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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

water birth experiences please....

39 replies

Bondy83 · 03/02/2015 21:45

After going through my birth plan with the midwife she suggested I might like a water birth. Just after people's experiences please. How hot do they have the water? (As hot as a bath or just lukewarm ) does the pool maintain the heat of the water or does it need to keep getting refilled / topped up? Also on mentioning this to my mum she said they're a breeding ground for legionnaires disease and I should avoid it. I know this is probably a completely wrong view as surely they wouldn't suggest it if there was a significant risk of it. I had quite difficult births previously especially when it came to the pushing stage did anyone find it easier to labour in the water than on a bed?

OP posts:

Yoruba · 04/02/2015 12:50

I had two amazing home water births - I would so recommend it.

The water is around 37 so body temp - it feels warm not hot. When I had ds1 I was getting dh to put the hose topping up the hot against my back when I contracting. It was so helpful! Dh was terrified it would burn me!!
It maintained the heat pretty well but dh did top it up a bit a few times. Though this mostly went over my head.

They're completely sterile - for the one I had at home there is a sterile liner that you only put on when you're in labour, it completely covers the pool. The hose is also sterile.

I found pushing so much easier, i could control it more, feel more clearly what was going on as the pain was less stingy / on fire! So whereas I tore (2nd degree) when I had dd "on land" I didn't have a scratch when ds1&2 were born. I've heard that water is also supposed to help with this.

I was completely in the nud for all 3 of my births and couldn't have given a toss - however it was nicer with the water birth as you get out pretty clean :o and you're warm for baby snuggles.

I would 100% recommend it.

YoullLikeItNotaLot · 04/02/2015 12:57

I has a water birth in hospital and it was great.

Like a pp says, it's more hands off. This means you follow what your body is telling you to do.

I actually pushed DC out in one push as I couldn't stop. No stitches.

After DC was born, we cuddled in the pool for a while then I got out and delivered the placenta while DH held the baby. All very chilled.

I could've had music and mood lighting but I felt more at ease with the dimmed light and quiet.

NutellaLawson · 04/02/2015 13:15

The difference in pain relief one in the pool was what surprised me most. I was reluctant to remove my Tens machine so I could get into the pool but I needn't have worried. The very moment I got into that pool my contraction pain went down by half and I was relaxed and chatty, and taking each contraction with relative ease.

The birth was fantastic. I felt a gentle pop as my waters went, then an almighty, involuntary heave and baby was out in two pushes. I held my squooshy faced baby in the warm water for as long as I wanted. I delivered the placenta outside the pool, reclined on beanbags. I did have a minor tear, but just a few stitches, which were done with both a local anaesthetic and gas and air. I'm now expecting dc3 and am definitely aiming fir another water birth. Mine was brilliant.

squizita · 04/02/2015 13:24

Yep I found it helped a lot with the pain combined with gas and air.
I felt the urge to push dd out on my side with my leg braced against thew (don't ask me why!?) and kept falling over in the pool so the last 15 min pushing were on a big plastic beanbag type thing the birth centre had in the room.

LemonYellowSun · 04/02/2015 14:31

Really recommend them if you are a low risk pregnancy.

Mine was in a birthing centre within a hospital.

I used gas and air in the pool, and the feeling of the water helped enormously.

DS2 was handed straight to me in the water for skin to skin. It was lovely and I will always cherish the memory of his birth. I had an epidural/forceps for DS1 so it was an entirely different experience!!

We were home within 3 hours too

LemonYellowSun · 04/02/2015 14:33

Oh and I wore a bikini top.

Playdoughcaterpillar · 04/02/2015 14:39

I found the water v relaxing and it helped with the pain. I gave birth on all fours, sort of, and the MW pushed baby through my legs so I could be the first to pick him up and hold him. It was a very special moment. Would definitely use water again if I had any more.

Eminybob · 04/02/2015 14:40

I was only in the pool for about 20 mins, I had to get out, first of all because I couldn't go for a wee so they wanted to put a catheter in, then the contractions stopped so I needed a oxytocin drip.

I had already done most of my contracting in a bath on the observation ward, as I think they forgot about me, then when they came to examine me it was all systems go to get in into a labour suite and run the pool, which took 20 mins, so after all that everything had started to subside!

While I was in there it was very nice and relaxing though (although that could have been the gas and air!)

blowinahoolie · 04/02/2015 14:42

It slowed my contractions right down, and I had to get out the birthing pool. Nice in theory, but it's not for everyone!

squizita · 04/02/2015 14:43

Some high risk pregnancies can birth in pools. Check if your labour ward has one.
I was encouraged to as I was stressed due to a history of MC and a blood clotting disorder. Less medicated and relaxing made it easier all round!

YoullLikeItNotaLot · 04/02/2015 14:50

Yes, my contractions were very frequent but I was taking a while to dilate so the MW did not want me to get into the pool before 4cm as there is a chance contractions will slow. (Didn't happen for me, got into pool at 4cm and baby born an hour later).

YoullLikeItNotaLot · 04/02/2015 14:51

Should add, I'd been having contractions for about 20 hours before that.

Threeplus1 · 04/02/2015 19:17

I had a water birth with dc3 in a midwife led birth centre and it was fantastic.

I got in the water just after my waters broke and I was surprised (in a good way) at just how warm the water was. The midwife had put some aromatherapy oils in, the lights were low and I played music.

As dd2's head was crowning I was able to reach down and feel the top of it, and when she came out I was the one to catch her and bring her up and out of the water to me. I was able to sit with her in the water for a while before getting out to deliver the placenta.

It was such a positive experience that I'm planning another water birth in a birth centre for dc4

Original poster

Bondy83 · 04/02/2015 19:50

Thanks guys for your experiences I'm definitely going to go for the water birth (all being well) I'm quite looking forward to it just wish it would hurry up and come sooner rather than later

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