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Original poster

Water birth

46 replies

Stokey · 17/08/2009 16:21

First timer & am considering having a water birth at birthing centre at hsopital.

If there are any complications you can move down to maternity ward & have epidural etc.

Just really wanted to hear other people's experiences of water birth - positive or negative and whether you would go down that route again?

Also if people started in water then felt more comfortable moving to land to give birth?

Any info much appreciated

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ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 17/08/2009 16:24

I would do a search in the archives if I were you, there are loads of threads about this, with lots of positive comments about waterbirths but also there are people who haven't liked it.

I fall into the catagory of someone who has had 2 (photo's on profile) and would again like a shot.

VinoEsmeralda · 17/08/2009 16:27

I had two waterbirths and would do it again if I was to have another DC. Both mine were at home though in our own bath so not much help

MrsBadger · 17/08/2009 16:29

it was ace

helped so much with the pain that I didn't need anything else at all

I spent the last hour of labour in there and gave birth in the water

by the time i got to that point no-one was going to move me anywhere - it was hard enough climbing out afterwards, let alone trying to do it while dd was crowning

am hoping very hard to do it again this time

Original poster
Stokey · 17/08/2009 16:30

Thanks for advice Greyskull

OP posts:
bumpybecky · 17/08/2009 16:31

I planned four home water births, managed 3 first time around we transferred to hospital due to meconium.

Water births are fantastic much easier than birthing on a bed!

I chose not to have a hospital water birth as I'd heard too many stories about the pool not being avaliable when needed, or lack of trained staff on duty. My eldest is 11 now though, so hopefully things have got better.

lisa85 · 17/08/2009 19:16

i had a water birth in hospital, it was really good because it made me weightless and for the first time in 9 months my back didn't hurt,
did well coping with just gas and air, think i would need something stronger if on a bed.
downsides are that you have to get out every time they examine you or if you decide you want an epidural and everything that comes out of you stays in the pool with you (amniotic fluid, wee, poo, not pleasant), however you won't care cos lets face it you'll be preoccupied!
but it really was good i told my sister all about it and she went on to have 2 really nice water birth experiences in hospital.

AnnieLobeseder · 17/08/2009 19:25

Nothing has ever felt quite as wonderful as climbing into that pool when in labour with DD2. It was warm, floaty and lovely. I would recommend it with every ounce of my being!

Neeko · 17/08/2009 19:41

I started in the birthing pool with DD and found it great. I came out for them to examine me after about two hours and it lost its feel-good factor. By that point I'd been having contractions for about 25 hours and was very tired so i opted for an epidural. It was what i needed at the time but this time I'd like to give birth in the pool if possible.
I didn't like the idea of being completely naked and wore a t-shirt which wasn't the comfiest. This time I'll be investing in a maternity tankini so I can wear the top.

SabsBigPants · 17/08/2009 20:09

stokey i think we've spoken before. Are you thinking of having it at Homerton? I saw the birthing pool there last saturday and the midwife said its hardly ever used so you have a good chance of getting in there should you decide to go ahead and use it.

I have an appointment with my midwife tomorrow and will be discussing possibly using it as well

mum2phoebs · 17/08/2009 20:29

I had a water birth with my first and it was fantastic an experience I'd repeat anyday!

I got in the pool at 7.30pm and had my DD by 9.45pm,

All I needed was a bit of gas and air to push her out, but I'm sure things would have been much more painful if I was on dry land!

Just pregnant with my second and I will be devastated if I couldn't have a water birth again, thought about hiring one for home but I live in a semi, not good if I give birth in the early hours of the morning, plus I'm on a water meter and it'd cost a fortune to keep it topped up!!!

Go for it!

pasturesnew · 17/08/2009 20:36

I did this, it was ace and I felt safe in the birthing centre as it was next door to the hospital unit. I felt I had a real choice at the right stage of dilation to either say, "yes, I'm managing, I'll go for the pool" or "no, get me proper drugs NOW!". The best things about it were being able to move freely around in labour and also that the room felt very private, it had no windows and in my memory it was pitch dark but DH says that's not true!

sheeplikessleep · 18/08/2009 09:25

I personally hated being in water. When I took the TENS machine off and got in the water, I felt my contractions totally in my back and they were incredibly painful.
I got out after 10 minutes (feeling very guilty!) and the relief of drying down and putting the TENS back on was immense.

grin · 18/08/2009 13:45

I had my first in the pool in hospital and ADORED it. I survived on just water and entonox and reckon that has a lot to do with the way I felt in the water. I can see that it's not for everyone but I think if you like water (not nec baths, I'm not the biggest bath fan) it's a very theraputic thing. I agree about the atmopshere, in our one it was dimmed lighting and very private and I didn't feel anyone was about to walk in. They even had a rubber duck on the ledge of it and it made me chuckle mid-labour! I'm pg with number two and am hoping for another pool birth, again in hospital. Let us know what you think!

OmniDroid · 18/08/2009 13:48

I had a waterbirth at home with DD (DC2) and (in the unlikely event of my ever getting pg again) wouldn't do it any other way. It was wonderful. From a first birth experience of every intervention going to just me, a pool of warm water, a helpful midwife and - bam - DD arriving. Well, it doesn't compare.

hotterpotter · 18/08/2009 14:19

I had a home waterbirth with DC2 and would do it again in a heartbeat. They made me get out to go to the loo about 40 minutes before DS was born, and getting back in was bliss I kept my bra on as I have massive norks but somehow the water makes you feel covered up so no worrying about being naked (not that you will care in the end anyway ) Managed to birth a 10.5lb baby with only gas & air so must be something in it!

There is no way they could have made me get out to push though. DD was born in hospital and I wasn't allowed a waterbirth because my waters had gone more than 48 hours previously. They let me get in the bath though but wished I hadn't bothered as the pain on getting out was so much worse than it had been. With DS we didn't get out of the pool until half an hour after he was born [broody]

weegiemum · 18/08/2009 14:23

I had the option of a birthing pool with all of mine, but I hated it - there was something about being wet...the water touching my skin...it was too warm .. just ugh!

I love swimming, I hate baths. I actually felt quite pressured to use it and was very very glad to get out!

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 18/08/2009 14:28

I started off in the pool and loved that part, it was so civilised (for a while anyway!) - helped lots with the pain and I just sat there chatting and drinking cups of tea and listening to music. DS was stuck though so after several hours things started getting uncomfortable and I had to get out to be examined and stuff, ended up with epidural, syntocin and eventual CS - but that part would have happened anyway, I was still glad to have had the pool for the first part!

Would love to try for a "proper" waterbirth this time, but probably won't be allowed after CS I guess...

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 18/08/2009 14:33

I had a waterbirth with ds at home.
It was amazing, and I would do it again.

I hoped for a hospital waterbirth with dd, but I had Meconium in my water so wasnt allowed in the pool.

I had 5 midwives due to being the first home water birth in our area. A t first I thought it would have been a bit overcrowded and not very personal, but the midwife I had who specialised in water birth was fantastic, she only did what she absolutley had to, but examined me on my request.
It was all very relaxed despite all the bodies.
Also I had meconium again, but my midwife did not tell me till after as she said everything was fine.

I also chose homebirth, as didnt want to risk the pool not being available in the hospital

Good luck with whatever you decide.

My ds was 10lb 2oz. I managed this with just the water.

hotter Hi, now I am feeling broody again.

jumpjockey · 18/08/2009 15:15

I had dd at home in an inflatable pool, we'd initially planned it to be just for labouring with a view to getting out for the birth but in the end once the pushing stage began there was no way I was going anywhere! I was kneeling up for about an hour and a half with my arms resting over the sides, it was really comfortable and I felt very supported. I didn't get out for any examinations, MW used a little mirror to check on things and periodically got me to sit back so she could have a listen, but apart from that once in the water I didn't have to get out at all.

The nakedness thing - well all I can say is I'm glad someone else remembered to draw the curtains since as soon as there was enough water I stripped off totally and jumped in without a second thought!

LovingTheRain · 18/08/2009 15:47

Go for the water birth Stokey ! I wore a bikini top on my boobs so I wasn't completely naked

Was a fantastic experience and I will be certainly having a water birth next time with DC5

Didn't need any other pain relief, the water was very soothing.

PrincessButtercup · 18/08/2009 17:09

yes, go for it! I laboured in the water with DC2 (would've birthed there too but there wasn't a second midwife available) and recently had DC3 in the water which was an amazing experience. I did need entonox with DC3 but think that was because my labour was super fast and he was over 10Ibs (it was lovely - like being in a hot tub with a large cocktail - until DS started crowning, anyway! ). Not even a graze either time for which I give full credit to being in the water.

It's definitely worth a try and then you can decide at the time whether it works for you or if you'd rather be down the corridor...

tadjennyp · 18/08/2009 17:53

I would also recommend it wholeheartedly. I had dd by ventouse with a spinal block and she was only 6lb4oz! I had ds in the pool with almost no entonox as it made me feel sick. It was a lovely experience, he was 8lb9oz and I also had no stitches. I think that is entirely down to the water. Luckily I was the only one giving birth that night in York hospital so had lots of attention!

MyCatIsABiggerBastardThanYours · 18/08/2009 18:22

I had a waterbirth with DD and it was lovely (as lovely as labour can be) and certainly helped ease the pains (if my non waterbirth with DS is anything to go by). I would have done it again but DS had to be induced and they wouldn't let me (needed to be monitored all the way through apparently).

You don't need to be naked either, I wore a very large vest top.

Go for it if you can, it feels very natural for some reason.

LenniEd · 18/08/2009 20:21

Would also recommend it - had a waterbirth with DC2 after not being allowed due to PROM with DC1. Was a lovely experience, quick and very natural feeling but I felt in control and having a midwife with me all the time was great. No need to get out for exams either. I had to nag and nag for it though - when first arrived at hospital there was no one available for me to use the pool. Thankfully shift changed 1.5hrs into labour and DS was born 2 hours later.

BarnMummy · 18/08/2009 20:42

I used water for both my DSs and found the pain relief and comfort factor was great.

When I was pregnant with DS1 I had read about some possible links between water births and asthma (not proved as far as I know, but I was worried about it at the time), so I climbed out as soon as I wanted to push, but actually used the sides of the pool to lean on.

With DS2, there was no way I could get out, but because I was still adamant I wasn't going to give birth in water, the lovely midwife let all the water out of the pool and I was then able to use the sides of the pool to push against.

If a DC3 should happen, I would definitely do the same again.