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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

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.

theangelshavethephonebox · 08/04/2008 19:40

oops - clicked twice by accident

fairylights · 08/04/2008 19:42

hi alexa - yes you can have your baby IN the water, i did! You just have to make sure you deliver properly under water so that they don't try and breathe as soon as they come out - basically because they have been in fluid in the womb, they don't take a breath til they are out of the water and in the air. I delivered in the water, the mw caught my ds and handed him to me - it was absolutely magic

DuchessOfNorksSnowSpecial · 08/04/2008 19:51

3 waterbirths so far and I have been completely nekkid for all of them. I've never had more than 1 or 2 midwives (for actual delivery) and DH present though. I might be more modest if a selection of medical staff/caterers/cleaners etc were passing through.

itsazoohere - you're the other 4th baby on the May thread, yes? I had my last baby at home in a fairly deep Victorian bath. I did a test-run long before due date to see if I could go on all fours and still keep my backside submerged and it was fine. Otherwise I would have booked a pool for a downstairs room (though I doubt we'd have had time to fill it as labour was very swift). I had the bath & fittings cleaned with Dettol and rinsed before I used it. My midwife didn't have any problems with it.

fairylights · 08/04/2008 19:56

duchess - wow, 3 waterbirths..
i have been wondering recently if people who have had one WB would always have another, i know i certainly would. More power to you..
and all the best with the 4th!
ps is it still snowing there? your pics were so beautiful!

itsazoohere · 08/04/2008 19:58

Fairylights, I thought it was a bit odd, but apparantly there have been cases of the sides collapsing. She was quite happy for me to get one if my floor wouldn't give way though. I spent most of my last labour in the bath and probably would have stayed there to deliver if the midwives hadn't FINALLY arrived and whisked me out. They didn't even have a chance to examine me or see my notes berore dd3 was born. So maybe this time I'll just dig my heels in and stay put!

DuchessOfNorksSnowSpecial · 08/04/2008 20:01

fuzzy

Cold - no, was in water for at least 2 hours with DD1 and several times I felt too hot but the midwives keep the water at an even temperature.
Midwife in the pool. No - they just lean over the edge when necessary.
Gunk - any fluid is so diluted by the amount of water that it's not terribly noticeable, any solids are generally removed with a sieve. The pool/baths were drained whilst I showered off & delivered placenta. With first baby they refilled the pool so I could have a warm bath and relax with new baby.
Observation - should be fine regardless of whether you're sitting or on all fours.

alexa - yes, all my babies have been born totally under the water. Weird eh?!

Littlefish · 08/04/2008 20:04

Dd was born in the water too - she shot out so fast that none of us caught her, so she floated off down to the end of the birthing pool!

DuchessOfNorksSnowSpecial · 08/04/2008 20:05

fairylights - all the snow has gone apart from a tiny round patch where the snowman stood! But it was lovely and sunny today so I'm not complaining.

itsazoohere · 08/04/2008 20:06

Duchess, yes, that's me. Will try for a trial run-but rarely seem to get a bath to myself these days!

Caz10 · 08/04/2008 20:11

Yes, dd was born right under the water, as someone else said you just have to be careful not to stand up or whatever until he/she is ALL out - I can't imagine you'd want to jump about while delivering a baby anyway, didn't seem to be a prob!

My only prob was that I had a v short cord, so it was tricky to get dd up to lie on my chest, she wouldn't reach! Had to sort of lean over to get to her, a bit contorted after 7 hrs in the pool!

RiaisMaLarkin · 08/04/2008 20:21

My DS1 was born in the water too. It meant he was lovely and pink and clean, and I haven't had such amazing skin to skin since then.

The water was "tinted" more than anything, I didn't notice any swift sieve action either. IIRC I delivered the placenta in the water too (it's such a long time ago - DS1 is 11 tomorrow!) The MW and DH were there to support me getting out as I suppose it does make you a bit stiff. MW showered me in the pool after she emptied it, before getting dressed and stitches.

HTH.

I could go on for ever about how marvellous it is...

fairylights · 08/04/2008 20:22

just to add (again maybe TMI!) that the mw and doula just kept pushing my bum back under the water when i was pushing my ds out, just so that he was totally under the water when born. I was kneeling up so didn't mind them doing this as i couldn't really see what was in/out of the water!
I also had the problem of the cord not being long enough and had to lean forward to hold ds in the water so he didn't get cold, but then dh cut the cord and that was that. Aaah, happy memories!

Caz10 · 08/04/2008 21:08

oh yes, getting out is hard! also i was sooo shivery afterwards, but I've heard that happens with a "dry land" birth too!

i delivered the placenta out of the pool, then went in a nice warm bath to get all the gunk washed away, I remember asking if I could wash my hair! MW very kindly explained that I probably wouldn't want to...

RiaisMaLarkin · 08/04/2008 21:30

TMI - the cord is fairly uncomfortable if you're sat on it

Original poster

beforesunrise · 09/04/2008 08:27

ok other stupid question- i suffer from really dry skin and eczema and water really dries it out big time... if i have to spend hours in water i fear it will just get really bad! anyone had that?

OP posts:

FuzzyPantsDonDons · 09/04/2008 08:54

don't know if anybody saw this last night but it shows 2 water births (only in last 20 minutes or so if you don't have time to watch the whole thing). Looked amazing! (sobbed all the way through myself!)

DuchessOfNorksSnowSpecial · 09/04/2008 10:08

beforesunrise - could you slather yourself in epaderm, or similar, before you get in the water (job for DH) or possibly afterwards if you can be bothered/are up to it? Rather like preparing for a channel swim!

It's not something that I suffer from, I've not spent more than 2 hours in a pool - with no. 3, I only just climbed into the bath for a 5 minute, 3-push delivery!

jendave · 09/04/2008 12:19

I suffer from Psoriasis and am also a bit worried about my skin drying out after being in birthing pool. Im still going to do it though but Im going to moisturise before I get in and as soon as I get out so hopefully will be ok. Hoping any discomfort afterwards will be forgotten about once have baby in my arms.

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