Water labour/birth?

GRach14 · 2022-03-12T16:59:29+00:00

I'm due early May and have been reading up on water births and in particular water labour. I miscarried early last year and the pain was unbearable, the only thing that helped me was just sitting in a bath for hours. I've also had a lot of nerve pain during this pregnancy and again a bath is the only thing that helped. I know I can only have one if I'm low risk and go into labour at 37+ weeks so I'm trying not to get too set on the idea. Has anyone experienced a water birth or a water labour and can share whether they would do it again?

skkyelark · 12/03/2022 20:31

I had a water birth with DD1, and definitely felt it helped the pain a lot. I just had the water plus gas & air, and never felt close to needing anything more for the pain. I intended to have a water labour with DD2 (there were specific reasons not to have her actually born in the water), although timing meant that didn't happen in the end. If we were to have DC3, I'd want to use the water again if possible.

grosgirl · 12/03/2022 20:39

Attempted a water birth with my DS. It worked a bit too well and at one point, I fell asleep in the pool!

Anyway, after many hours of not much going on, the midwife suggested I get out and contractions started up almost immediately so she said I could get back in the pool...contractions then stopped straight away, almost as if someone had flicked a light switch!

So yes, it definitely helped with the pain but I won't try again in future because of how well it worked.

mangowithasqueezeoflime · 12/03/2022 22:16

I had one. And used gas and air as well. DS was back labour and they briefly brought me out of the pool to examine me and try to flip him, so I knew the difference between contractions in and out of the water. I was in there for five hours, I think. He was very calm when he was born and we stayed in the water for a little while until it was time to deliver the placenta.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

SaveWaterDrinkGin · 12/03/2022 22:18

Absolutely loved giving birth in the water (and I had one on dry land too). I was so much more comfortable which made it easier to cope with and I liked having the personal space.

ChloeHel · 12/03/2022 22:26

Aw I really wanted a water birth and had my heart set on it, I got in there after an hour of labour, was sat in there for 10 minutes with gas and air and just couldn’t handle it haha. I couldn’t get comfy, I was too hot and my contractions were just too painful. So spent the rest of the 9 hours on a bed just drifting in and out of sleep.

Definitely opt for one if you want it and if you don’t like it then you can get get out :)

Favourodds · 12/03/2022 22:32

I wanted a water birth and was enormously disappointed with the pain relieving qualities. I thought I'd get in and it would all be better, like zero pain. If you have more realistic expectations than me, it'll probably be better!

I did give birth in a heat wave, it was about 35 degrees outside so I have wondered if that's why it didn't make that much difference. I just felt a bit like I was marinating. But still, I didn't have another plan and it was something to do.

You can just give it a go? If you don't like it, you can just get out.

CaMePlaitPas · 12/03/2022 22:50

I tried it, I couldn't get comfortable. I was so hot (gave birth in June) and felt a bit exposed. I got to about 5cm and decided on an epidural and a sleep instead

TheMindBoggle · 12/03/2022 22:51

I had two water births with gas and air nothing else. My second child was a 9 pounder, huge head and I had a third degree tear. Still just managed on the gas and air. I would do it all again.

Doggywoof · 12/03/2022 23:05

My DC2 labour plan was one worded 'EPIDURAL' circled three times. But a bath soothed the pain so much so when I got to the labour ward I asked for another bath. The rest is history. Gas & air and let the magic happen. Completely in control and the experience was amazing. Big contrast to my DC1 epidural experience, just slept and ended up forceps assisted, no effort on my part.

Like PP said, I'll do water birth again in a heart beat.

Good luck!

Spottybotty20 · 12/03/2022 23:11

I’ve had 2 water labours, the first time I got in and hated it, was hot, uncomfortable, didn’t help the pain and I felt trapped/claustrophobic. My husband kept drumming the sides and the noise drove me mental so I got out and ended up having an epidural. 1st baby, back to back, looong labour etc!

2nd attempt and I was offered it again and this time loved it, coped with gas and air and the water for hours and hours, I even have photos of me grinning away while in there. I got out because I thought I needed a wee but I actually needed to push so gave birth on the bed again. This was a much easier/better labour though as 2nds often are!

BertieBotts · 12/03/2022 23:13

Was very helpful for DC 1 and 3 but no use at all for DC2.

Definitely go for it, there aren't any downsides. Get in as late as you can as I think it helps more that way. You'll want some coping techniques for dry land too. I really liked the ones in Birth skills by JuJu Sundin.

whiteroseredrose · 12/03/2022 23:23

I tried a water birth with DS but had to get out as I was too hot.

I don't know what I was thinking as I hate baths normally.

With DD the tens machine was great and all I needed.

Perpop · 12/03/2022 23:32

I had a long induction (started Thursday born Sunday) and was finally allowed into the birth pool on the Saturday. I had to be in one for monitoring and ended up getting out to have an epidural but it was really lovely to have that option while I was there! Would recommend having it as an option if you can - you don’t know what you’ll want until you get there! Best of luck❤️

PaganOfTheGoodTimes · 12/03/2022 23:36

I had a waterbirth with dc3, and while the birth experience was lovely, I did find dc3 smelt wrong, it's hard to explain, but i ove sniffing my new babies heads and found dc3 didn't smell of anything, it was weird!

Chessie678 · 12/03/2022 23:52

I wanted one and couldn't as had some complications in early labour. I've heard good things about them but there are so many reasons that you might not be able to have one that I wouldn't get your heart set on it. Of my NCT group I think we all wanted a water birth and only one person got it, mostly because people had complications which meant they had to have a hospital birth and the hospital only had one pool available (plus in many cases the complications precluded having a water birth anyway).

I'm pregnant again now and not sure if I will ask for the pool. I was sick a lot during labour and not sure that I'd want to be in the pool if that is the case again.

ALittleBitofVitriol · 13/03/2022 07:38

I was never really into the water birth thing. But, when I had my 4th, he was posterior and the pain just went on and on. The midwife suggested a bath and it was instant relief! The pain didn't stop but it was enough that I could relax my other muscles in between contractions. I didn't believe it would help so much.
That said, the water got a bit gross and I made them drain it before bubs was born.

mangowithasqueezeoflime · 13/03/2022 07:45

@Chessie678

I wanted one and couldn't as had some complications in early labour. I've heard good things about them but there are so many reasons that you might not be able to have one that I wouldn't get your heart set on it. Of my NCT group I think we all wanted a water birth and only one person got it, mostly because people had complications which meant they had to have a hospital birth and the hospital only had one pool available (plus in many cases the complications precluded having a water birth anyway).

I'm pregnant again now and not sure if I will ask for the pool. I was sick a lot during labour and not sure that I'd want to be in the pool if that is the case again.

We had 7 in our NCT. Only 2 of us even saw the pool and only I got to stay in it. There were two c sections and several forceps. I know how lucky I was to get what I wanted. I was the only of the 7 whose went to plan.

Even with it in my birth plan I had no idea if I'd get the room as it is first come, first served. Agree not to get your heart set on it!

After IVF though, I'd have laboured on my hands and knees jn a corridor before I saw another needle, so I was doing everything to avoid an epidural. I thought 26 was enough!

jolota · 13/03/2022 08:26

Agree probably best not to get to set on it but I think it's a great idea and would suggest at least trying it.
I really wanted one, didn't actually manage it in the end but did have normal baths whilst in early labour which were way more effective pain management than the TENS & then got in the pool around 7cm when my baby went back to back which was excruciating but the pool really did help, I also had gas & air.
I would definitely try for a water birth for my next & would spend longer of the latent phase at home just in the bath!

Poppins2016 · 13/03/2022 08:31

I had two water births and loved them, I'd do it again if I had a third.