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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

really stupid question re waterbirth

44 replies

beforesunrise · 08/04/2008 16:19

what do you wear?

ok so- not so stupid i know you need your lower bits free to birth the baby but what about the top? do you really labour starkers for hours on end?

realise it's a silly question in the grand scheme of things (and neither dh nor myself can remember what i wore while giving birht to dd 2 years ago) but jsut wondering. really hoping to labour if not give birth in water this time...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Surr3ymummy · 08/04/2008 16:22

I didn't fancy being totally naked , so I went for a maternity tankini top thing. I found the water made things happen pretty quickly - went in at about 7cm dilated, gave birth about 20 mins later! Main delay was getting the pool filled with water, as I could have done with being in a bit earlier. It was such a huge relief to be in the water, it does really make a difference to the pain.

ellasmum1 · 08/04/2008 16:24

most of the women I've looked after(as a midwife) wear a vest top/tankini top type thing, or you could just wear a bra/bikini top. some go starkers too. whatever you are comfortable with. but you wouldn't want a big soggy t shirt as it would just balloon in the water.

RiaisMaLarkin · 08/04/2008 16:27

I think I started off in a tshirt but ended up in nothing. Really didn't give two hoots at the time about all those things I'd worried about before re dignity.

I think water made having DS1 so much easier and more pleasant, with DS2 I got in too early and it slowed me down so the whole thing went pear-shaped (poor M/W has never done WB befoer and was reading up on it as we went, with DS3 the MW had the pool half full before she (and I) found out I was considered too heavy by hospital policy to

even get in the pool in labour, let alone birth in it.

Was a big disappointment, but it was all ok in the end, just "dry".

Good luck.
x

charitygirl · 08/04/2008 16:52

'with DS2 I got in too early'

RiaisMaLarkin - when is the right time to get in? I'm pg with my first and would like a waterbirth so am a bit clutless but very interested!

Is it how dilated you are?

Caz10 · 08/04/2008 17:01

Not sure how early is too early - I got sent home when I first went in as was only 1cm - came back and was told I was 4cm and got straight in the pool then - DD took 7hrs to arrive....I was very wrinkly!!

To answer OP, I wore a tankini top too - your nether regions are under the water anyway, and my room was quite dark - so didn't feel "naked" at all (if that is a worry). Also you didn't get that horrible clingy feeling of a wet t-shirt

FuzzyPantsDonDons · 08/04/2008 17:08

I have a couple of questions (sorry if a bit stupid)

DO you get cold?

does the midwife get in there with you (one at our hospital looked too small)

Do you end up floating aorund in a load of gunk?

How much can DH see of the birth (he is keen to observe)

I like the idea of water birth but my antenatal classes were rubbish and MW is not grand either.... TIA

ejt1764 · 08/04/2008 17:26

DO you get cold?

No - water is kept at a constant temperature - whether by thermostat, or letting a bit of water out and topping up with hot, depends on the pool.

does the midwife get in there with you (one at our hospital looked too small)

No, MW stays out of the pool - dh can get in with you though (although they will expect him to wear bathers!)

Do you end up floating aorund in a load of gunk?

MW has a net to scoop out the big bits ...

How much can DH see of the birth (he is keen to observe)

My dh was kept firmly at the head end, would only see all the detail if directly behind you - but you probably won't want him there - if he's in the pool, you may want him supporting you in the pool.

I had a water vbac in October, and it was wonderful ... oh, and I was completely starkers too - mostly because I was so relieved to get in.

They (probably)won't let you get in the pool unless you are in established labour (4cm+ dilatation), as if you get in earlier, it can slow things down too much.

Go for it - it's fab!

FuzzyPantsDonDons · 08/04/2008 17:37

Thanks EJT - think I will add the swim wear to my hospital bag in that case!

SammyC · 08/04/2008 17:43

Hi There

I didnt end up wearing anything, i remember at the time I wish I had packed a tankini top, then the contractions kicked in and it was time to push and funnily enough it didnt cross my mind again!

1 - water was fine temp, hubby can top up when or if needed

2 - mid wife never got in, hubby didnt as he was there to get things if needed!

3 - I cant remember much gunk to be honest, water broke in there and still wasnt much. I chose not to give birth in the pool, once water broke and contractions were quciker got out and baby arrived pretty quickly

4 - didnt give birth in water on both occasions just choice, no reason not to.

I did remember thinking i wish I had bought something to rest my head on poss one of those inflatable cushions u can sucker onto the bath as at some points it was a bit uncomfortable, just a suggestion!

I had gas and air for both of mine and didnt need any more, the water makes a huge difference stayed in the bath at home for as long as poss, be careful not to have water too hot at home as when I got to hospital the poor babies heart beat was a little fast poss due to the high temp of water at home!

birth 1 - got to the hospital and was 9 cm just using the water as pain releif at home

birth 2 - didnt get checked or monitored just got in birthing pool and waters broke within 30 mins and got out baby arrived very soon after exit from the pool

I have been very lucky, didnt think I had a great pain threshold but I must have!

Good Luck!

Caz10 · 08/04/2008 17:44

this is obviously just from my experience, but:

yes, a little, but my MW kept topping up the hot water which was bliss!
no
yes, a bit - i was vaguely aware of the MW discretely "scooping"...but honestly you don't care!
not much at the business end! i had my dh on gas and air/juice duty, so he was always facing my face, and i was glad of him being there to grab a hold of (i ended up kneeling, facing forward leaning over the side iyswim)

I had NO idea before i went - wasn't covered in classes or anything - occured to me belatedly in the car going in i should have read up...ooops...but it all happened naturally

Caz10 · 08/04/2008 17:47

oooh yes a cushion would have been fab. I used a towel, don't know where it came from, but dh kept putting it in cold water, then i would rest my face in it. i was madly thirsty too, maybe that was just the gas and air - anyway bring lots of lucozade sport!

FuzzyPantsDonDons · 08/04/2008 17:49

right - will see what DH thinks about it tonight. Have kept swimming 2/3 times a week so seems natural to aim for a water birth too! Thanks again all

RiaisMaLarkin · 08/04/2008 17:55

I can't rememner the exact guidelines charitygirl, but it has something to do with being in established labour as someone said.

It is a really fab way to do it.

Caz10 · 08/04/2008 17:56

if you find a hot bath helpful if you are tired/achey/fed-up etc then you'll prob find it similarly comforting...and if you don't like it you just get out!

Original poster

beforesunrise · 08/04/2008 18:42

oh right i don't have a tankini- not buying one just for the occasion so may just go for a normal tank top/bra type thing.

my dh very adamant he does NOT want to get in lol!

i really hope for a waterbirth actually as i am terrified of tearing badly again and i have read it helps

OP posts:

oliviaelanasmum · 08/04/2008 18:44

My dd2 was born in the water and out of the three it was the best experience, it was warm and calm and the best pain relief going! I had g&a and delivered in 2 pushes whereas with dd's1&2 i had g&a and pethidine!

Rolf · 08/04/2008 19:00

If you are planning on declining vaginal examinations (unless medically indicated), how do they know you are sufficiently far along to use the pool?

mad4mybaby · 08/04/2008 19:23

also sorry to jump in, if you give birth in the pool, can you get out of the pool ok? I mean after i had ds i could barely move my legs off the bed

itsazoohere · 08/04/2008 19:27

I'd love a waterbirth this time-does anyone know if I can do it in the bath? I've a huge bathroom, so there'd be plenty of room for midwives to acsess me. Unfortunately I don't think the floor joists are up to a pool, and even if they were my midwife says that the cheapest option, the pool in a box thing isn't reccomended anymore.

fairylights · 08/04/2008 19:31

Rolf - i had a homebirth but i think (in retrospect) my mw did not measure me on purpose because she knew it would discourage me (it was a loooong labour!) but she just seemed to "know" when it was the right moment for me to get in the water. I had already been in earlier to try and relax and then gotten out to try and get things going. She was spot on about when i should get back in - after a short while my waters broke and the fun started...

mad4mybaby - well i had a second degree tear and certainly needed help getting out of the pool, i delivered the placenta outside the pool (they wanted me more upright to try and get it out, sorry if TMI!). Think i was in such a state of euphoria and shock tbh that i was ok to get out then, but i did have to be helped a lot to get up the stairs and into bed i think - it was later on after i had had the stitches that i REALLY couldn't move!

All the best to you all planning WB, they are great

fairylights · 08/04/2008 19:35

itsazoo - i think the thing about being in a bath is that you won't have much room for manouvere (sp?), the thing i really liked about being in the pool was being able to stretch out and float a bit. And i also changed position A LOT! But their might be others who have happily birthed in the bath??
We had a birth pool in a box and it was fine, i really query your mw saying they aren't recommended, lots of people on here have used them! And we had ours in the dining room on some well dodgey old floorboards (we live in a draughty old victorian terrace) and they survived the experience. All the best

Littlefish · 08/04/2008 19:37

DO you get cold?

I didn't - I just felt lovely and warm and protected.

does the midwife get in there with you (one at our hospital looked too small)

No, and nor did dh.

Do you end up floating aorund in a load of gunk?

No idea! I was out of it on gas and air! I couldn't see anything in the photos.

How much can DH see of the birth (he is keen to observe)

They drained the pool before I stood up to deliver the placenta. Legs were a bit wobbly so I just held onto the sides of the pool.

Alexa808 · 08/04/2008 19:38

Sorry, I know MY question is really silly, but does anyone have the baby in the water?

I'm fascinated by WB but have no clue.

Littlefish · 08/04/2008 19:39

Oh, and I didn't wear anything at all. It never occurred to me to wear anything. It was just so comforting being in the water and it meant that dd went straight onto my skin as soon as she was born, without having to faff around taking anything off or adjusting it.

I have such a clear memory of this little baby lying on me in the water, with just her head above the water. Amazing skin to skin experience.

theangelshavethephonebox · 08/04/2008 19:40

Rolf - I didn't decline examinations and I had expected the mw to examine me before I got in the pool but she didn't - just announced at one point that the pool was ready and would I like to get in. I guess experienced mws can just tell how far along you are.

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