Water birth stories?

[minilemonade]

So far I've only really heard good ones and I'm considering going down this route if all goes to plan. If anyone's had one and wouldn't mind telling me about it I'd really appreciate it!

Bloody hell @strawberryalarmclock I'm so sorry! I'm glad everything ended up okay but that must have been scary

Thanks minileminade I'm definitely fine 13 years on but was very deeply affected at the time and sadly had pnd which undoubtedly was linked to such a traumatic birth.
Ds is a happy healthy teenager now and apart from some very vivid images that I will never ever forget, I mostly never give it a second thought.

I was a failed water birth- I just couldn't stand the feel on my skin of the water. They took longer to fill the pool than I spent in it - I bounced out!! I know it's supposed to be awesome but a minute was too much for me, I just couldn't. I didn't try with dc 2 and 3. I thought my skin would come off, it was vile!
It's not the be all and end all of birthing and not for everyone, though you'd think so from the stories!

I laboured in water but had to get out to deliver. It definitely helped with the pain and the water was regularly topped up to keep warm. I liked that I had my own space. I had gas and air and diamorphine and the pain was manageable. Unfortunately DS got stuck and his heart rate started to drop so I had to get out and he was delivered via ventouse. I was hoping a water birth would reduce the risk of tearing but unfortunately I needed an episiotomy for the ventouse. I'm still glad I laboured in the water though.

I had a planned water birth at home. It was a good birth with no pain relief. It was over 17 years ago so it may have changed a bit since then but I would recommend a water birth

I’m another one with a positive story!

I’d gotten in the bath while I was labouring at home and got straight into the pool when I arrived at hospital. I just knew I needed to be in the water.

Definitely helped with the pain, but was a bit frustrating having to move positions for the midwife to listen in after every contraction.

I honestly didn’t want to get out after I’d delivered, would of happily been in there all night if they’d have let me! 😂

I really liked it. I tried for a home birth so I had the pool at home. It really helped with pain. However, I ended up being blue lighted to hospital later but it wasn't anything to do with the water I don't think.

DH dumped the pool in the ensuite bathroom as it was huge and he couldn't think what else to do with it in a hurry - I got a shock 4 days later when they finally let me out of hospital and I went into the bathroom and saw this big black rubbery mass in the bath!

I would think the ones in hospitals might have chairlift things like in accessible swimming pools? As gosh @strawberry that is a frightful tale and I'm glad it turned out okay in the end.

Absolutely could not recommend it enough ( although I have nothing to compare it to ) unfortunately I could not actually deliver in the water as my DS heartbeat had reduced so they had to whip me out. As soon as I came out of the water the pain and pressure multiplied by about 10.
While I was in the pool, we had mood lighting in the room, it was so good. If I was to have another it would be bloomin mandatory we had the birthing pool again.

I had a home water birth!

I went into labour naturally at 40+18. I had tests every 3 days from 40+10 to check placenta and other things and got the green light. There was pressure to be induced "just because", but that wasn't good enough for me.
I had my first contraction at 7am and gave birth at 8.20pm that evening.

It was text book. Very intense. Needed no pain relief. Daughter born 9lbs 9oz

Placenta was buried under an apple tree.

It was almost too much to bare with contractions, but when the midwives arrived at home and examined me, I was 9cm. As soon as I got in the pool, the intensity halved. It was so good I nearly cried with the relief. I felt supported in the water. The warmth was so soothing. Giving birth in water was absolutely incredible and beautiful. I felt one with nature :)

Interesting read. I didn't have time for my planned water birth. Dh got plugs in and water turned on and that was that. Midwife in baby born!
Tbh, thinking about it and reading some stories, I'm probably one of those who would have hated the feel of it on my skin. Also, worried about the getting out and dry part. I was so dizzy and light headed after even though no major blood loss or tearing. And the involuntary shivering...
Will keep reading on here for more stories to make my decision for dc2!

I had a water birth, it's my only experience of birth so I can't compare it to anything else but here goes.

(Looong and not good, TLDR at bottom)

Labour started in the afternoon, went in at about 5am because although contractions were still about 5/6 minutes apart I wasn't coping with the pain. 4cm dilated and 'allowed' to get in the pool because I wasn't coping with the pain.

Gas and air, so much gas and air, I was high as a kite, using it when I shouldn't have between contractions and forgetting to breathe during them. My jaw was sore for days afterwards from biting down on the tube. I couldn't resist the urge to push even though I knew I shouldn't be, which was knackering and really painful. I became convinced I was going to die, but I was so out of it in the gas I couldn't really hear what people were saying to me so couldn't be reassured, or get out, or tell anyone what was going on. At one point I though I might actually be dead and in some sort of hell.

At another point I tried to slip under the water thinking that would mean they had to get me out and transfer me to delivery where the better drugs were, but DH held me up!

The low lighting and the gas and the playlist DH had made combined to make it seem like a really bad trip (not that I'd know).

When it was actually time to push it all became a bit clearer and easier, though I think I was told 'one more' about five times.

DD arrived at 09:59 and all was well. We stayed in the pool for first feed, until I had to get out because the placenta was stubborn. That was awful too. Stitched up (almost a 3rd degree tear - later got infected). Couldn't wee (vomiting all liquids) so not allowed out until 10 at night. Went home still in a daze, had flashbacks and episodes of thinking I was dying/dead for about 48 hours.

I think if I'd not got in the water I'd probably have asked to be transferred to where the good drugs were, but whether or not it would have been a better experience I don't know. I think probably not, I imagine I'd have had epidural (I wouldn't have minded that but didn't want the increased risk of intervention that came with it) and an episiotomy, which I really didn't want,

If I was to do it again (I'm not, this plus HG put me right off), I'd tell myself to go easy on the gas, just seen someone had diamorphine, I was told this wasn't an option in the pool. If I could have had that it would have been ace (had it with pneumonia and it was magic).

TLDR: I had a lovely water birth on paper, but actually felt like it was the most traumatic thing I've ever experienced, go easy on the gas.

2 water births here! Used gas and air with DS1 (and he was back to back- ouch!) he was 8lbs 11oz, DS2 I used hypnobirthing and my waters broke just as I got in the pool and he arrived 20 mins later! he was 9lbs 3oz

I loved it!! As soon as I got in the pool the contraction intensity halved and was entered into a state of calm...dare I say I enjoyed my labours!

Ds 1 was a water birth and although it definitely didn't take away the pain (he was back-to-back and it was not easy) it was really comforting. I am the sort of person who loves baths, loves being in the sea etc and it just felt natural to me. I tore a bit but who knows whether that wouldn't have happened 'on dry land'. I got through it with water and a bit of gas and air. DS 2 was so quick they'd just turned the taps on and out he popped. But they let it fill while I delivered the placenta and then let me have a dip anyway as I'd been cheated of my water birth! (Think they felt a bit guilty because they wouldn't believe I was in labour when I knew I was!) . I would highly recommend it if you like being in water.

I've had two water births and would absolutely recommend them. First at hospital, the second at home. You can buy great water pool kits for £100. The water is great for pain relief and birthing a baby in water gives them a gentle introduction to life outside of the womb. Would 100% recommend it x

So. I had a mixed experience... in that my water BIRTH was fantastic, a really good experience. I basically transferred from my bath at home to the pool there, I got into hospital at 7cm and by the time the pool was full I was ready to push. So. All good, no painkillers, etc.

But post birth I had a massive obstetric bleed, and was raced down the corridor (to the delivery suite) and then into surgery to remove retained products.

It was all fine - I feel very positively about the whole experience - but from my own personal experience I would be hesitant about going to any MLU which didn't have a full consultant led unit very nearby. If it goes wrong - and sometimes it does, no matter how complication free you are up to then - it's nice to have the doctors nearby when you need them!

I planned to have a water birth at the mlu, but had a pre labour rupture of membranes so wasn't allowed.

Having said that, by the time I gave birth I had been awake for over 50 hours (membranes went & contractions started for about 9 hours through the first night and then stopped again). By the time I gave birth, DH was having to lift my chin onto my chest each time I pushed as I was so exhausted. I honestly think I would have drowned if I had gone in the pool in that state!

Don't get your heart set to much on any particular birth plan, know your preferences and feel confident stating then, but be prepared for things to be very different.

My consultant is/was massively into water births so very keen for me to try. Unfortunately, I ended up with having a massive placental abruption with DC1 in the pool, I don't really know if it helped with the pain as the abruption happened quite quickly after getting in the pool. I then tried again with DC2 and didn't like having to take my TENS machine off.

So didn't work for me.

Following with interest as I’m considering a water birth if possible for dc2. I was hoping that it might reduce the chance of tearing. In my 1st birth I really wanted to deliver her on all 4s but they flipped me over at the last min so they could see what was happening and 2nd degree tear with only a 6lbs 5 baby! This one is full term and much bigger so I’m a bit . I love being in water normally and find it very soothing. First thing I do for conmfort is get in the bath. But i guess you have no idea how you’ll feel before labour starts.

I had a waterbirth and for pain relief, it was amazing. I was low risk, first baby and giving birth on due date. However, I progressed quite quickly - two hours from four cm to fully dilated - and once I started pushing, the baby came very quickly, didn’t have time to turn and his shoulder got stuck which took a couple of minutes to be picked up on. The water didn’t drain quickly enough for the midwife to assist so I had to try and get out with a stuck baby. Gravity brought him out as I climbed out but I had a third degree tear. My placenta then broke up on delivery so I had only held him for a couple of minutes before he was taken off me. I had to wait an hour to go theatre as my skin was saturated. My delivery notes said there was nine minutes between the head being born and the rest of him. I think I’ve been lucky in that I’ve healed well (the surgeon told me he was very pleased with his work!) but I wouldn’t give birth in the pool again. I would get out once the pushing starts. Also, my hospital only has two pools so there’s always the chance they won’t be available anyway. I’m in Scotland so it’s the hospital or the house here, nothing in between.

I had a waterbirth for both my labours. It really helped with the pain but it did slow everything down. With DS1 I managed to birth his head and then my contractions just stopped. Thankfully the midwife was really calm and I had another contraction about 5 mins later and pushed the rest of him out but DH says there were some very worried looks for a few minutes. Everything was fine though.
With DS2 he was back to back, so the pain wasn’t eased so much(!) I still think back to DS2 and kick myself for not getting out and taking all the drugs (the pain was torture compared to DS1) but I am still glad he was born in the pool.

I'm another example where DD's head came out but then contractions stopped. In end they were lifting me up to stand to get out when the rest of her came - cord round neck seemed to have been the cause, but all was absolutely fine and I stayed in the pool to deliver placenta I think (memory gets a bit hazy there).

Despite the scary moment at the end it was absolutely worth it for me, and would definitely try it again. I also found kneeling/standing in the shower (full blast pressure, not too hot) really helpful at home and when first admitted at 4cm, before I was allowed to get in the pool at 6cm. And once in the pool it was only 1hr40 before DD came.

Had my 2nd rd in the pool. It was brilliant. First birth ended up with all the drugs and interventions as I had PROM and an infection.
With dd2 I got in the pool as soon as we got to the MLU and she was born 3hrs later at a whopping 11lb 7oz! Had they predicted her weight they would have insisted I delivered on the ward so I'm really glad it was a surprise! So much easier to move in the water.
My midwife did try to tell me that studies have shown that the pool and G&A are as effective as an epidural when it comes to pain relief...I can confirm that is sbsutely not true but the pain was very manageable and felt purposeful iyswim. Good luck@

Oh this is really interesting... The same happened with me. Contractions were very close together until I pushed his head out then nothing happened. Midwife asked if I had a contraction yet and I said no. I think I panicked a little and pushed anyway. Eventually the contraction came and he came out unaffected but I wonder if that was a major contribution to why I teared badly...

I had water births with both DDs, would highly recommend. Had a bit of gas and air as well, that was it, and I'm a wuss when it comes to pain. Both labours were quite short and I think being in the water helped. I do love a bath