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

Original poster

Water birth questions

14 replies

chelle85 · 14/06/2017 20:04

I am planning to deliver at a midwife led centre and will have the option of water birth as all the birthing suites have pools unlike the hospital I was originally at which only has one first come first served option.

But there are a few things I am not sure about that would be helpful to know if you have had a water birth before:

  1. Skin to skin contact - do you get out of the pool immediately after birth to do skin to skin? If not how is baby kept warm?
  2. Delivery of placenta - again would it be necessary to get out of pool for this stage?
  3. What did you wear in the pool?
OP posts:
Jenijena · 14/06/2017 20:08

I had immediate cuddles in the water (which is really warm). Then a midwife or my husband held the baby as I stepped out of the pool and moved to the bed, where the placenta was delivered. I wore a tankini top - was worried floating boobs would irritate me...

gandalfspants · 14/06/2017 20:10

I stayed in the pool with DD skin to skin and first feed for nearly an hour, the water is really warm, they wrapped her in a towel (which was wet but warm).

You can deliver the placenta in the pool if it comes naturally. If you have to have the injection you have to get out (I did).

I just wore a longish vest top, some people take a bikini too but none of mine fit by that point.

gandalfspants · 14/06/2017 20:10

*bikini top

DinoMania · 14/06/2017 20:11

Hi, I haven't had a waterbirth myself yet but I am planning on one. From talking to my midwife:

  1. skin to skin can be done in the pool, the water keeps the baby warm so keep he/she under the water close to your body (but with head out of the water!)
  2. yes, usually you would get out to then pass the placenta
  3. I'm just gonna go naked in the pool. But I know others might wear a tankini or bikini top but no bottoms

You can always just use the water as a way to help with the pain control but then later get out to give birth.

Hope that helps 🙂

Bubblysqueak · 14/06/2017 20:12

I started off wearing a tshirt then just a bra as everything irritated my skin.

Blumkin · 14/06/2017 20:14

  1. ds was put on me, I stayed in the water and breast fed him. He was covered with towels.

  2. I didn't have the injection and stayed in the pool (I think?) But stood up so midwife could catch it in a bucket.

  3. naked bottom half obviously and then one of those stretchy sport bras on top

pappers · 14/06/2017 20:15

I stripped naked whilst waiting for the pool to fill up! You really don't give a shit what you wear in labour. I ended up having to get out so pushed in the pool but stood to deliver. I then waddled over to the bed for them to cut the cord still attached (I asked for delayed cord clamping) and had skin to skin on the bed. DD wasn't even weighed until they started stitching me up

feartyfeet · 14/06/2017 20:16

With dc1 - same as above -skin to skin in the pool, delivered placenta out of pool. I just wore a soft nursing bra (can't remember thought process but probably felt more comfortable. I imagine it would be fine without too). DC2 - they didn't have time to fill the pool! (More like a big bath)

grafittiartist · 14/06/2017 20:16

In the nude! We cuddled in the pool, but after a few minutes it doesn't feel as cosy and warm as it did do when you got in. I was happy to get out- both wrap in towels, and keep cuddling. I would really recommend it.

HumpHumpWhale · 14/06/2017 20:21

I was naked. Skin to skin in the pool but then I was bleeding loads and the placenta got stuck so they got me out and DH did skin to skin with DS. We have some nice blurry pictures of DS on DH's hairy chest, with the tiny hat they tried to put on him popping off his giant vernix-y head.

EsmesBees · 14/06/2017 20:29

I was naked too. Skin to skin and cord cut while still in the pool. Then they gave me the injection and the placenta started coming out immediately, so I had to get out quickly. I wish I'd gone for the natural placenta delivery so I could have stayed in longer.

Original poster
chelle85 · 14/06/2017 20:32

Thanks for the replies. I've only just arranged to go over to the birthing centre so will speak to midwife at booking about these things but good to have an idea

They promote physiological third stage so sounds like placenta couls be delivered in pool. Just thinking that I would probably rather be out the pool for skin to skin and first feed but don't really want to hand baby over while I get dried off

Also seen videos of the baby crawl to the breast and this apparently promotes good latch and not sure how this would work in pool birth partly because it seems to be to do with mothers nipples smelling like the amniotic fluid.

Too much information makes me overthink everything lol

OP posts:
kel1234 · 14/06/2017 20:34

I was considering a water birth, and I was in the pool for over an hour which really helped me. But due to a 4 day early labour I was physically exhausted and struggling to kept my eyes open, so I had a pethadine injection, which meant I had to get out.
So can't help with the questions really, but I wore a maternity tankini, top and bottoms. Obviously I didn't have to take the bottoms off as I wasn't ready to push in the pool.

WishUponAStar88 · 14/06/2017 20:35
  1. skin to skin in the pool, water nice and warm. Baby had a breastfeed in the pool too.
  2. I stayed in the pool for placenta delivery. Initially kept hold of ds but it took a while to come out so have him to dh essentially so I could have a wriggle around to get it out Grin
  3. I wore a bikini top. Quick labour though and midwife seemed a little surprised that I wanted to wear anything. Took the bikini off for skin to skin as soon as he was born so probably should've just gone naked tbh.
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