Water birth

[Stokey]

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

It's worth giving yourself the option. You might not like it but it might be the best thing ever, you'll only know when you try. If you're having a hospital delivery you won't get the option unless you specifically ask.

Midwives can be less comfortable with allowing delivery in the pool though so talk to the midwives in the hospital about how they feel about it if it's a possibility.

I didn't like it but was glad I tried. My mum says I am perverse because the gas and air made me violently ill and the pethidine I had with ds in 60 hour labour acted more like gas and air is supposed to.

Nearly tried water birth on Sat. Sadly the pool did not fill up in time and in any case towards the end of labour no one would have been able to move me from the much less attractive position i had adopted on the floor slumped over a bed! the sound of the pool filling up was quite soothing however

wonderful. had my second in the pool - got out when contractions slowed down and back in for the main event. felt absolutely elated, no pain relief required for 9lb baby. an amazing experience.

Make sure they start filling it asap as it can take half an hour to fill. by the time I got in mine I was 9 cm and in too much pain to cope with a change of scene and only managed to do 2 contractions in there before asking to get out. I found I couldn't brace against the contractions because I was floating about too much and I couldn't reach my gas very easily.
I'm sure it would have helped me earlier on though

Gave birth to 2nd and 3rd babies in water (at home). I think I would have bitten off the head of anyone suggesting I get out for the actual birth. Heaven forbid.

Was advised that it was better not to get into the water until about 5cms in case it slowed contractions too much. Once I was in, there was no WAY I was getting out. I loved it. It completely calmed me and took the edge off the pain.

I used a La Bassine pool which is quite snug, comfortable to lean on the sturdy inflatable edges and gave birth kneeling on the comfy inflatable floor.

If you're going to be in a hard sided pool, I would bring some sort of inflatable/ waterproof pillow thingy to lean on and make sure towels or similar are available to cushion your knees if you wish to kneel.

A plastic edged cheapo wall mirror (I found one about 25cm diameter in Homebase for a couple of quid) meant I didn't have to get out of the pool at all. The midwives could see what was going on so I didn't have to move for exams. I had one vaginal exam when the midwife arrived to assess how far along I was and after that they just checked the mirror.

Only thing I wanted to change from water birth 1 was that the midwife lifted her out of the water behind me (as I was leaning on the edge of the pool) so it was a bit weird and awkward. I put it in my birth plan for the second water birth and they got me to push back from the side of the pool so I could lift DS out myself.

Both times the midwives got weepy and kept saying what lovely births they were.

I had a hospital waterbirth and was very happy with it. I got out of the pool a couple of times to go to the loo and the difference in the pain levels was pretty striking - couldn't wait to get back into the water. A little entonox was all that I felt the need for, without the water I'd probably have been screaming "More drugs! More drugs!!"

For the actual birth I was "back on land" - not because I was more comfortable doing that, but because I needed an episiotomy to deliver the 98th percentile head of DS. Was out of the water for less than a minute before delivering though.

A good experience, had I had more children I would definately have tried for a waterbirth again.

Couldn't have a water birth with ds1 as he was early, but had one with ds2.
It was fantastic, I wouldn't say it helped much with the pain, but I found it really relaxing.
I also liked the fact that once your in the water the mw have a hands off approach, they only monitor your baby, they don't keep checking how far long you are.
I delivered in the pool (don't see why you have a birthing pool then get out to deliver?!)he just came out and floated to the top and I lifted him on me, we just sat there in the water cuddling.
I delivered the plancenta in there too.
I'd def recommend it.
There was also a bed in ours incase you did want to get out to deliver. You can still have gas and air while you're in the pool, but nothing else.

I just wanted to add to all the positive experiences. I started out in the pool but my DD got stuck so had to climb out..

The only thing I will say is that it was very very very very hot - I was sweating buckets and buckets which made me very uncomfortable - although I really feel the heat, you may cope much better.

The other thing was that because this really helped with the pain, I didn't push as hard as when I was taken out of the pool (ended up with forceps!) - as a first time mum I really didn't realise how hard you have to push and the comfort of the pool made me a bit lazy.

However, if I go back for more, I will definitely ask for the pool again. Despite the heat, the way it helps you manage the pain is awesome - despite some complications I still only used gas and air so I heartily recommend it!!

Best of luck whatever you choose!

Stokey SabsBigPants mentioned you'll be at Homerton?

I attempted a waterbirth in Homerton in August 2006

The bath is HUGE. It took about 1/2 an hour to fill and although there was no one there who was 'qualified' to supervise a water birth they let me use it on the proviso I would get out when I needed to push.

It has various ergonomic bits to allow you to position yourself comfortably. Unfortunately not for the position I wanted.

After about 10 mins I asked for a epidural.

I then had to walk back to my room, past reception and the waiting area. Cue me feeling like a freak as I fell to my knees inhaling and exhaling like an exhausted horse as horrified family members watched the whole spectacle.

Anyway, no epidural 'cause the anaethetist was busy. I won't bore you with the details of the rest of my experience at Homerton but suffice to say water births are not for me!

I had a home water birth with my first (who is now 5 months old).

I liked the water more because it was a distraction than anything else. I had a very long latent labour (80 hours from first contraction to getting to 4cm dilated and "established labour") so getting in and out of the pool over those 3 days and nights helped me take my mind off the fact my baby still wasn't here! I was in the pool for the last 2 hours of my labour, and when I said I felt like I wanted to push, the MW asked me to get out to examine and check I really was 10cm and ready to push. So I got out and as it was I was only 8cm so not ready after all, and then it just didn't occur to me to get back in, so I labour for the last bit on hands and knees and pushed DD out leaning against the sofa.

Which was absolutely the best thing for me, as although I had thought I wanted to give birth actually in the water, when it came to it, I felt safer knowing that the 2 MWs (and DH!) could really see what was going on and how she was coming out etc... felt safer for me.

Make sure you get your DH to pack up the pool if you're thinking of labouring at home with a pool - my DH was so preoccupied with DD that I had to pack it up myself the day after she was born (which was nearly a week after my forst contraction - was a wee bit tired!)

xx

I planned water births for all three DCs at home. First one was lovely, well apart from about a week of 'pre-labour', but when I finally went into labour proper it was excellent. Also good for resting in while heavily pregnant, as takes weight off everything.

First labour. Lovely, calm, relaxing. Dozed between contractions. Straightforward second stage and minor labial tear (sorry if tmi). Felt empowered by the whole experience.

Second labour. Completely different. Backache labour even though DD in 'correct' position. Had to get out of the pool as wanted to sleep! Did so for about an hour (probably wouldn't have been allowed in hospital). Gave birth on the bathroom floor very fast. Again, a good experience. Water useful in first stage but not as helpful later on.

Third pregnancy. Got a lovely pool with a heater so it could be set up in advance (can take 2-3 hours to fill a pool at home). Lovely to lounge around in with older two in later stages of pregnancy. DC1 got over fear of water thanks to that, as an added bonus! Gave birth in water very fast (1/2 contraction!). Did get a second degree tear but healed without stitches. Delivered placenta myself in water (unless policies have changed you won't be allowed to do this in hospital).

I was very lucky to be able to afford Independent Midwives so I could choose who to be there at the birth and, I believe, that made a huge difference to the care I received. I had the same primary midwife for all three births and the secondary midwife for the first two was someone I had known since childhood. Both had had children themselves and this seemed important to me, certainly the first time.

I had no other pain relief at all, though could have had gas and air. I was only examined if I requested or if the midwife requested so was examined once in each labour. I examined myself in last labour! Midwife used a waterproof sonicaid to check baby's heartbeat regularly in all three labours.

My advice, though, is that you may not know what you want right up until the point you go into labour. I was looking forward to a repeat of labour 1 with number 2 and it was totally different. Try to be as open to how you feel at the time as possible and do what feels right to you. You can always use the bath/shower at home in early labour and see how that feels (but check temperatures for bath water as that is quite important).

Good luck!

I have had 2 water births and although I have no other experience to compare it with I would recommend it.

Both babies were well over 9lb and first time I had no tearing and second time, (larger baby), just a little bit. Looking back, I think I went in the pool too early first time as labour was very long and I know it can slow the process down. Second time the midwives held me back, (I was desperate to jump in), but the whole thing was much quicker. Both times I gave birth in the pool with just a bit of gas and air, (I was tempted to just drown myself at the end but that bit doesn't last long)!

You won't care about what you're wearing at that stage. Yes, at the end it is a bit like sitting in a huge casserole pot with all the gunk floating about, but again you won't care and you won't be there for long!

One tip - if the pool plug has a chain, take something to kneel on as it can be quite painful on your knees after a bit.

I'd say - go for it!

Good luck!

Used a La Bassine pool for ds's birth at home. Was lovely at first, at the more civilised end of labour, floating and chatting and listening to music. After about 4 hours though, the combination of a huge plate of spaghetti which I'd insisted on eating earlier even though I'd already started getting twinges, and the heat of the pool (the midwives insisted on keeping it at 37degrees, even though it was in the middle of a heatwave), started making me feel really sick, so I got out and didn't go back in. Ideally I'd have a pool again, but a couple of degrees cooler, and I'd have one with a heater so dh wouldn't be faffing all the time with kettles to keep the temperature up and could concentrate on me. Also I wouldn't eat huge plates of pasta in the first stage of labour.

I had a waterbirth with DD1. Loved it. Had gas and air too which was fab. I also birthed in there too ... with only one midwife (just read princessbuttercup's post) - funny how different hospitals have different rules. DD1 was almost 10lbs ... I had to have few stitches but am convinced the water helped support her and led to a more gentle labour. I had to get out of the pool at one point to be scanned ... the pain was horrific. I practically leapt back in.

Woudl have had another one with DD2 but pool was broken. Her birth was also a positive experience though, despite lack of pool.

Good luck!

Gave birth to DS1 on a hospital bed and wasn't nearly as painful or tore as badly than with DS2 who was a last minute water birth (laboured out of the water, got in the birthing pool for the last few contractions and actual birth). The tearing and pain may have had something to do with the speed at which he came out though - 4 or 5 pushes as opposed to countless over 2 hours with DS1!! The water also made all my bits swell terribly and had to wait over an hour before I could be sewn up.

Haven't read all the replies but when I went in the birthing pool it really intensified my pains and I had to struggle back out. It was horrible.

Thanks for all the feedback, both positive & negative.

Think am definitely going to try it after what I've read here.

Sabsbigpants Morningtownride am actually going to UCLH rather than Homerton so will check it out on my next visit.

I don't think i'm too bothered about being naked but will take bikini top just in case... my main hope is to be relaxed & minimise tearing! generally love water so hope it will be right for me

oooh I had my first (and only) waterbirth 3 months ago with my 3rd child (after a horrible labour with my 2nd child). I'd do it again in a second. It was fantastic, relaxing, used gas and air in the pool, and the water really helped with the pain. I'd really, really, recommend it and only wish I'd had one with my first 2 children as well as I'm sure their births would have been much better if I had. Good luck.

I see you've already had lots of interesting responses but just to add my story (Go on, humour me ;))

My first labour with DD was on dry land and although it was uncomplicated and fairly short, I felt extremely anxious most of the way through as I progressed quickly and spent a fair bit of time in the car between birthing centre, home and hospital; being slightly fobbed off by the midwives who obviously thought I was hamming it up a bit (I was only examined once and was 1cm then but progressed to full dilation within about 4 hours). I remember the experience as being quite agonising; probably largely due to my panic. I remember during the transition stage thinking it might be ok to throw myself down the stairs as it would stop the pain! It was all fine in the end but just too confusing and scary. Poor OH was driving like a mad thing down dark country lanes and was (he later confessed) sh*tting himself that there was something badly wrong.

DS's birth at home in a pool, was the total opposite. The midwife only examined me once, when she arrived and I was 5cm then so she said I could get into the pool. I chilled out there for an hour and a half listening to Nat King Cole and chatting to OH and the midwife, before DS was born weighing 8lbs 14.5oz. I only had a minor labial tear and any poo etc during the 2nd stage was quickly dealt with by OH with a sieve (sorry for lowering the tone In terms of blood etc, the water was pretty clear after DS was born; it was the placenta that brought all the gunk with it so I got out of the pool pretty sharpish after that!

The midwife was wonderful; so calm and unobtrusive; she sat back and let me lead. When she found I wanted to chat, she happily prattled away with me but then instinctively knew when I was going into myself and then she sat behind me and remained silent unless I spoke to her. She looked at my undercarriage with a mirror at one point but was behind me so I didn't even notice. This time, the transition was much more manageable. I did say to the midwife at one point that I was scared and might not be able to have this baby after all but I didn't feel out of control as I had the first time.

So sorry for rambling but it can be hard to stop with birth stories, I find!

stokey Hope you have a very positive experience, however you give birth.