Waterbirths

[BlueBee]

hi, I'm 32 weeks now and am considering a waterbirth. At our first antenatal yesterday the midwife asked us who was considering one, out of the 15 couples only 2 of us said we were.

I was just wondering how common they are?
And am I missing something where a dry land birth may be best maybe?

Thanks.

[avocadotoast]

Oh you poor thing I know it's hard, especially in this weather, but try and get some rest if you can. It won't last forever (though it might feel like it now) and you'll meet your baby soon! Best of luck to you

[thesmallbear]

I wish it was too late avocadotoast. STILL in the latent phase

[avocadotoast]

Guess this could be a bit late now smallbear but I found pool a lot more helpful. Tens machine I found too prickly after a while (though I did have it on nearly two days while in latent labour...).

[ShoeJunkie]

2 water births here! And there was no way I was giving up the gas and air at any point!
I agree that being in the pool felt much more enclosed and comforting. It also made it much easier to change position between contractions (particularly with DS1 where I alternated between leaning over the side of the pool and sort of half squatting half sitting).

[Gunpowder]

Ooh good luck smallbear! I did Tens until pushing too and then water. Come back and keep us posted x

[flora717]

Personally i ended up showering (full power on the small of my back still using gravity) until i wanted to push and didn't want to climb into the pool to do that.

[thesmallbear]

Might get in the bath then. Reluctant to take the tens off, but I haven't washed today & need to so I don't smell when I finally go to the MLU

[Wolfiefan]

I used water when the tens machine stopped helping. It was great. Good luck.

[thesmallbear]

I'm the latent phase of labour now! How does the pool compare to the tens machine for pain relief. At home at the mo using the tens and reluctant to take this bad boy off. Is the water better pain relief? I suppose I can combine the water with the gas and air too.

[whatsoever]

Water birth was in my birth plan and I was lucky a pool was free so they started filling it up for me as soon as I was admitted. I think I was so happy to see it I ripped my clothes off and got in before they'd even turned the taps off!

However after an hour or so, it wasn't really doing much for me so I got out and had diamorphine instead. Very glad I tried it though, it was nice and relaxing and it works for lots of people.

[Gunpowder]

avocado I had a similar experience with DC1. They told me the gas and air was stopping me concentrating on pushing effectively. They wanted me to do that directed 'purple pushing' like you see on One Born Every Minute, where you hold your breath. DC2 my breathing was much more relaxed and would have been compatible with g&a I think, but luckily the pool was enough.

[avocadotoast]

Actually, thinking about it - I might have kept it for some of the pushing maybe? But only at the start.

They did bring it back for my stitches though, thankfully.

[avocadotoast]

Maybe it was just me then - sorry OP! I thought it must just be a standard thing. I was under the impression that it was because with the gas and air you're breathing it in a constant cycle, whereas for pushing my MW was instructing me to sort of breathe in - hold it and push - let it out.

Or maybe it was so they could monitor my breathing better, I don't know.

Either way, I know I wasn't happy when it went (like I also wasn't happy getting out of the pool to finish pushing, that was not easy!).

[chiruri]

I can't really remember, but I don't think they took away my gas and air when I started pushing. I definitely had it for the third stage (which was torture) and for my stitches.

[StarlightMcKenzee]

'Oh! And, another thing I didn't realise - if you're having gas and air they will take it away from you towards the end for when you start to push (as your breathing needs to be different). So, again, something to consider.'

Whaaaaat? Why does your breathing have to be different and what right does any MW have to deny you pain relief that you are reliant upon?

I'm pretty sure that though it may have happened this should not be done as standard.

[applecore0317]

I used it and went from 5cm to 10cm in an hour and a half. I got out after a while though as the temperature of the water was too warm for me, I chose all fours and a fan to keep me cool instead.

[FlossieTreadlight]

God yes, the relief when my hips went in the water. I think I'll remember that forever.

[Chips1999]

I'll second that too wolfie - my mum said I visibly relaxed as I got into the birthing pool!

[chiruri]

Wolfie I second that - I DEFINITELY made that noise, too.

[Wolfiefan]

My first was a water birth. I vividly remember giving a big relieved 'aaaaaaaa!" Sound as I got in. The water really helped. The midwife said everyone made the same noise!!

[RolyPolierThanThou]

Having sensation should be heaving sensation. It felt really good and satisfying. For me, the second stage was the best bit.

I highly recommend a water birth. It felt nice and private and comfortable for me and it made a huge difference in pain. That part really surprised me.

[RolyPolierThanThou]

I was shocked how effective the water was in reducing the pain. In the dry I was pain during a contraction and some discomfort between them.

When I got in the pool I instantly felt totally normal and pain free between contractions and this made the contractions themselves easier to handle. I felt totally relaxed and blooming marvellous. Ds2 was born 45 minutes after getting into the water. I was 6cm on getting in.

I had gas and air throughout. It was never taken away from me. Even had a few sneaky lungfulls during stitching, despite a local anaesthetic.

The mw kept her distance and just let me get on with it. I didn't need to push. I just got this involuntary having sensation during two of my contractions and became aware of something very large and solid between my legs. It was my beautiful baby and I felt no ring of fire and no tearing (even though I did tear a little, it turned out).

I was asked to get out before placenta was delivered because the bleeding wouldn't stop and mw wanted to make sure she could estimate blood loss for my notes. I'd had a pph at my previous (horrendous and non-water) birth.

Turns out all was fine and baby and I were at home within 8 hours. My water birth was amazing and I'm hoping for the same for dc3.

[NickyEds]

I wanted a water birth but really didn't like it when I actually got in. It was too cold- mw said it needed to be cool to stop you from fainting.When I was looking around the MLU I was under the impression that water births were quite common but it turns out that it's only around 4/5% of births there. Had to be induced on the drip anyway but not really considering a water birth this time(I'm 38 weeks).I want an epidural this time.

[Gunpowder]

I had normal birth for DC1 and water birth at home for DC2. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be in the water and just got in for transition/second stage when I felt like I needed pain relief. I think pushing Is easier in the water, I felt in complete control and found it much easier to do little pushes/hold off when needed. Like Pourquoi my MW just let me get on with it. After I delivered the head I felt it rotate round before delivering the shoulders, and then I caught The baby. Was incredible. Worth putting on your birth plan even if you aren't sure.

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

*I hope that didn't come across as bitchy or anything, I didn't mean it to. I know I was bloody lucky to have a straightforward birth I was just explaining what my midwife had been drumming into me for weeks as part of a positive thinking thing.