water births

[beckymurray12]

hey, this is my first baby and im really wanting a water birth.. i love my baths atm and its the only way i can relax and get rid of backache so i believe a water birth would be perfect for me..

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share their experience of a water birth :D

Ohhh am hoping for one too so shall be watching

Mine was going very nicely... So nice that my contractions slowed right down and I had to get out... Then all sorts of mayhem ensued!

I think it's great for some, but does little for others. Definitely worth a go, the worst that can happen is that you'll need to get out and try another way!

I gave birth to two of mine in my (large) bath, and the most recent in a mini birth-pool-in-a-box. The birth pool was luxury in comparison, but the bath was still far more relaxing, cushioning and supporting than dry land - for me

I'd recommend having water as an option for you. You can get in and out as you please, can labour in but get out to give birth, or vice versa, as you like.

(NB: I had homebirths with very experienced midwives who were perfectly happy with water births - this helps a lot!)

Just realised that was a bit short on detail - do ask any specific questions you might have

I had a home water birth for DD1 and planned one for DD2 but she ce so fast by the time it was ready I was pushing and growled at the idea of moving.

It was brilliant. I had a Made in Water one (from eBay) and midwife experienced. Did not slow anything down for me. Suited me perfectly.

Ask if you have any I the questions. It was so nice I didn't even particularly notice the cold water the midwife accidently tipped down my back!

I have had two water births and i loved it! I found it very relaxing and the water helped with pain. First time it did slow contractions down (12 hours in and out of the pool) and midwife did give me the option of getting out but i was happy in the pool. Second time i gave birth within 2 hours if getting in the pool. I would highly recommend. Both times i never tore , even though i had big babies (both 8lb 8oz) and i think tge water helped with that. Although, they told me if i was to be induced or needed any kind of intervention i would have to get out
Good luck x

I used the pool for just the pushing stage. It was great for pain relief but did slow things right down and I ended up with an episiotomy and a panic bed birth as baby's heartbeat was erratic. I would use one again but only if things kept progressing quickly.

Hated it! Kept floating to the top

I was exhausted thou as already been 18hrs in labour.

Another 6 hrs, epidural later & forceps & out he came

I've had two and they were great for me. I couldn't lie back the way you would in a bath though. I had to be kneeling, so a bath would have been no good to me.

I had hoped for a waterbirth with my first, but it was long and I ended up needing the drip, so it was that and epidural all the way.

I tried the pool, in fact I tried everything. Sorry this may be TMI but...

When I was in the pool, I kept wanting to get out because the downward pressure of the baby made it feel like I had to empty my bowels ALL the time (I didn't, You'll have to ask someone else about that bit). There was no way I was doing that in front of people, I was most worried about DH who probably couldn't have cared less but let's just say i wasn't in the most rational frame of mind. I'm just not one of those people who can relax about that sort of thing.

Needless to say, the water only actually helps with contractions when you're in it and because I kept getting out to try to go to the loo, I just ended up getting upset. I had also been induced so my contractions came on pretty strong.

I had back to back labour and a very big baby and the pool was the point where I chose the epidural which worked amazingly for me.

Next time I am going straight for epidural. I can see how the pool would help some people but it just wasn't for me.

I hope I haven't burst any bubbles, I would say your best bet is be willing to try anything.

Good luck!

Lots of my friends have loved it! I think that I was more similar to whitechocolate, on the day I actually found that it didn't offer much pain relief and somehow the feeling of the water on my skin was annoying and distracting when I was trying to do my calm breathing. I hopped out, got on the ball and eventually delivered on my knees leaning on the bed, which worked well for me.

Anyway like pps have said, it's a great option to have, but also worth preparing yourself for alternatives.

one thing I might do differently next time is do my hypnobirthing / breathing practice actually in a bath, it might have helped (or not, hard to tell with these things!)

Penguins: Me too, I always need to be upright/kneeling/leaning forward on something. Luckily for me I'm quite petite, and my bath was pretty big, so I managed to kneel/sit sideways rather than longways in the bath, knees out to the sides, and elbows over the longest edge of the bath, iyswim - gave birth like that twice!

I liked it, even tho I didn't really have quite enough space - the pool the next time felt like bliss in comparison, even tho I was still in the same positions - just a whole lot more room to manoeuvre!

Yes it was great.

Sorry for TMI but...my cervix just wouldn't open. Took hours to get to 4cm. Got in pool at 4cm and baby was born an hour later. Not a tear or stitch.

With a water birth the midwives will tell you they are following you and you tell them where you're at. I was thinking "how's that going to work" because I remember just blindly following istructions the first time around but it really, really did. I could feel everything and knew exactly when I needed to push (I delivered 9lb baby all in one massive push). They obviously still have a doppler etc to check the heart rate, but a water birth is much more about using your instincts than the MW telling you what to do (In my experience anyway!).

Pain relief wise it was a bit of a gamble as I can't bear gas and air but that is all you can have with a water birth (or at least it was - is that still the case?) so I knew it was either water alone or get out of the water and be able to have pethidine or whatever, but I was honestly fine with the water - the sheer relief wehn I got into the pool was unbelievable.

When I was actually pushing I wanted to stand up but the MW told me I either had to get out of the pool or keep my bottom half in the water. There was a reason but I can't remember it.

Spinderella- It is because the fresh air on her face is what stimulates the baby to take her first breath. You need to be either fully in or fully out of the water to avoid the risk that she takes a breath and then goes under. Which obviously would Not Be Good.

Ah yes that rings a bell!