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?

I have had 3 dc and 2 water births. I would highly recommend it.

DC1 was 2 days early. My waters broke 36 hours before I finally gave birth and I then had a very long and painful back to back labour before having an epidural and ventouse delivery flat on my back on a bed. I needed to have stitches for a tear and it took a while to recover from the effects of the epidural and drip that I had during labour. I had to stay in hospital for a couple of days after.

Next time round I wanted something different and researched water births. DC2 was born in the same hospital as DC1 but in the midwife led unit. The pool was available so I asked to labour in the pool but was not decided on birthing there. It was so peaceful and relaxing that I decided to stay in. DC2 was born after only 2 hours in the pool. It was such a beautiful and empowering experience that next time round I knew I wanted the same again. I had no stitches and just felt amazing afterwards. I went home within 24 hours. We only had to stay that long because DC2 needed to be seen by the paediatrician the next day for a birthmark. They had already finished rounds for the day by the time I had her - otherwise we could probably have gone home that evening.

DC3 was late - 12 days overdue. I was booked in for induction and convinced that I would have a full intervention birth. I had a pessary in the morning, then spent the day walking around while I waited to go into labour. Nothing happened for ages then it finally started after lunch. My contractions were coming thick and fast and I was transferred to the delivery ward. The pool was available so I asked if I could use it. Midwife agreed and pool was filled. I got in and it was instant relief. I could stretch out and the water allowed me to move my hips around gently. DC3 was born after less than hour in the pool. My waters broke and then I had a big push and he popped out!

I lost a lot of blood after DC3 and did not feel so good afterwards - very faint. But got out of the pool and laid down on the floor whilst the midwives dealt with stopping the blood loss. I did not need any kind of transfusion but was very very pale for a couple of weeks! I needed stitches from a minor tear. But was able to go home within 24 hours.

I liked being able to float around between contractions. I pushed for a bit in the water, but felt really hot and bothered, so got out and climbed on to a giant bean bag instead with a fan aimed at me, that for me was more blissful than being in the water. I was only in the water for an hour though when I got the urge to push, so I have a short experience of it.