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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Birthing Pool - any disadvantages??

12 replies

Oscar22 · 13/11/2006 18:48

Hi, thinking of having first baby in birthing pool. I know that you can't have any pain relief other than gas and air (i think) but just wanted to know if there's anybody out there who would not recommend the birthing pool for the first?? x

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lulumama · 13/11/2006 18:49

Oscar...water is a great pain relief for a lot of women....are you planning home or hospital birth?

lulumama · 13/11/2006 18:49

Oscar...water is a great pain relief for a lot of women....are you planning home or hospital birth?

Original poster

Oscar22 · 13/11/2006 18:59

am planning hospital birth and hope to have baby in birthing pool using only gas and air. Don't like the thought of the epidural as I've been told that after the birth you will be laid up in bed for around 6 hrs!!

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lulumama · 13/11/2006 19:02

there are lots of other reasons to avoid an epidural too! if you find the water and g&a not enough ,,,you can get out and use pethidine....

however...are you planning on staying home as long as possible..sometimes hospitals don;t like you to get into the pool until you are in established labour as can slow things down ....

tribpot · 13/11/2006 19:04

I planned to use a birthing pool - didn't work out for me as I needed to be induced and frankly do not believe syntocinon is survivable without an epidural. But certainly nothing wrong with aiming for it! They can be difficult to guarantee, though, in hospital - often you can only use it if someone else isn't in there

Go for it - but try not to be disappointed if things don't go exactly as you've planned. The end result is what matters. I don't think I was laid up in bed for six hours after my epi (although bear in mind you may not be leaping about with bundles of energy immediately after giving birth however you do it!) - I remember a doctor coming through to see if I had regained any feeling in my legs and I was already walking up and down so he disappeared again.

Original poster

Oscar22 · 13/11/2006 19:13

have a few friends who had an epidural and now suffer with back pain or sciatica but I agree that if the pain gets unbearable then I have no choice. I thought pethidine can affect the baby and so not keen on this.
Sorrym, another 2 questions - when you have the baby you are given the choice whether to have an injection to speed up the placenta coming out - is this something that most women agreet to have? when the baby is born they can either give Vit K by injection or orally - which is best? x

OP posts:

lulumama · 13/11/2006 19:19

vit k - should be injection as don;t know if any hospital trusts in the UK administer oral vit k....injection gets it done

syntometrine..you can decline..but i'd make it clear when you get to hospital and put it in your birth plan or it will be given as the baby's head is born! and you won't be able to speak at that stage!!!!
physiological 3rd stage is ok to have in the pool too...less chance of having the injection if you are in water anyway!!

pethidine can affect the baby IF given too close to delivery....takes around 3 - 4 hours to work through the body...so if given earlier on in labour, won';t be an issue. If too close to delivery, baby might be a touch slow to breathe.....

i had it 3 hours before DD born ...no problem at all

there is a lot you can do to deal with the pain without epidural.

FawkesBride · 13/11/2006 20:03

The only disadvantage is the poo.

But if your DH/DP is a keen fisherman you can keep him happily employed using a little net.

Water births are fabulous. I've had 3 and would have another!

tribpot · 13/11/2006 23:42

Oscar - can't really advise re: back pain as I already had sciatica, and still have it, but I don't think that really proves anything! I think by and large only take whatever pain relief you really feel you need, and you'll be doing fine.

LOVE the poo fishing, I fully intend to try for a water birth next time around (whenever that may be) and may put dh into practice with one of ds' bath toys beforehand

NatalieJane · 13/11/2006 23:57

Hi Oscar, when are you due?

I will be 38 weeks with my second on Wednesday, the plan is a nice relaxing home water birth, so unless you beat me to it, I will let you know how it goes!!

Gillian76 · 14/11/2006 00:37

Not sure about the birth pool, but all of ours have had oral vit k. You can get it on prescription from your GP. Your decision. I can't tell you which is best, just wanted to let you know you can have it orally if you want

Cocobear · 14/11/2006 10:01

Ah, water birth. I planned this with my first. Got to hospital, they filled up the big tub, I was in horrible, screaming pain and gratefully slipped into the warm water.... then threw up and nearly passed out! Having come armed with a plastic sieve for poo retrieval, the only thing the husband had to fish out of the bath was me. Apparently hot baths and labour don't mesh for me, which I never would have expected as I'm a sauna fanatic. This whole episode ended with an epidural, which was so wonderful, so magical... suddenly beautiful calm descended and I was once again excited about the birth... the pain had rather overwhelmed it up to then. No back pain, no side effects, and I don't know what you're going to get up to in the six hours after the birth except cuddling the little bundle and breastfeeding!

Bottom line: make an ideal plan, but be ready for anything. You never know what's going to happen!

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