Water birth

[Relaxing2]

Been recommended to have a water birth what is your experience like how soon do you get out to deliver placenta after baby born ect ect

I had quite a bit of time in the water holding my baby before I had to get out and deliver the placenta. I absolutely loved my water birth. It didn't really reduce the pain but it's so soothing being in the water rather than sitting/laying on a hard bed or chair. I would definitely have another water birth if possible if I had a third child.

@Relaxing2 I found being wet too odd and it made me feel vulnerable (though think the midwives made the pool far to cold as it was a very new thing 8 long years ago).

But I used it post birth and held my daughter in there and it was lovely to freshen up, float, steam off my undercarriage

So i recommend having one around, all midwife lead centers seems to have them these days. I had the injection and my placenta came withing 5 minutes of giving birth so I guess it depends if you have that as well or wait for it to come naturally. Go with the flow i say

helped with pain MASSIVELY. It was like being dipped into a warm comfort blanket after being out in the cold. I remember the pain slipping off me. However lots of people can’t do it, so just get in a bath - most wards have them. Even if you can’t deliver there, you can labour in there

It relaxed my contractions so much i had to get out. They faded and i wasnt progressing. As soon as i got out i delivered within 20 mins. This happened with both my births meaning my birth plan never went to plan.

I had a water birth 6yrs ago. would definitely recommend. agree with above poster that it probably didn't ease the pain that much but was definitely nicer and more relaxing.

I can't rember how long exactly it took for the placenta to come out but it was definitely wasn't a long time.

a beautiful experience all around and would 100% recommend.

I laboured in the water but I wasn’t pushing hard enough so I had to get out to deliver.

Helped massively with pain/ relaxation for me. I had both mine at home in a birthing pool with no pain relief. Couldn’t have done that without the water, I don’t think.

I stayed in the pool for a while afterwards. Did the whole delayed cord cutting thing, etc.

@Closetlibrarian being in the pool afterwards was so nice wasn't it? It was absolute bliss for me, even though I hadn't enjoyed it during my contractions, but I really think it was too cold that first time they filled it. Plus they left the plug out so it took ages to fill up it was a very new gizmo at the time

Would 100% recommend a water birth. I found it relaxing and being by in water it took my mind off the pain. Also made me feel less exposed/more relaxed about being in labour. I was in the tub for around 20mins post birth, snuggling with my little boy before I got out to deliver placenta etc

3rd baby I had water birth. Best of the three. Had no pain relief (was quick though) after ds was born we had about 20 mins then I wanted to get out. Didn't have the placenta injection (opted to have it but midwife just played it by ear and I didn't need it) was out of water maybe 5 mins when placenta was delivered.

I had two home water births, they were fabulous. It's amazing how much the water helps with the pain, I didn't need any other pain relief. With the first one I got out after about 10 minutes and delivered the placenta pretty much immediately. The second one we'd made a conscious decision to delay cord cutting so it was more like 20 minutes and again delivered the placenta straight away. I'd planned to have the injection for the third stage but didn't have enough time!

Another vote for water births! Absolutely wonderful for me. I stayed in for a bit and then got out. Once each baby was out though, I didn't want to hang around!