Water birth

[uor24]

I really love the idea of a water birth with just gas and air - at the minute this is my ideal birthing plan. Has anybody else had a water birth? What would you say you found to be the pros and cons? Any experiences and advice would be much appreciated!

I was set for one with my first but sadly ended in emergency section. It was amazing. I loved every min in the pool. Was night time. Lovely calm dim lights at the birth centre! Shame I didn’t give birth there but I’m glad I got to go in it xx

Currently 35w with first baby and am hoping for the same as you, so eager to see what others say. There's only one birthing pool in my local hospital so hoping its available when I do go into labour!
I also worry that you can't be monitored as closely when in the tub- anyone have this issue?

I didn’t have time for any other pain relief and the pool was the only option (apart from gas and air). Was in there for an hour or so before baby was born and loved it. Obviously didn’t take the pain away but it felt like instant relief sinking down into the water when I first got in. Can’t actually think of any cons! Not sure if I’d have loved it if labour had been longer and I’d gone all wrinkly though

Unfortunately I ended up having to have forceps (nothing to do with the water, just as baby was the wrong way round!), but I laboured from 5cm to 10 in the pool. I LOVED it. Honestly, as soon as I got in I felt relief, I enjoyed bobbing about and the gas and air was enough to take the edge off. The midwife took babys heart rate whilst I was in the water, but I did have to get out for examinations, not overly frequently but take a nice warm towel or dressing gown would be my recommendation. The only thing I regret is that I didn't use one at the hospital, I would go for one there if you can so if you decide you would like more pain relief you can, or if you need extra assistance you don't have to be blue lighted. Some people hate them though, so go in with an open mind and remember if you don't like it you can always just get out.

Im high risk this time due to 1st being a 34 weeker. I was B strep positive last time too but hoping for a water birth or at least for pain management with this one. I have consultant thursday so hoping ill be given the thumbs up. If not ill be finding a bath and getting in that instead aha

I had a water birth for my second. I never had any physical examinations - I think the midwives knew by the sounds and movements I was making what stage I was at. 50 mins after getting in our son was born.
Hugely different to my first augmented labour - I felt like it was more private, as if the water created a blanket or something, even though it was obviously clear. Luckily I didn't have to get out until after he was born.
Definitely recommend it - I think fondly of my labour. I was disappointed as I'd planned one with my first which didn't happen so do try to keep an open mind!

I had a water birth with my first. Like the previous posters, I would definitely recommend it. I laboured fairly quickly but had a good hour or two in the pool and delivered ds in the water.

You should prepare that it is not hot like a bath, just exact body temperature.

Pros are that it generally creates a more relaxed environment. It's less 'medicalised' as midwives tend to just leave you to do your thing unless they have a reason for concern. I had no tears in the water and found the natural position of being on my knees helped with delivery. Also baby comes out fairly clean in a water birth. 😂

The only 'cons' I would suggest to you are that you are that there are a huge host of factors that can prevent you from having one. So pinning your hope on an ideal birth is a bad idea. With my 2nd child, his heart rate was accelerated and he needed too much monitoring to go in the pool. And while I was initially disappointed, it turns out that the pool only really helps with the general labouring. There is nothing that can really help ease the feeling of a crowning baby except, I assume, an epidural.

And with my first child, another woman arrived at maternity assessment declaring she wanted a pool birth, just as I was being wheeled up to the only pool. So I was acutely aware that she was going to be disappointed. And had I arrived half an hour later then I would have been the one who was too late.

Good luck to you op. I hope everything goes smoothly and you get the chance to experience it in the pool.

At my hospital they only allow you to use the pool if you have zero complications and come into the hospital at least 4cm dilated and so more women can use it, it’s only allowed for the birth of the baby. Women are taken out to deliver the placenta elsewhere.

I had 3 water births. I would recommend them. I found for the actual pushing bit they were great. I enjoyed that weightless feeling and could be in any position to push, belly down or belly up. I laboured standing up and just being mobile. Slow walks, some stairs, hanging over a yoga ball, standing playing connect 4, etc. I found gravity really useful to get the baby to come down. Being mobile was also a distraction from the contractions. Placenta always delivered out of the pool. Probably only spent an hour or so in the pool with each birth. Got out immediately afterwards to clean up, deliver placenta and hop in bed with the new baby.

I loved my water births as much as you can love labour.

For my first I was in the pool for around 50 mins (I labour fast!) and as soon as I got in the relief was immense. I won't pretend that it took away the pain, but it definitely helped as did the gas and air.
I delivered the placenta outside of the pool.

For my second a week ago I also had a water birth (kind of)
I again laboured fast. I was only in active labour for about 50mins and considering I live 30 mins away from the hospital I only actually got 2 mins in the pool to deliver (thank god they had already run it ready)
No gas and air or anything as there was no time. I also sat in the pool holding my son to deliver the placenta naturally.
Again I felt an instant relax of my body as soon as I hit the water and my husband commented how I seemed to change as soon as I got in.

I would recommend having a water birth if you can, but find out your hospital policy and also be prepared for alternatives as often there are a fair few restrictions.

I had my baby in a pool at home. Being in the water did help with the pain, but the biggest thing was that I could move - before then, I’d found that I just couldn’t change position at all during contractions. I managed on gas and air.

I’ll warn you, the water turned fairly opaque with the blood (and poo!) though

Yes I had a water birth last month with my first and it was soooo lovely. Everyone who asks can't believe that I speak of labour as 'lovely' but it really was! I had contractions at home for 24 hrs and went into hospital and was 5cms dilated. They popped waters for me and said 'get straight into pool if you want'. I never planned a water birth or had a birth plan, but literally lept into the water!
I love the water and am literally a water baby. It actually reminded me of holidays being in the pool (splashing around) and think it took my mind else where. I only had gas and air, and the midwife only checked baby's heart beat once and as he was so calm that's the only check baby needed. Baby was born after 2hrs in the pool. My partner was holding the gas for me at the side of the pool so played a huge part in the birth which was great for us both.

If I ever have any more kids I'd defiantly have a water birth. The other good thing is that as only had gas and air the recovery is great, I was out and about the same day and haven't really stopped since.

Good luck! Xxxx

No negatives for me. I gave birth in the bath rather than the pool. I arrived at the hospital and requested the birthing pool but the midwife didn’t think there would be time and would the bath be ok. I said if I got in the bath I wouldn’t be getting out and I didn’t. Same as birthing pool just smaller. Can’t have asked for a better birthing experience, so don’t be put off if the pool is being used get yourself in the bath!

I wanted a water birth.

Pool was being used whilst I was in labour so I couldn't.

Just wanted to say that hopefully you do get the water birth, but if you dont, dont fret. I still had the best birth - I was so happy with it. Even if it doesnt quite go to plan, the key is to be flexible and go with the flow as much as possible.

The pool was not available for my first birth. It ended in an emcee.

For my second birth I was only allowed to labour in the pool and with continuous monitoring as it was a high risk birth (vbac, big baby and my high bmi). The water was an amazing pain relief. I had low lights on in the room, led candles in the side of the pool and a disco light in the water. I had gas and air in the water too.

Thanks OP for posting this, I'm only 16 weeks with 3rd baby but am considering a water birth, circumstances allowing. I just have a couple of questions for others, when pushing with DS I definitely managed to poo on the bed 🙄 what do they do if there's poo floating about in the pool? And also I liked the idea of birthing in a pool as water would help me and baby to be a bit cleaner but if you have to get out to deliver the placenta I assume you just get covered in blood again?

I had a water birth with gas and air, the feeling of relief when you slip into the water is unreal. I was 6cm when I arrived at the hospital, and 2 hours later he was here. I couldn't recommend it more. Fingers crossed you get to experience it😊

With regards to poo... My mom got one of those card board sick bowls and just scooped it out, I did even notic/care at the time x

I laboured in water with all three of my sons. DS2 was born in the bath at home. I enjoyed it and the experience was one of the greatest of my life.