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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Are there any negitives to using a birthing pool?

52 replies

Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 13:29

There's only one birthing pool at my hospital, but I want it. Is anyone else having a birthing pool? Or does anyone think it's absurd?

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pagwatch · 07/10/2007 13:41

I don't think it is absurd but I couldn't use one. I had hoped, and tried to book for my DS1 ( 1st babe) but my birth was really quick and when hubby ran a bath for me to have a quick calm down before going to hosp it totally freaked me out. i couldn't bear being in the water !!! Never expected that but it was how I reacted. Probably just me ( but it was right up there with all the other elements of my birthing plan that looked so great on paper but bore no relationship to the reality of what actually happened)

Original poster

Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 14:16

That's really interesting. I'm very unpredictable so maybe I'll be the same. I have a hot bath with relaxation bubbles, candles and a relaxation CD every night now that I'm pregnant so that I feel relaxed and safe in the hope that when I have the baby I'll feel I want to be in water.

OP posts:

primigravida · 07/10/2007 14:41

Some of my friends who have had babies recently used birthing pools and they raved about how much it helped with the pain. I'm going to give it a go when I go into labour and if I don't feel comfortable I'll just get out. I can't really think of any negatives.

belgo · 07/10/2007 14:43

I had dd2 in a birthing pool. I did not find it helped with the pain. But it did help with my mobility - I could get into a comfortable position for the contractions and between the contractions.

belgo · 07/10/2007 14:43

And after the birth, I couldn't hold dd2 in the pool as I was scared of dropping her into the water.

Snaf · 07/10/2007 14:46

I don't think are 'negatives' as such but, as pagwatch says, some women are surprised to find that they don't actually like being in the pool during labour. But the great thing is that, if you don't like it, you can just get out!

Generally though, I'd say pools are a great thing. There is good evidence that they can really help with relaxation and pain relief. I just wish hospitals had more birth pool facilites so more women could take advantage of them.

belgo · 07/10/2007 14:49

Also with dd2 I got into the pool too soon, and that possibly slowed down labour - also I was so comfortable in the pool, I didn't mobilise very much at all which possibly contributed to my labour being longer and the baby staying in OP position, making it a lot harder for her to come out.

My first dd1 was born on 'dry land' and that was a far easier labour and birth then dd2 in a birthing pool.

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 07/10/2007 14:50

I had a home waterbirth with BabyDragon last Feb. Fabulous. Did b*gger all for the pain IMO but it supported my bodyweight and gave me mobility which I'd lost with both DSs labour as my legs collapsed with contractions. Not an issue with the pool as the water supported me so I could stay on all 4's.

The privacy it gave was good too. Made me feel secure knowing everything would be contained!

I did hold DD in the pool whilst waiting for the cord to stop pulsating and I remember gazing down at her screwed up little newborn face I handed her over to my mum whilst I delivered the placenta in the pool too.

One negative is that you do have to wait to "dry out" before any repair work can be done!

sfxmum · 07/10/2007 14:51

I like the idea but part of me thinks it increases the risk of catching an infection I just don't trust it to be clean. a warm moist environment does not inspire confidence.
but I can be paranoid

Original poster

Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 14:52

I do too, if I ever win the lottery I'm going to make sure my local hospital has more birthing pools.

I do really like the idea and I hope I get the chance to give it a try. If I hate it, I'll get out.

OP posts:

Snaf · 07/10/2007 14:55

Good point, belgo. There's evidence to say that women who get into the pool too early (i.e. before their cervix is dilated at least 4cm), or who stay in for more than a couple of hours at a time, may find their labour slows down.

Labouring in warm water increases the level of endorphins (the body's natural pain killers) and oxytocin in the body. It's also suggested that waiting for really active labour before getting into the pool will heighten the 'pain relief' effect.

beautifuldays · 07/10/2007 14:57

i think the only major negative to using one is tht you may be more likely to tear. just because midwife can't see what's going on as well and therefore can't control the delivery of the head as well. maybe consider labouring in water and then get out for the actual delivery?

might not be a problem for you anyway, just the experience of a few of my friends.

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 07/10/2007 14:58

I had to beg my MW to let me back into the pool. She thought it too early. I was right though, DD was born within an hour

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 07/10/2007 14:59

sfxmum, your vagina is "a warm moist environment"

belgo · 07/10/2007 15:00

the midwife can still feel the baby's head coming out, so I don't think it increases the risk of tearing. In fact it may decrease the risk because you can get into a better position to give birth in.

belgo · 07/10/2007 15:01

It's very hard to get out of a birthing pool when you feel the need to push!

Snaf · 07/10/2007 15:02

Actually, that's not true, beautiful days. Overall, women who give birth in water experience more intact perineums and fewer severe tears than those who give birth 'on dry land'.

Water helps to soften the perineal tissues; it also allows women to get into better positions to avoid tearing. There's also a theory that the water pressure helps the head to deliver more slowly.

Of course, that's not going to be everyone's experience, but lots of studies have shown it to be the case in general.

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 07/10/2007 15:03

I tore exactly the same in the pool as I did when I had DS2 on dry land.

Snaf · 07/10/2007 15:05

Soupy.

But the evidence...

belgo · 07/10/2007 15:05

dragon - I also tore exactly the same on dry land and in the birthing pool.

Some women find birthingpools great, but I found it a disappointment. Hardly the earth mother experience I'd been hoping for.

belgo · 07/10/2007 15:06

oh you're soupdragon

belgo · 07/10/2007 15:07

also, I lost a lot of blood in the pool, turning the water red. Dh had the job of pumping the water out (it was a home water birth), and the pump disconected, spraying red water over our wallpaper.....

mybabysinthegarden · 07/10/2007 15:08

My sil had the same as belgo, i.e. it caused her labour to slow down. I still wanted one though, but couldn't as my waters broke early. Don't know what the setup is at your hosp. but at mine the room with the pool also had a bed so you could always hop out if you changed your mind!

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 07/10/2007 15:19

What I meant, Snaf, is that I didn't tear any worse than on dry land! the tear was along the repair line from DS2

sfxmum · 07/10/2007 15:28

dragon possible risk of infection is normally cited as a negative on the pros/cons of water birth.
I do realise it is quite small but it just gives me the creeps

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