If you’ve had a vaginal birth and a water birth was there a difference between them?

[Kittyswhiskers]

With dc1 I had an attempted water birth and laboured in the water with gas and air but felt unsupported (as in I just wanted to flop down somewhere, maybe it was the gas and air?) and the midwife got me out of the water to push as I wasn’t able to really get the hang of it. But it was an easy birth and once I’d started pushing the pain seemed to disappear as I pushed!
With dc2 I had to give birth whilst being monitored, I was on one of those trolley beds and think I bruised my coccyx, 3 years later I still get bad backs and it hurt even to push.
With this one I would REALLY love a water birth, or at least, a less medicalised birth and not flat in my back on a bed. For those who’ve given birth in similar ways was there a difference? Did the water birth hurt less / feel more manageable? Thanks

I've had 3, water birth was good for Labour but tough going during pushing as I couldn't seem to get comfy. Best one for me was on all fours to be honest

Um - my 1st was a vaginal delivery non-water, with gas and air. The pain was quite high with the contractions and I desperately wanted to start pushing, but was told to hold off as not fully dilated yet. Although it was not in a room with a birthing pool, I did move around and wasn’t tied to the bed. Some people sit on bouncy balls or go on their hands and knees or in all sorts of different positions - doesn’t have to be on your back.

2nd - I tried water birthing pool - which was excellent pain relief, but I felt that the weightless feeling in water (removing some of the effect of gravity), slowed down Labour (the contractions would lessen when I was in the water).

So I’m glad I had the option of water birthing pool. But I probably wouldn’t use it again.

Yep, I've had a lying flat on my back ventouse birth, a vaginal birth sitting up on a bed, and a water birth. Water birth was hands down my favourite - the water took away all that lumbering feeling of extra weight, I could move and reposition myself easily. I got in the pool about 20 mins before baby arrived, and just remember feeling enormous relief immediately and announcing I was never getting out.

Thanks!
With both my labours I’ve felt really faint and unsteady, the one thing I liked about being on the bed was that I was supported all over but apart from that it was really bad for pain and has knackered my back.
With the water births is there a lot of blood and guts in the water?! I’m actually a nurse but hate the thought of being embarrassed (I never lose that during labour!)
With being on all fours did you just get into a crawl position? Did you rest on anything?

I've only given birth once but really loved being in the water.

I am worried about the fact that last time I kept floating to the top I couldn’t seem to get comfortable and weight myself down, but, i have pgp and back problems and would love to avoid worsening them or being in additional pain and a water birth does sound lurk it might help with that. Also worried about the water being full of blood

I had a water birth with my first, it was great. I was desperate for another water birth but but blood pressure spiked in labour while having my second so they wouldn’t let me in the water. It all went quite fast and was fine, but I think it would’ve been more chilled in the water. I didn’t need any stitches for either birth and just used gas and air for both.

My last was a water-birth. By far and away the best experience them all, and the gentlest. I felt safe and supported in the pool. I did my usual shouting and throwing things during transition, then found myself upright and allowing gravity to to the job. I didn't push, it just felt right not to. The hardest thing was keeping my vulva submerged during 2nd stage, to ensure that the baby didn't feel air and start breathing too soon.

Of my 'land' births, the best position was there one when I gave birth lying on my left side with my knees drawn up in front of me.

@Kittyswhiskers

I am worried about the fact that last time I kept floating to the top I couldn’t seem to get comfortable and weight myself down, but, i have pgp and back problems and would love to avoid worsening them or being in additional pain and a water birth does sound lurk it might help with that. Also worried about the water being full of blood

Ditto with the pelvis and back - I have PSD (triggered I am sure by being made to give birth to dc1 in a reclining postion) and sacral joint problems. Being upright in water means that there is no pressure or restriction on your pelvis, so all the joints can move freely. None is forced to move more because another restricted.

As for blood in the water, you really won't care. You'll be busy giving birth, and then you'll shower off. I was certainly cleaner immediately after the water both than after any of the other births!

@Kittyswhiskers

I am worried about the fact that last time I kept floating to the top I couldn’t seem to get comfortable and weight myself down, but, i have pgp and back problems and would love to avoid worsening them or being in additional pain and a water birth does sound lurk it might help with that. Also worried about the water being full of blood

I had two water births so can’t compare but I honestly couldn’t tell you what the water looked like either time! I had my eyes closed the whole time so I could concentrate then just stared at the baby on my chest afterwards. I believe the MWs are pretty good at changing the water/whipping out anything gross. No way I could have given birth without the help of the water.

Haven't had a water birth but I spent most of my labour on all fours on the floor (on a mat) and then on all fours on the bed. Just because your on a bed doesn't mean you have to lie down.

I had a standard birth and then a water birth - water was way easier and quicker. It wouldn’t be fair to attribute it entirely to the water but I found it much more comfortable kneeling in the water than lying on my back in a bed (which I know is a terrible position but it was the least painful for my 1st birth and water wasn’t available for that one).

I had a long labour with DD1 and it ended with an EMCS. With DD2 I was allowed to labour in the pool. When I got out of the pool to push I noticed a massive increase in pain

If you need to be monitored in future ask if you can do it on a machine that you can move around with. I was on a monitoring machine in the pool.

@Kittyswhiskers

Thanks! With both my labours I’ve felt really faint and unsteady, the one thing I liked about being on the bed was that I was supported all over but apart from that it was really bad for pain and has knackered my back. With the water births is there a lot of blood and guts in the water?! I’m actually a nurse but hate the thought of being embarrassed (I never lose that during labour!) With being on all fours did you just get into a crawl position? Did you rest on anything?

I never wanted a water birth for just this reason, I was squicked out at the thought of sitting in all the gunk. Then the midwife offered to fill the pool while I was in labour and I thought I'd just labour in it, and then I found I was much more comfy, and I just didn't care any more, and gave birth in it. Then I was too distracted cuddling my baby to care what I was sitting in.

I've had two very quick labours the first was on a bed with Monitoring as he was born at 28 weeks the 2nd born at 39 weeks I tried a water birth and hated it felt very restricted so got out after about 10mina and had him on all fours next to the pool ( poor old Dh was like do you don't want to get on the bed and got shouted at as don't think he knew that on all fours is a good birth position) got to say I didn't really think about the position my body just sort of took over and that where I ended up