Your water birth experiences please

[Orissiah]

Does anyone on MN have any tips on easing through labour and even birthing in a water bath? I am booked into a room with a water bath at my hospital and would love to know just how much it eases pain and reduces tearing and if there are any positions and movements I can use in the water.

Your experiences - good, bad, mixed - much appreciated.

O
39 weeks

I had BabyDragon at home in an inflatable pool (birth-pool-in-a-box). No faff at all. I did tear and the whole labour still hurt like hell but if not for the fact that I have enough SmallDragons now, I'd go for a home waterbirth again.

i had ds4 in the birth pool, i had a very quick labour only an hour and a half, got in the pool at about 11:20pm and he was born at 6 mins past midnight, he was ten pounds thirteen ounces and i didnt need any stiches a very small tear that healed fine on its own.

with ds2 an ds3 i laboured in a bath but got out before they were born, the hospital was quite adamant about this, but i also felt the need to be upright and the baths were too small to move about in.

the birth pool however was fab, i still had gas and air as well, but ohhhhhhh the relief as i got in the pool was amazing

Fantastic experiences, thanks! I really hope I can have a water birth.

O

Soupdragon how long did it take to fill?

Um.... I can't remember! Quite some time I should imagine given the time it takes to fill my deep bath! I've got a combi boiler so I just filled it early about 2/3 full with purely hot water, put the heat retaining cover on it and then topped it up with cold to get to the right temperature when I needed to get in.

I also left the cover folded over half the pool whilst I was in it to help keep it warm. The MW only removed it when BabyDragon was imminent.

I planned a waterbirth with hired pool at home. It took about 40 minutes to fill, and we neeed to run the boiler for a long time to do it. The thing about it slowing down labour is, I think, dependant on a few factors. It turned out my baby was in an un-birthable position, and actually there are only a few positions you, the labouring mother, can do in the pool (all fours, semi-reclined etc). I loved the pain relief, but I think I would have benefitted from being told to get out and walk around. My midwives were very laid back and hands off and seemed to think they should trust to my instincts. We ended up transferring to hospital (most uncomfortable ) by ambulance. We also live in Central London and by the way, don't worry about calling an ambulkance if that happens to you, it's what they are there for! In summary, we had a great time at home in the birth pool, but I think its really essential that the midwife knows the position of the baby (our never worked it out) and can offer you some strategies to get things moving if necessary.

"there are only a few positions you, the labouring mother, can do in the pool"

Um... other than standing on your head, I'm struggling to think of many positions you can't do!

Thanks Shuli. We know the position of the baby - she's head down, well into my pelvis now and with her back against my tummy she's apparently in an optimum position. I really value your advice of getting out for a bit to keep mobile/upright. I will try and remember that.

Though we live in zone 2, our hospital is in zone 1 (UCH) and as we don't drive we will be relying on a taxi to take me there on D-day - but I won't hesitate to call an ambulance if things progress too quickly or if I get overwhelmed with fear!

O
39+4