Has anyone ever had a water birth???

[ndinah]

Hey everyone, I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant and I'm considering having a water birth as I've heard it helps with labour pains. I don't know many people who have had water births, could any one share their experiences?

All responses welcome xx

@AuntieDolly

I did. It was a long labour and going in the water slowed things down even more, but my knees were killing me and it was so much more comfortable. I wish I had had a cushion behind my head though.

Ah I see. Good to know the water can be soothing. I'll make sure to take a pillow!

@EntreMummy

I had two water births. First time was an amazing birth - I was in the water for all the “pushing” part of labour, a couple of hours altogether. Water was brilliant pain relief along with gas and air and it was wonderful lifting baby out of the water and being first to hold them.

Second one was much quicker!

Wow sounds amazing. So glad to hear it went smoothly for you xx

@Handsoffstrikesagain

See I just dont find they let you have the water hot enough. I do like virtually scalding water though

Haha you and me both! It's annoying the temperature wasn't hot enough for you

Home water birth for dc2. Echo pp as dc was v calm being born, no crying, just floated to surface. Quite the opposite of her personality in real life! Good for pain relief, i got in quite late, maybe an hour before she was born.

The only way to guarantee a water birth is to home birth which is unfortunate if this doesnt feel right for you.

Both mine were water births and I had a great experience with both - just paracetamol and gas. I'd say go for it!

I've always used water/baths for pain relief, so was definite I wanted a waterbirth. First contractions hit and I found that during, I had an uncontrollable need to pace - almost speed walk! I ran a bath in the hope it would help and not being able to walk was unbearable. I literally thrashed like a fish during the contractions!

I'm sure waterbirths are amazing for people that they work for, but to my utter bewilderment, I was not one of those people!

Just wanted to mention that until you're in labour there's no way of knowing what will help. It's the most bizarre thing.

@ndinah This was 15 years ago in Surrey, so I won't say which hospital at this point.

About the water temp, my one concern about a water birth was that it would be chilly in the pool, since you have to keep the temperature at or below 37C. But I was very surprised by how lovely and warm it was when I got in.

@WeatherwaxLives It's absolutely true that you just don't know. I pictured myself as one of those women who would walk their baby out. But as I said upthread, in labour I found that my legs just turn to useless jelly and my DH had to move me about! It was awful!

But these stories do make the excellent point not to be completely wedded to one way of giving birth as you don't know what works or doesn't work for you until you're in labour.

I've had two water births. It was amazing. First time was a long labour and I was in and out of the pool for about 8 hours,
Second one was a quick labour so I was only in for about 30 mins and she arrived. It was so relaxing and eased the pain

It was great for me. However I don't know many women who had a water birth in hospital, either due to complications in their labour or because the pool was already in use. I had a home birth with Dc2 partly so that I could definitely have a pool when I wanted it.

I had one and only needed gas and air as the water really helped with the pain.
Hospital were really good and encouraged the water birth.
It was a really positive experience for me and I’d definitely go for it again if I was to have more babies

handsoff I've never heard of anyone else having to pace - people look at me like I'm bonkers when I tell them! I had an awful time in the hospital when I was in a cubicle / birth room as I couldn't pace as there wasn't room. My legs just gave way and I couldn't stand unless I was pacing. I literally fell to the floor. I ended up lying on the bed as I didn't have another option, it was awful.