Questions / worries about getting a waterbirth - what are your experiences?

[Spaghettiamaretti]

I’m 37+3 with DC3 and I’ve always wanted a water birth. I couldn’t have one with DC1 as he was preterm (36 weeks) and with DC2 I had high bp so was induced.
This pregnancy has been fine so far, I’ve had a couple of episodes of high bp but it’s came down on its own which hasn’t been a concern for my consultant. I’ve had some reduced movement but everything confirmed fine on scans. So, medically all is ok for a waterbirth.

My only concern is that with with DC2, though I was induced it only took the pessary, within about an hour or two they had to take it out because I was in full blown labour. It was about 3 hours from first twinge to DS being born. I know the pessary could have sped it up, but if I did have another fast labour im worried I wouldn’t make it in time to get in the pool. So I’m just wondering those who have had fast labours have you still managed to get in in time? Do midwives try their best to make it happen?
I’m so desperate to get a waterbirth and just have a lovely experience for what is likely my last baby. I know how unpredictable birth can be so I know I shouldn’t pin my hopes on a particular type of birth. Most people I know who have had babies have had some sort of reason why they couldn’t have one, whether it’s a medical problem or there were no pools available etc.

So I’m just wondering what are your experiences with water births? When asking people I know it seems like such a rare experience.

Do I need to have a birth plan in place to have a pool birth or can it be requested when I go in? I don’t have another midwife appointment until after 39 weeks and my midwife still hasn’t gone through a birth plan with me. I know birth plans don’t always mean much because we don’t know how things will go, but I think I’d feel in some sort of control now knowing I had one in place. My midwife doesn’t work at my hospital as I live in between two maternity hospitals and she had decided to just leave it to my consultant, who cancelled my 37 week appointment with her and rescheduled it for after 39 weeks.

Sorry for rambling - as D day approaches I’m just overthinking and worrying about the birth. In my previous two I’ve been so laid back and just wanted the baby out whatever way it happens. This is my first complication free pregnancy so I’m just hoping the pleasant experience of having a baby can continue through birth but ultimately I know just having a healthy baby is priority.

Hello, I have had 2 water births and they were amazing (as they can be).
I'm not a fast labourer tbh well getting from 0-4 cms takes hours 🙄, 6-10 minutes 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️.
My first water birth got in the pool 10 minutes and my son was here 😂. 2nd water birth about 30 minutes!
Not sure if the water speed them up
Or if my end part so so much faster. As you have to wait till your nearly 6cms.

I've never had a water birth. I wanted one with my first, but our hospital only has 1 room for water birth.
So just be prepared for that, If someone else is using it, you won't be able to.
Some hospitals have more but ours does not. Unfortunately

I had a 3.5hr labour. Arrived at the hospital 9cm dilated. Mentioned I wanted a water birth and they said there might not be enough time to fill the pool. I did manage to get in though and baby was born 15 mins later!

When you ring to say you’re in labour, mention you’d like a waterbirth, and they can sort out the appropriate space. For my second they started filling it up before I got there. For my third I said I wanted to get checked out as I didn’t think I was dilated enough but v regular contractions. When I got there I was only 3cm (so not technically in Labour proper) but half an hour later they ran the pool and I got in at what was - retrospectively thinking- transition. Still, the seven minutes in the pool was worth it... !

I can’t help on the speed but I told them I wanted to use the pool when I called to say I was making my way in, so it was all set up when I arrived. I had only planned to use it for pain relief, but there was no getting me out once I was in! This was for DC2, like a pp, there were no pools available when I had DC1.

@Skymum82 do you have to be 6cm to actually get in the pool? With DC2 I went from 6-10cm in the few seconds it took the midwife to check how dilated I was so if there’s a repeat there definitely wouldn’t be enough time!

@SnooperTrooper12345 in my hospital there’s only 1 on the delivery suite but a lot of women on the delivery suite aren’t eligible for a water birth anyway. But I know on the labour ward there’s a few but it’s a very busy hospital so I know there’s a very good chance they’ll be taken.

@Jessesgirl13 ah that was lucky! That gives me hope I may be able to have one, here’s hoping anyway! I don’t want a particularly fast labour I’ve warned with #3 they can be pretty quick!

@SmednotaSmoo @WhatwouldRuthdo thank you I’ll mention it when I call up and hope for the best.

From what I’ve gathered a lot of labours progress really quickly when in the pool I imagine because it’s easier to move around. I’ve got everything crossed that I’ll experience it!

The pool was great for pain relief but unfortunately for me it slowed everything down. I was 7cm when I got in and was still 7cm when I got out an hour and a half later x