Water birth experiences?

[AELLE7]

Hi All, so this is my first baby. I am 23 weeks and I really like to do my research lol! I have been looking into water births. I know all the ins and outs technically, but I was just wondering if there was any people who could give first hand account of what it was like and if they would recommend it? Mainly I want to know that it's safe and having a water birth doesn't compromise baby being safely delivered. I am not worried about getting my heart set on it because at the end of the day, I just want my baby to get here safely, but I would quite like a 'best case scenario birth' planned too! Any experiences to share?

Following!
I wanted a water birth with DS1 but he was early. Due DS2 in 7 weeks and would love to hear experiences with wb x

Congratulations! In terms of safety water birth is not recommended if you induced or are high risk for any reason because you will need continuous monitoring (I couldn’t have one with my twins for example) but if you are low risk I don’t think there is any evidence that it’s any more risky.

I was lucky enough to have a water birth with my second baby (home birth) and I loved it. As soon as I got into the water I felt supported and relaxed. The MWs would have done obs on both the baby and me while I was in the water but I wanted to push almost immediately, so I knelt up against the side of the pool and then turned on all fours to deliver DD. After I delivered her head I felt her body rotate and then I pushed her out, it was so calm and felt very slow. Before I caught her she sort of ‘swam’ up to me with her eyes open, it was very magical. I love that I was the first person to touch her.

She was an incredibly chilled baby (toddler, not so much) and I wondered if the birth helped. I didn’t have any tears and no one believes me but it didn’t really hurt (have had three other births that did hurt!).

I’d keep an open mind as some people are determined to have water births and then end up hating labouring in water and vice-versa for others. Obvs it does limit what pain relief you can have but for me it was great pain relief in itself, much better than the G&A I had for DD1 (although I think you can prob have water and G&A).

Good luck!

Whoops, missed out an ‘are’ before induced.

I had a water birth. I really liked it. I never planned on having one..but on the day there was a birthing pool in the delivery room and the midwife asked if I wanted to get in, so I did!

I'm not sure if you can have one if your waters break though? My waters didn't break until I was in the water.

I loved my water birth! And also found that it wasn’t too painful (1st birth). The contractions were more painful than her coming out, I’d rather have pushed her out 10 times! Just a small tear, no stitches.
Of course it’s safe, they wouldn’t let you if it wasn’t As PP said, you can’t have one if you are induced as they will need to monitor you. Although I was classed as high risk and did have one, it depends on the individual circumstances.
I’d recommend a water birth every time, good luck

I tried to have a water birth with ds2. I really loved being in the water, and especially having the warm water from the tap on my back during a contraction. Unfortunately, it was taking too long, and the midwife said she needed to check me. I had to get out, and go to a normal room, where my son was born.
I am currently pregnant with no 3 and am hoping to try again.

It never occurred to me to wonder if it was safe? Why wouldn't it be in the right circumstances? Ie. No induction, epidural, high risk etc

formerbabe my waters had broken when I had my water birth but only a few hours before.

Yes, I had a water birth after my waters had broken then was induced 4 days later. It was great, massively helped with pain and no tears/grazes. You can usually only stay in the water if things are progressing and if no other complications. I would definitely try it if possible, you can always get out if it's not for you.

I wanted a water birth but my obgyn was on Holiers and her stand in wouldn't allow a 4kg first birth in the bath. I laboured in the water though which was nice

formerbabe my waters had broken when I had my water birth but only a few hours before

Oh interesting. When my waters broke in the pool I was told I mustn't get out because they had gone...I have no idea why though? Didn't matter though as my DD was born straight away once they went.

I had a water birth, I really liked it. :) The water felt really soothing and relaxing and I’ll definetly choose to do it again! I can’t imagine giving birth out of the water, I think it would be more painful

Water birth with my first baby in December

Wasn’t planned - I was induced and when I went in to the delivery room it happend to have a birthing pool in there all filled up and ready to go!

I loved it!

The warmth of the water was so relaxing and really helped with the pain. I liked being in the water - it made me feel a little less exposed if that makes sense?!

It was good because you can move around in the water, go from front to back and swish around to keep you moving and comfy

My baby was born, the midwife lifted him up from the water and handed him to me for a cuddle - he was lovely and clean from being born in the water and it was very calm and relaxed for him, he cried a little but seemed very content in the warmth of the water.

I would 100% do it again!!!

I tried for a water birth with dd but she flew out before the tub even had a chance to fill up. (crazy quick delivery)

I had a water birth with ds. It was lovely. The water initially eased my contractions off a tiny bit when i first got in, but after 25 minutes they came back properly and i found the water could support my body into a lovely squatting position and it was a really quick and easy birth.

I think the main thing that helped my labours was doing some ante natal yoga to help with breathing exercises and positions for labour, that was incredibly useful for early labour at home and the latter stages.

If we have another then I'd definitely want to try a water birth again

Thanks so much for all the comments. It's lovely to hear some positive birth stories! I suffer badly with health anxiety and I know labour will be really challenging for me to control that. I am hoping a water birth could relax me but I understand the opposite might happen! I am not sure if I could have one as I am under consultant as my BMI is 31 and I am asthmatic. I hope not or if I can't have a water birth I can at least spend some of my labour in the pool.

Gunpowder -it all depends on the reason for continuous monitoring. Where I work you can go in the pool with monitoring as we have a wireless CTG. Induction doesn't necessarily mean no water birth.

Water can be really good for pain relief. I had my second in the water at home and it was great. With my first I had to get out as didn't push well in the pool. It's defo something I'd recommend trying

Wanted a water birth, the room was available (yay!) and the bloody baby came too quickly for me to get in! They could kept the bath running though so I went in there for a lovely relaxing float around after, while dh held dd. Hoping for one next time but going to go for a homebirth with this pregnancy so that I've got a better chance of actually getting in the water in time!

As I understand it (from watching one born every minute, no medical knowledge!) the problem with water births if you're higher risk is that the monitoring equipment needs to be on you the whole time, and the equipment the nhs can afford isn't waterproof.

Cross post with dreaming - it was an old episode of one born so maybe there's newer equipment in place now!

I laboured in water with my first but didn’t birth.
Absolutely amazing pain relief. Like slipping into a warm cosy blanket on a cold day. I can’t explain it but your whole body goes from tense to relaxed. Whilst it obviously doesn’t take all the pain away, it does take a lot away, plus it’s so much easier to cope with becuse your body isn’t tense and rigid

Well I laboured some of it. I wish I could have done the whole thing! It was long though

I attempted to have a water birth but had to get out for my waters to be broken. I can't say I felt any different when being in the pool, I didn't feel more relaxed or anything but everyone is different. I'm sure some people really like having a water birth.

I was in the pool but they got me out to check if my waters had broken. Turns out they had, but I then got the urge to start pushing and couldn't face walking back across the room to the pool so baby was born on dry land.

I didn't find it massively helped with pain relief but it was a lot easier to get comfortable so worth it for that. I also had gas and air whilst in the pool - again didn't feel that massively helped the pain but was a good focus for breathing!

Aah that’s good dreaming, sorry for the misinformation. Was just repeating info I was told while pg. My local hospital is fab but broke so presumably they don’t have wireless CTG as it’s too £££. Or maybe they do but not for twins? Who knows! I would have loved to have had a twin waterbirth.

I had a waterbirth with my daughter October last year. It was amazing I definitely recommend it! I am hoping for another on with DC2

I am enjoying this thread, I'm 27 weeks atm and have had the idea of a water birth or at least spending some of labour in the pool since before I even got pregnant. I just generally find being in water very relaxing so I think it would suit me. And if not I can always get out! I just hope there is a birthing pool available for me on the day as I think there's only two on the unit.