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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Labour in Water 'Rules'

7 replies

BroodyAndMoody · 27/09/2013 11:18

I have heard some conflicting things about labouring in water and was hoping someone might know or if it is just up to the health authority where you are?

Can you have a bath/birthing pool if your waters have broken or does it depend on how long they have been broken for?

Water helps pain, but can slow down labour. So when is it best to use it?

I am hoping for a home birth and have booked a pool and will probably have a bath/shower in the early stages if all goes well. But obviously want to make sure I am helping not hindering a safe birth!

Thanks all x

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cosmicnibble · 27/09/2013 11:30

Hi, I had a water birth last time, it was great.. My waters broke at 6am and I got into the pool about 8pm that evening, was in and out of it till about 4am.

I think if your waters break 24 hours before then that may be an issue.. Not sure though sorry.

The pool can slow labour down, I got in around 5cm and everything ground to a halt, got out and walked around for a while and got back in at 7cm and stayed in till after delivery of baby and placenta.

Hth

chillisbopper · 27/09/2013 18:02

I've not actually done it yet but I'm planning a water birth at the local CMU or hospital. I've read a lot about the ins and outs of birthing in water, I'm kind of reading a lot about a lot at the moment !

Anyway because it can slow labour down I'm not planning on getting in until about 7/8cm, until then I want to be moving around and keeping active as this is supposed to speed things along a bit. I ran this by the midwife a few days ago and she said that sounds about right. I'm sure you could probably get in sooner than I plan to but I am a worrier and I really want to limit intervention/pain meds as much as possible so I don't want to risk getting in too early and slowing things down lol.

My midwife said you have to meet very strict criteria to birth in water or at the CMU in our area...I imagine if you have to meet strict criteria (health wise) to birth at a CMU you'd probably have to to have a home birth so if they've given you the go ahead for a home birth I don't see why water would be a problem for you . I'd definitely get a pool though unless you've a mahoosive bath tub lol.

Good luck with everything
When are you due?

BummyMummy77 · 27/09/2013 18:13

We've hired a sodding great pool thing. I'm going to have to get rid of the dog for a bit, I don't need her help.

So get in at 7-8, do handles anywhere help?

LunaticFringe · 27/09/2013 18:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SolomanDaisy · 27/09/2013 18:26

I got in at 5cm and it didn't slow anything down. Well, it might have done but it was a bloody fast labour, so if it did slow it down it was probably a good thing. My waters had broken about six hours before that.

roweeena · 27/09/2013 19:50

When I got in the pool the midwifes told me the baby was going to be born I the next 15 mins and I was 9cm

It completely slowed the labour down and two hours later I got out of the pool - baby was born 20mins later. It was still a quick first labour though -7hrs.

Don't think I will go for pool this time - the bath was lovely to help with the pain though.

Misty9 · 27/09/2013 22:56

We planned a water home birth with ds, but my hind waters went and nothing happened for 24hrs, so out went the pool already bloody blown up at home and in came induction in hospital. Wasn't as bad as I feared though and labour lasted 5hrs - 3 of those being pushing

Planning a water home birth again this time, but who knows what will happen!

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