But I want a waterbirth!!! *stamps foot*

**Bloom** · October 22nd, 2012, 05:35 PM

I wasn't and am not able to have a waterbirth at my local hosptial because of my size, which is fair enough as I understand they have the safety of the MWs and me to consider. (Mind you even if I was under the weight limit no way was my 50kg tiny MW going to have a chance of moving me at the weight limit). But put your mind to how you can still use water in your birth:
Bath at home for as long as you are comfortable - get a bath pillow or two ready as well.
Ask the MW to use a warm compress on your bits during pushingi
Bring stuff to make the shower as comfortable as possible. My MWs suggested 2 squares of foam to kneel on or something foam to rest your head and arms on. And suprisingly, my current MWs are happy for me to even deliver in the shower!

I know it must be frustrating but try to focus your energy on things you can control and change and making this birth as positive as you can!

**forshelby** · October 22nd, 2012, 07:06 PM

Thanks Bloom. All strategies I plan to employ!

I might actually enjoy the shower moreso than being immersed. I guess they can't stop me delivering in the shower if that's what I choose, right?

**Jas** · October 22nd, 2012, 11:46 PM

Sure can, shower is a very normal place to birth!!

**Cassius2** · October 23rd, 2012, 07:36 AM

Birth in the shower is totally ok! Usually though the placenta can take a bit to arrive (if you are planning a physiological third stage with delayed cord clamping) so good idea to eventually waddle over with baby to the warm bed and wait there for it to arrive

One thing that people do that want to try to recreate the waterbirth or experience it if they couldnt (or even if they did and wanted to do it all over again!!) is, when you come home with baby, to do it then. a nice warm deep bath (if it were me i'd look into getting or hiring a birth pool), pop on the candles, darken the room and add some lovely essential oils and, as a family, have a nice bonding time in the warmth. there are a few BB members that have done this!

**Razzberry** · October 23rd, 2012, 09:34 AM

I remember asking the midwife on a hospital tour at my private hosp could I have a water birth in their baths. She said no as the baths aren't set up for it (as in only one side of the bath accessible to the midwife) however, she said if you don't call us till your giving birth in the bath then thats where you will have your baby - and a few babies have been born in the baths there as thats what happened!!

**luna moth** · October 23rd, 2012, 02:40 PM

I remember asking the midwife on a hospital tour at my private hosp could I have a water birth in their baths. She said no as the baths aren't set up for it (as in only one side of the bath accessible to the midwife) however, she said if you don't call us till your giving birth in the bath then thats where you will have your baby - and a few babies have been born in the baths there as thats what happened!!

At the hospital where I birth, they pull the plug in this situation. So good if it works, but not really worthy as a plan.

**boomba** · October 23rd, 2012, 03:26 PM

You could just sit on the plug or have hubby stand on it :-)

**Cassius2** · October 23rd, 2012, 06:36 PM

...or bring in a roll of gaffa tape...be nice to see 'em try to pry that off

**forshelby** · October 23rd, 2012, 07:33 PM

Ahh you girls always know how to make me smile when stuff feels like it sucks!

Cassius - the idea of the waterbirth recreation is nice and all, but definitely not practical. DP would have a seizure if I told him I wanted to hire a birth pool to um.. not birth in LOL. The bath might be nice though when we get home. With any luck I'll get plenty of bonding after birth no matter how and where it happens. Nobody is separating me from my baby again, no matter what. I don't care if I have another c/s and have to be stuck in the OR for hours. Baby can have one hell of a BF while I drift in and out of consciousness.

Now that sounds like a plan!

**Footsteps** · October 25th, 2012, 12:55 PM

Love the plan forshelby!!! You've just make me lol and Dp just looked as if to say wth???!! Iv woke him up laughing oops x

**gypsy79** · October 28th, 2012, 12:59 PM

Does the hospital you will be going to have baths at all? The private hospital where I had DS didn't allow water births, but they did have baths you could labour in. For me, that is the best part. (I went public with DD and actually had a water birth, and for me it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. I LOVE labouring in the bath, but next time round I think I'll get out of the bath for the actual birth - if I can!) So anyway, if they have baths you can labour in, that might be a good compromise.