really starting to struggle with my contractions and was starting to feel a bit panicky. The water helped me to relax and cope with the pain and it's much easier to move around into whatever position you are most comfortable in. In the end I had no drugs (tried the gas for one contraction but it made me sick so didn't have any more) as for me the warm water was enough to enable me to cope.

I had a relatively quick labour, but don't know if that was linked to the water or if it would have been that way anyway. I ended up with a second degree tear.

I have no experience of giving birth on dry land but I do believe my daughter's birth was less stressful than it might have been if I hadn't had access to the birthing pool.

Congratulations on your little one, ceebs05.

I'm hoping for a waterbirth in hospital when i give birth in November. I haven't heard anything negative about them yet. I mean, in some cases it doesn't seem to work out and you have to get out, for an epidural for example, but it sounds like for most people it provides relaxation and relief for at least part of the labour.

I was very disappointed about my intended water birth - everything had been going well up to the point I got in at about 5 cm, then the contractions stopped pretty well completely. Ended up having to get out and ultimately had emcs - funnily enough have never blamed the water birth part of the experience though although I often think 'if only I hadn't done x, y z then it might have been different'!