Talk me through your waterbirth!

[moomin35]

Am thinking of having a waterbirth - I like the idea of it being slightly "private" below the water and also helping that the water brings some kind of pain relief although I plan to use gas and air too. Can you tell me about your experiences (good or bad) so i can make my decision for good!

[applejelly]

I have had 2 waterbirths, both in our excellent local midwife-led unit.

Each time I used gas & air only. I remember feeling immediately more comfortable as soon as I got in the pool & was able to find a comfortable position & move around much more easily.

Midwife used a hand held mirror to check on things! Also there is a little net that they use to scoop out the bits of poo you will produce without realising They seem totally unfazed by this.

Both babies were delivered underwater; small tear 1st time (8 lb 7) no stitches needed, NO tear 2nd time (and that one was 9 lb 14!!) Whether that was due to being in the water, who knows, but I personally do believe it helped.

Able to have skin to skin for 5-10 mins before getting out & cleaned up.

Would recommend trying if you can!

Good luck

[LieInsAreRarerThanTigers]

Absolutely recommend it if you can do it - the thing I found so amazing (apart from being at home 2nd time round so much nicer than hospital!) was being able to shift positions so easily, floating my legs under me in different positions to minimise pain of earlier contractions, change to most comfortable resting position in between contractions, then squat and push for the last bit and rest on my knees. You'd have to be a superfit yoga master to do this on dry land, but it's relatively easy in the water!

[Summerblaze]

I had a water birth with my first and second. It was more private during the birth as you don't have anyone looking at your privates for hours. Nobody at the birth centre even checked how many cm's I was.

Had a long but successful labour with first (one suck of g&a but was sick so had no more) and no drug relief and a 12 hour start to finish labour with second.

With my third, I had planned a home water birth as the birth centre had closed but unfortunately had blood in my waters so needed to be taken in. Had less movement as was wired up but it was worse pain wise for me out of the water. Was sucking on the g&a as if my life depended on it.

It would be water every time for me unless situations arise that makes it impossible.

[MewlingQuim]

I had a fabulous waterbirth.

Not planned though. MW said the pool was free and would I like to try it? I thought I'd give it a go and I could always get out if I didnt like it. Once in there was NO WAY I was getting out

BUT unless you are having a home birth with a hired pool or your hospital has one in every room then you are not guaranteed to get a waterbirth.

[Undertheboredwalk]

I had a home water birth with DS, 4 weeks ago. It was amazingly relaxing and great pain relief. I'd had stop start contractions for a few days and water had gone 48 hours before. I woke at 3am with strengthening contractions, got up and walked around and watched them for a while to make sure they weren't going to disappear again! By 6 I knew it was happening and called my midwife, being at home helped to stay relaxed and I'm sure made the pain a lot easier to deal with. Midwife arrived at 7 and I got into my pool. It was immediately relieving, so much so I thought it had stopped my contractions again! Used just good positioning and breathing in the pool cope with pain, until around 9:30 when I started using gas, 9:55 had the urge to push, three pushes later DS arrived at 10 exactly. No tears, not even a graze it was so different to my other births, and comparatively so so much easier!

[Biscuitsneeded]

I pushed out a posterior first baby in a birthing pool. No boasting, just saying I don't think I could have done it without the water. It doesn't take away the pain, but it just helps somehow. Mind you I love getting in the bath!

[wishingchair]

I had a waterbirth with DD1 11 years ago and it was incredible. She was a big baby (nearly 10lbs) and I had to get out of the pool to be scanned at one point (they thought she was breech) and the difference in pain was huge. Lying on my back out of the water ... eurgh ... it was excrutiating. I practically leapt back into the pool, and the relief ... !!! She was delivered in the water too, all very hands off. I had gas and air too.

With DD2, the pool was broken so she was delivered on all fours on a bed. To be honest, it was equally fine.

My only watch out for the pool is because it is so hands-off, the actual delivery is controlled only by you which is great on the one hand ... but only if you listen to what your midwife is saying and she can't see what's going on. I ignored her and once DD1 had crowned, I pushed her out so hard she bungeed!! I don't think that was v.good for my poor fanjo!

With DD2 I really really listened to my midwife and she talked me through it and I did everything she said. Much better recovery time, although second baby vs first etc etc.

So I would suggest you say you would like to try it, if possible. If it's not working for you, they're not going to make you stay in it! And keep an open mind, if you're planning a hospital birth and someone's already in it, you're not going to be able to use it.

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

I wanted a water birth but my contractions stopped and I had to get out for the actual birth in the end. I stayed in as long as I could put up a fight for as it was so nice.

Up till then it was lovely. I was 8cm when I arrived at the hospital and despite using the bath at home the sense of relief when I got in the pool was immense. It was a wonderful pain reliever, completely different from the bath (I think it must be the space - I had to leap out of the bath when I had a contraction to move about, I felt really free in the pool).

Every time I had to get out of the pool to use the toilet the pain overcame me. I would definitely recommend it. I just wish I had managed to have my baby in the water.

[devoncreamtea]

I had one with my 4th, at home blow up pool thing. Great experience - can't tell if it helped pain wise as he was a whopper after my 3 petite girlies - but I liked it. Couldn't get out though as all wibbly wobbly, so just stayed put for a bit!!

[gourd]

Very good. Had home WB with hired inflatable pool which was delivered a week before and took about 15 minutes to fill via hose which came with it. We inflated pool in kitchen/diner it as soon as I thought labour had started before calling midwife. When she arrived 15 minutes later she said I could get in but I then had to wait another 15 mins for pool to fill. 2nd midwife arrive 15 minutes before DD was delivered. Got in pool as soon as it was ready and had daughter 21 minutes later! All good, nice and warm and comforting, didn’t experience much pain at all except very briefly when head crowned. Didn’t have any tearing. Was first to touch my baby - I lifted her out of the water and she took her 1st breath in my arms so it was rather magical. Can only recommend. Only thing I found odd was that though they were coming to water birth neither midwife brought a water proof heart beat checking device so I had to stand up briefly so they could check baby’s heart beat! Pool was easy to empty with the hose and pump which came with it – just stuck hose out of back door straight into drain. Company came to collect pool next day.

[weeblueberry]

I would have loved a waterbirth for my labour but my waters went at midnight on the Friday and I didn't start having contractions until the Sunday. Because they had to speed things up and I was hooked up to an IV I didn't get the chance. DD's HR also started to drop every time I had a contraction standing so I had to lie down for the whole labour - later turned out that she had the cord wrapped around her neck three times and me standing was pulling it and gripping round her neck.

[LovesToBake]

I had my second water birth last week - the first in hospital, the second a planned home birth. I couldn't recommend them more highly - I honestly can't imagine giving birth on 'dry land' and found getting into the pool on both occasions felt like a wonderful relief from the pain of contractions and the most natural place in the world to give birth. I definitely felt more private in the water and more able to shift position to effectively deal with the pain and of course enable gravity to help with the births. Good luck OP!

[marzipanned]

I had my first child in the water just over two weeks ago. The water is marvellous for pain relief - I didn't like G&A so didn't use anything else.

I was in the water from 4cm to delivery, only popping out to get examined at 8cm which was my request and was horrifically painful, showing me how soothing the water was. The doppler can be used underwater so there's no need to get out to monitor baby's heartbeat.

My DH had thought he would get in with me but the pool was full of blood and vomit long before we got to the pushing stage so funnily enough he gave it a miss!

The delivery was amazing - being able to cradle her head once that had emerged, and sitting in the water with her afterwards.

I did have a third degree tear which I think was due to me just pushing like a mad woman; it might be worth reading up on how to push to avoid tears beforehand as the MWs can't always see what's going on and mine didn't offer any advice/coaching at that stage.

[chloecorey]

In my opinion it did nothing for me, lots of people told me is amazing pain relief, relaxing and calming but my baby wa back to back so I don't know if that changed it or not but all women are different so you might enjoy it x

[bigbadbarry]

I've had all three of mine in water and it was amazing. I can't imagine how much it must hurt without!

[GreatSoprendo]

I had one, and hope to again too. DS was (is!) a whopper and was back to back, but I managed to deliver all 9lb 12 of him in the pool with gas and air. The one occasion when I had to get out the pool and lie on my back to be examined was the most excruciating pain imagineable - being upright in the water was the only bearable position. I'm pregnant again and will be hoping for another water birth.

[chattychattyboomba]

Hi moomin, first of all congrats and hope you have the birth you are wishing for. I hope this isn't too long but trying to include as much information as possible so you have an idea of the type of birth I had/something to reference etc.

I chose a birthing unit attached to the hospital for added reassurance when having my DD back in 2011. I have always found comfort in water (it's where I tend to go when I'm having a stressful day or have aches and pains) so naturally felt at ease with the idea of a water birth.

My waters broke at 1.37am on the 21st April at home. Followed immediately by my first unmistakable and strong contraction. Expecting contractions would start off being quite erratic I thought I would attempt to get a bit of rest.
That wasn't on the cards! The contractions were regular, strong and close together from the get go!
I decided to get in the bath at home to help manage until I felt 'ready' to go to the birthing unit. Due to limited space most units won't admit you until in 'active' labour (4cm dilated or supposedly 10-15 mins apart lasting 60-90 seconds although mine when timed were more like 4-5 mins apart from the very start).
They were quite intense and I felt it more manageable to go into a 'zone' and just breathe and rock through the...'waves' shall we say? Lol....let's be honest and call it pain. But at this stage I felt being weightless and feeling the water run over me did offer some reprieve.
At about 5am I told my husband I felt ready to go to the birthing unit. It was about a 10-15 minute drive and I had to ask my DH to pull over several times even on the short strip of motorway...luckily at 5am there was barely any traffic. On arrival the midwife examined me and checked my waters. They had indeed gone (and continued to leak) but she released a bit more by applying a bit of pressure. Uncomfortable but I was keen to get the show on the road. Unfortunately I was only at 3cm and they would not offer me a room. They offered for me to sit and labour in the waiting area(not an option!!) or for me to go home.

I got home and went straight back to the bath, continuing to let the water soothe me. After about an hour and a half I told my husband if we didn't leave soon they would need to come with a fork lift because I didn't feel I would make it to the door on my own.

We arrived at the unit again 2 hours later and I was 5-6cm! Lucky for them as there was no way I was leaving that time!

I asked to get in the pool immediately and the lovely midwife obliged. I lost all sense of awareness and stripped off completely! Looking back I'm quite embarrassed but at the time I just didn't care. 'Survival mode' springs to mind. The next stage passed quite quickly and I was 'ready to push' or fully dilated (10cm) within about an hour. I wasn't keen on the gas and air, I actually found it irritating having to focus on anything else (albeit the simple task of holding a mask to my face) and didn't feel it even took the edge of slightly so was happy to discard that!

I was given the green light to start pushing, I felt the urge like needing to poo...uncontrollable- side note I didn't poo in labour hoorah for me! But with that my contractions died off and I spent the next 2 hours pushing a pushing to no avail. Apparently the water was too effective in relieving my pain and I needed to bring on stronger contractions to aid me in my pushing, which meant getting OUT of the water

Not an easy task but I managed it with my DH supporting one side while the MW supported the other.

I kind of straddled a foot stool type thing on all fours which in hind sight is the best position for helping get a baby out that won't budge. My pushing seemed to take forever. In total I pushed for around 3 hours which is highly unusual as with most birthing units this would be considered too risky and I would have more than likely been sent up to the labour ward for more intensive monitoring, I guess my MW knew I was close but just needed a chance and let me try. Unfortunately that's where my successful happy drug free, relatively straight forward labour story ends.

After her head was out I needed assistance to get the rest of her out. The MW and another MW lodged their hands in under her shoulders and guided her out. My giant baby was born at 11.07 on the 21st of April, weighing 4.7kg at the birthing unit.

Due to her size and the trauma of having her 'guided' (aka 'pulled') out my womb closed and the placenta would not budge. I started to bleed a lot and ended up having the retained placenta removed (2 hours writhing and several manual attempts later- yes...manual...as in hands up to elbows up my vajay jay- zero pain relief) they finally gave me a spinal immobile epidural and removed the placenta in theatre, followed by stitches, blood transfusion and recovery on a busy labour ward because I needed 'close monitoring'.


My story is an exception. It is not due to having a water birth as there are so many positives I felt from that option, but not knowing I had a 'complicated' birth (a larger than average baby) may have made me reconsider more of a medical monitored approach. Also I wasn't aware that I might have to get out of the water to actually give birth. Apparently water being 'too effective' is relatively common, who knew?

Hope you have gained something positive here and wishing you an amazing birth. X

[quixomixo]

I wasn't planning a water birth, but as the unit was really quiet when I went in they said I could pop in the water as it might help relax me. It bloody did. I think I snoozed between contractions (so tired!).

However, the midwife would not let me actually give birth in the water as I was wriggling about so much. It is really important that the baby comes out into the water properly submerged. If you're bobbing up and down they might take a breath, then you go back under...it's not safe. I had no control over my doing this. I didn't mean to, but it was just how I coped with the labour. I would love to go in a pool for future labours, even if I have to get out at the end again. It feels like you are being held all over and physically supported. There is more privacy generally, but I was in it at night and they kept the room lights low for me, but the pool had underwater lights that were lit up gloriously, so nowhere to hide!

Good luck, hope you have a wonderful birth!

[LifeOfPee]

I knew I was in labour at about 5am. I knew they weren't Braxton Hicks anymore. I tried to go back to sleep but I was too excited so got up and made tea and toast. I tried to do an online shop but couldn't concentrate so gave up and watched telly whilst pacing about and breathing.

I woke DP up at about 7 and after sorting out childcare for DD and getting ourselves organised we went to MW unit at about 9.30. Contractions were about 2-4 minutes apart. The drive there was awful. There was terrible traffic left over from the morning commute because there were tree surgeons cutting all the roadside trees and all the dual carriageways had gone down to one lane. It took double the time we'd imagined it would and sitting in a car with contractions every few minutes was not fun!

We made it there by about 10.30. I was examined and was about 3 cm. I had some gas and air and bobbed about on the birth ball while the M/W took my BP and did a urine test. My urine came back with +3 ketones, probably because I hadn't eaten or drunk since about 5am so i wasn't allowed in the pool until I'd eaten something in case I fainted whilst in there. That's worth knowing, eat when you can because it's very disappointing to able to see that lovely, deep, warm and inviting pool but not be able to get in it because you had breakfast too long ago. Anyway, a sandwich, some pineapple chunks and plenty more gas and air later I was allowed in the pool. It was approx 1pm by this time. Quick V/E showed I was about 5-6 cms

Getting in the water was so so so nice, I felt my whole body relax, it was wonderful. Another hour of contractions and gas and air and I was ready to push. DS was born and I pulled him up and held him close. He didn't cry, he was very calm and it was lovely. I did tear a bit (small 2nd degree) which I'd been a bit afraid of because I'd grazed with DD and it was so painful for a good two weeks after but I didn't notice the tear at all and unless the midwife had told me I wouldn't have known.

For our next baby I want to have another water birth but stay at home. I can well recommend it, it's much preferable to lying on your back on a bed.

[grounddown]

It was perfect. The bath was so deep and warm and i just floated there in the dark with all the twinkly lights, it was lovely.
It was in a MLU and my MW was so supportive, i didnt need pain relief in the end because she really encouraged me to use the water to help with the pain. 2 pushes and he popped out then floated up to me, i caught him and was the first to hold him - soooo different to my first birth on my back on dry land.

[Penguinita]

Thanks for starting this thread OP. I'm hoping to have a home water birth with my first in a couple of months. My sister had a great experience doing the same. One thing she advised me to do was to buy an inflatable neck pillow that you can use in the pool, as you get so tired between contractions that you just want to flop, and clearly flopping without drowning is preferable

Good luck with your birth!

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

Planned home water birth with DC3.

Pain relief of warm water is remarkable.

Delivering/catching him myself was amazing and felt very right.

Having to be the one uncoiling the cord from round his neck was intimidating though!

My mw did my examinations underwater. That made them more comfortable too.

I'd recommend water to anyone considering a vaginal birth, to be honest, and definitely anyone planning a home birth where pain relief options are limited.

[Cheffie100]

I also had a home water birth. Waters broke at 8pm and contractions started at 11pm. I tried to go to bed thinking it was early labour but they were too intense to sleep. I got in the bath for a couple of hours and used Hypnobirthing techniques throughout. I had a rest from the bath from 2-4am and just yo led around on the living room floor. I wanted to get in the pool but knew I couldn't until 5cm. We called for the midwife who arrived at 6am and she said I was fully dilated, I was over the moon and shot into the pool. It was so warm, lovely and calming. I still had to manage what position I was in but that a truck load of gas and air and it was fine. I actually really enjoyed it. My dd got a bit comfy so I had I get out for the final 3 pushes so gravity could help things but really enjoyed having a water birth. I ovule also highly highly recommend Hypnobirthing x

[goldie81]

Wow- loved my water births. Dc1 awkward so couldn't go through with as had to be induced & monitored but dc2 was amazing!! None of that unpleasant burn/graze feeling down there was brilliant & then when dc3 came along it was so quick I almost has him in lift but I was keeping my legs firmly shut till I got in the water to have him! Purely for fact it was so much more comfortable during & after as well as relaxing!
Def go for the water birth!!

[WillPenn]

I had water births with both DDs. I wasn't planning it with the first but I got to the hospital and the room with the pool was free so I decided I would give it a go. I got to hospital 8cm dilated and the contractions were really hurting by this point. The gas and air combined with the pool made it all just about bearable - it still hurt a lot but getting in the water was a huge relief. DD1 was born after about 40mins sitting in the pool and came out with 2 pushes. With DD2 I couldn't then imagine actually how I would give birth on dry land, so I got in the pool at the same point in labour and it worked its magic again.

So, I'd recommend a water birth 100% - but I do appreciate it is not for everyone.