Water birth

[Tans1987]

Hello ladies
I was wondering if anyone has had or considering a water birth? It's my first baby and I really think I would like one but just wanted some advice?
Xxx

Yes I did with my son, hoping for another with #2 due on Friday. Ask away!

Yes i have had. 3 water births. I loved them

Can't advise but keen to see responses...I'm pg with my first and like the idea of a water birth, but worried absolutely terrified about the lack of pain relief!

Sky I had no pain relief at all. Believe me, I never thought I wouldn't have anything! It's possible, but I didn't plan it that way, but I would love to replicate it this time!

I had gas and air in the pool

I had 2 waterbirths at home in our bath. Had gas & air.

Really want a water birth! Have SPD so hoping it will ease that pain if nothing else! I'm guessing you can always get out if you decide you needed an epidural ? I'm just nervous the pools will be taken by other ladies on the day, also I think the conditions have to be perfect so no blood pressure issues or you can't be induced etc!

I was desperate for one. I ended up with an EMCS

I would absolutely go for it, they sound lovely to me. Best of luck b

I had one. I wasn't keen on the idea but actually I liked it. You can have ha and air in the water so you do get some pain relief. I've not had any other type of birth but honestly I didn't need more pain relief than the gas I don't know if the water helped but it was nice.

I wanted one - and I did use the pool for an hour or so but the midwife said it was making me too relaxed and got me out......

I would love to have one. Can you have one if you are induced?

I had one first time round. Amazing pain relief. I went kind of "ooff" when I got in. MW said every woman does that. It's the relief. Had gas and air too but didn't really want or need it.
I also had awful back pain. Back to back baby! DH poured warm water over my back. Amazing!

I had one slightly by accident. Hopped in the pool for a bit to try it out. Thought I'd get out to push. Didn't want to get out and had DS in there. Had shitloads of G&A. It still hurt. I was v tired (long early labour) and I liked being able to float about a bit and rest my head on the side, and not having to hold up my (considerable) body weight.

I wanted one. DD1 I laboured in the pool with gas and air and found it great, both for the pain and managing my temperature on a roasting hot day. But had to get out and go to theatre for forceps, it transpired she wasn't at the right angle to be born without help. DD2 I tried getting in the pool but it didn't help at all. I think maybe my labour (which ended up being much quicker) was too advanced by the time I tried to get in. If I were to go for a DC3 I'd still try water again, but am definitely stopping at 2!

I had an amazing water birth. Probably got to 8cm without pain relief, got in the pool and had about two more contractions and then my body took over and started pushing. About 20 mins of pushing and ds was born, no pain relief and not even a graze. Was lovely and will definitely have one again if we are to have another.

I had an induction and epidural with DS1 and felt totally out of control. With DS2 my labour started naturally. I managed to stay at home until I was almost fully dilated as when I got to the hospital I was 10cm. I went straight into the water bath as soon as it was full and honestly my pain was cut in half, it was the most wonderful feeling. I didn't have gas and air as I wasn't comfortable leaning over the edge of the pool to have it and mainly focused with my face down in the water - it helped me regulate my breathing somehow! I would definitely recommend you try it. You can always get out if you don't like it

Good luck

I tried Th pool when labouring with my Dd, and it helped with the pains I felt in my back but I got out and ended up giving birth on dry land (my whole birth experience only lasted 3 hours though, so I'm probably not the best to give advice on using it for longer periods of time!!)
I'm having a home birth this time round with DC2 and have booked to hire a pool purely because I want to contain the mess! I can see it being easier to just pump away the bloody/mucusy water than trying to clean up towels/sheets/absorbant pads etc.

I had a water birth, it was by far the best, I loved it, being in the water relaxes you and does ease the pain. I only had gas and air and she was born in the water! The midwives made me get out for an examination and the difference in the pain whilst I was out of the water was huge, I got back in as soon as I could. I would do it again in a heartbeat

I wanted a water birth but didn't get to hospital on time and was already 10cm so there wasn't time to fill it. So don't wait at home too long!! Will try again with dc2 :)

Yes you can have one if you're induced as long as the pessary thing gets labour going and you don't need a drip. I had a water birth with gas and air. It was fine and I had been absolutely terrified of childbirth.

What smudged said

I had both of my boys in the water. It was absolutely incredible and if we have any more children I will definitely opt for another. The pain relief just getting in was amazing, I had horrendous back pain with DS2 and the warmth helped massively. I also liked the fact that there is a MW in the room checking baby every now and then but other than that you're left to it. I can't stand people touching or fussing me when I'm in pain. I picked up both my sons from the water, I was the first to hold them, not a midwife which was lovely :-) highly recommended. Just don't be freaked out (if you deliver in the water) by the amount of blood when you get out. I totally freaked when I stood up after DS1, but the water mixed with blood makes it look 100x worse! I was prepared with DS2!
We are only allowed water births where we are if it is a low risk birth and the only pain relief is gas and air. No inductions allowed x

I wanted one with dd but same as posters above I arrived at the hospital fully dilated and they didn't have time to fill the pool for me. Im pregnant again and really hope I get my water birth this time...think I'l try getting to hospital earlier!

Our hospital only let low risk pregnancy have a water birth and not if you are induced.

I had one and it was incredible. As soon as I got in the pool mid contraction the pain went from a 9 to about a 6. It get incredible. Within one minute my waters went and I went from 4cms to 10cms. Straight away needed to push and DS was born 16 minutes later.
Would definitely recommend.

I had a water birth with gas & air. Getting in the pool felt like a huge relief, but my waters broke at the same time so that might also have helped.

I felt so fortunate that I was able to give birth this way. The water calmed me and let me focus. My body took over and baby was born quickly and calmly.

Would definitely go for it again. Good luck xx