Oh, yes - water! I'm still so undecided...I can imagine messing about with the machine would be a bit of a distraction in terms of 'shutting off' your rational brain. I suppose the only reason I was considering it was because it was suggested to me that perhaps I might want a contingency plan for alternative forms of pain relief, just in case I find I can't handle labour. But I kind of think I want to handle it by myself, without other forms of pain relief (chemical or not)! I suppose if I hire one, I could always just have it there, in case, and have my husband be in charge of it so I don't have to think about it. Hmm...thanks so much for your thoughts on this!