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Original poster

Anyone had or planning waterbirth?

27 replies

LDNlady · 04/11/2010 21:05

Am thinking through all the birthing options and I have always liked the idea of a waterbirth after being told that it's apparently "less traumatic" for baby. I have however heard lovely stories of staff standing by with what can only be described as fishing nets to scoop up anything that might end up floating around :o So, have any of you had experience of waterbirth and how was it?

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LunaticFringe · 04/11/2010 21:10

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Loopymumsy · 04/11/2010 21:41

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Indith · 04/11/2010 21:44

You shit yourself on dry land too. At least in water they can swoop the sieves around without you noticing. I have blury recolections of the sieve. I have very clear memories of the MW wiping my arse during my first labour!

Waterbirth is lovely, really lovely.

CTJ82 · 05/11/2010 09:35

I am planning a water birth - yes I've heard about the sieve, but as Indith says, it can happen on dry land too!

I'm a bit of a prude but IMO I would rather have someone fish out some poo than have my bottom wiped with my legs in the air everyone staring at my fanjo.

Though I appreciate that discretion will probably the last thing on my mind in the last throws of labour!

Violet5 · 05/11/2010 09:37

My 4th was a waterbirth and it was the best birth. He was bon at 4am and the room was lit with tea lights, it was really lovely. I wanted to have my 5th the same way but didnt get to hospital in time, i'm now hoping for a water birth with my 6th in 6 weeks time would definately recommened it though.

ecuse · 05/11/2010 09:46

I'm really hoping to have a waterbirth too. Am 16+3 with my first, so early days. I would really like to be in the hospital (in the MLU attached, anyway) just in case anything goes wrong, but they only have 2 pools and can't guarantee that I'll be able to use a pool on 'the night' - obviously if someone else got there first then it's just tough for me. So I'm wondering whether it's important enough to me to have a home birth (which, all being equal, I don't really want). Think I better talk to the midwives and get a feel for how often they have to turn women away from the pool.

MrsKarpet · 05/11/2010 09:55

My first DD was a 'waterbaby' born at home in pool. Brilliant. Amazing. No pain relief, just water. I recommend it to anyone in a position (as it were) to do it. 2nd DD came so quickly DH was still in middle of inflating pool....!

GeorgeWBush · 05/11/2010 10:04

DD2 was a water birth, was only going to labour in the water but when it came down to the pushing bit, God himself wouldn't have been able to get me out of that pool.

I enjoyed it, felt MUCH more private than doing it on land with the other 2, I dozed off in-between contractions. Would really recommend it.

GoldenGreen · 05/11/2010 10:11

Have had 2 waterbirths - sieve unused both times! Apparently dd pooed a bit on her way out though...

Had good experiences and would recommend waterbirth, definitely.

CrazyPlateLady · 05/11/2010 10:13

I am planning on asking for one. Don't know if they will let me as I am classed as high risk this time and our hospital has 1 pool so I don't hold out much hope but I think it will reduce my risk of tearing so I am going to push for it if I can get it.

milliemuffin · 05/11/2010 10:34

I had a planned home water birth with both my children but unfortunately DC1 needed a forceps delivery due to his large head and DC2 arrived on a very busy night and there were no community midwifes available for a home birth so we had to transfer in for her aswell but fingers crossed for 3rd time lucky!!

notnowbernard · 05/11/2010 10:36

3 waterbirths

All positive experiences, would recommend highly

Yes, there is a colander at hand. Yes, you will see a floater no doubt. But you truly will not care, I can assure you

Mine even feature in the immediate post-birth photos of DC3 (They've been filed away for private viewing only)

lilly13 · 05/11/2010 11:04

I am considering this option. My obstetriatian warned me that the main cons are 1) baby comes up to quickly and may damage it's head (eg, very difficult to control the motion in water), 2) often women end up with extremely bad tears because the birthing process occurs so quickly and they push too hard because water lessens the pain, 3) it would not be possible to have an epidural if one were to change her mind and want one...
the pros are 1) it is much more relaxing and comforting, 2) pain is lower than during...
i would like to do more research on this subject. so far, i am not entirely sold yet as heard both positives and negatives...

SweetBeadieRussell · 05/11/2010 11:09

i had one - amazing experience. When i look back to dd2's birth (which it was) I have a lovely, warm nostalgic feeling. When i look back to the cold, dangerous, production line hospital birth i had with dd1, I still shudder.

Go for it; even if you don't give birth in it, you'll be grateful for the sense of safety and reassurance it gives during labour

notnowbernard · 05/11/2010 11:09

Not heard about the 'poor control of head' thing before... all 3 of mine were 'caught' by the mw or DP without probs

I tore with DC1 and DC2... not with DC3

You can't get in the pool until labour is properly established, as there is a risk it can slow it all down if you get in too soon

So for me, by the time I got in, contractions were strong and very frequent. I think if I'd wanted an epidural I'd have been given one by then , IYGWIM... it would probably have been too late to have an epi by that point anyway

thell · 05/11/2010 11:29

I had a home water birth with my first baby, so it is possible!

It was wonderful. Everything you hear about the pool being a little safehaven and cocoon is true - it gave me my own space and helped me to feel in control of everything.

The literature I've read about waterbirth says that -

risk of tearing is reduced, because the water softens the skin and makes it more pliable
contractions are intensified in water, but feel more manageable
if you get in too early, before established / active labour,. it can slow things down, but if you wait until you're at least 6cm it works to help things along
I've never heard anything about the baby's head being damaged - how??

It has been known for women to take their own birth pools to hospital, so might be worth discussing with midwives. The inflatable ones are not that big, and are comfy too.

Oh, I do hope you go for it and have a fantastic experience :)

mumofoneplusbump · 05/11/2010 11:39

I had a waterbirth, it was an amazing experience.

No other pain relief needed, it was quick and I felt in control and calm and very private.

Was terrified of the poo thing before but ended up going enough during early labour so I didn't need to later!

I would really go for it if you can, all that I have read suggests waterbirths give good outcomes for mum and baby.

Oh and I failed to catch DD too overwhelmed and the MWs fumbled with her a bit apparently but she is fine!

Tikkabillajive · 05/11/2010 11:53

I had two waterbirths in the hospital and both were very positive experiences - in fact, I can't imagine giving birth on dry land!

As lots of people have said, the pool has a lovely cocooning effect, and the water definitely helped me a lot with pain relief - with my first I didn't need anything else and with my second I had gas and air - and I am usually a bit wimpy when it comes to pain, so it must have really helped me.

I wasn't aware of any floaters - I think I'd have been past caring by that point anyway! I did tear and need stitches both times, so the water didn't stop that, but it may have been worse if I'd been out of it, who knows.

The best bit for me was lifting dc2 out of the water when he was born - I just reached down and lifted him out - so I was the first person to touch him. It was really magical - although he didn't think so, he was furious!

If I have a third baby I would definitely go for a waterbirth at home.

MrsMerlothasabadhead · 05/11/2010 12:08

My first DC was born in the water, it was by far the best experience out of all three of my deliveries. (DS1 in Birthing Pool, DS2 on dry land and DD in the bloody car )

I felt in control, it was much easier to move positions because you have that feeling of weightlessness. I still had my dignity, and didn't need any other pain relief.

I do remember the sieve being on the side , but don't recall it being used

If you think about it sensibly, if you are going to pooh, you are going to pooh, whether on dry land or in water. Personally, I think it would be less of an issue in the pool. It would be scooped out promptly, without fuss, so no need for the mat under you to be changed and your bum wiped

MrsMerlothasabadhead · 05/11/2010 12:19

Tikkabillajive, I completely agree with the magical feeling you describe when lifting DC out from the water.

It was such a calm surreal experience I was a bit that the midwife had to tell me to lift him up out of the water. I hadn't realised he was out of me, and it hadn't occurred to me I might need to 'catch' him.

LDNlady, I hope you go for a water birth and have a wonderful experience.

Poppet45 · 05/11/2010 12:27

Another massive vote for birthing pools. But I too would opt for one in a MLU, I ended up with an em c-section and a stay in high dependency after things went a bit wrong at the end so was glad all the hospitally things were available just round the corner. But the pool was just incredible for controlling the pain. Everytime I got out for an examination the pain ratcheted up soooo much. Am gutted if I won't be able to use a pool for a VBAC one day.

Tikkabillajive · 05/11/2010 12:29

Mrs Merlot - me too, I was so surprised when the midwife told me to lift him out! Was v odd looking down and seeing him floating at the bottom of the pool! I remember that moment so vividly though, it was really special.

ZeroMinusZero · 05/11/2010 12:42

I'm 23 weeks with my first and am planning a waterbirth in hospital, if I can. I just think that on birthing videos I've seen women look like they're in less pain and are in more comfortable positions. But obviously it could all go wrong as the hospital might not have a free pool or whatever, but they definitely seem like good ideas to me.

FindingGuysMojo · 05/11/2010 12:46

I spent a great deal of time in the pool - it was bliss, esp with the gas & air

But it slowed my dilation down even more so I had to be dragged out by midwife get out eventually & DD finally arrived on land.

Will give it another go with this next baby.

No nets required as far as I know, but I have heard they can be very discrete.

Indith · 05/11/2010 12:48

Lily your post seems a bit odd. I'm not sure that an ob is the best person to talk to about waterbirths as they are more likely to come into contact with more managed births. A MW may be able to offer better information. I am not an expert by any means, all I have to go on is what I have read when planning my own births but I have never, ever read anything about the baby damaging their head, I would really be asking what evidence the ob has to back this up before allowing it to scare you/influence your decision. Like otehr posters the only things I have seem on tearing is to say that it reduces the risk. Lstly the epidural thing confuses me. Obviously in a home waterbirth situation an epidural is not possible without a transfer early on enough in labour but in a hospital environment there should be no reason why a woman cannot get out of the pool and ask for one just like a mother labouring on dry land so long as she is not too advanced to have one.

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