My birth centre does waterbirths. That's how Riv was born. It is a bit harder for them to see when you're in water, they suspect he *may* have been born posterior, but we'll never know for sure! I definitely carried him posterior but who knows if he turned or not.

As far as I know (I was a bit out of it, good ol labour hormones!) he was brought to the surface and placed straight on my chest/tummy. I think I could have had gas in the water if I'd wanted, but I think that's it. You might find though, that if you're torn, they'll pull you out of the water - as in, because of the water, they couldn't tell how much blood I was losing, and wanted to check it out. So I didn't birth the placenta in the water, they gave me the injection to birth the placenta so they could stitch me up. That wasn't on my birth preferences, but I trusted them and my birth support partners to do what was best.

Anyway, I can't imagine a birth centre being unprepared for a water birth. Whatever makes you most relaxed and comfortable I reckon!

Oh, and just a thought, I remember having gas for my stitches and thinking I could almost pass out...but I'm guessing that for a waterbirth pain relief, you'd have a lower dosage of gas, so you'd be more alert...I mean, they don't want you to slip under! So I guess the gas might just be enough to take the edge off, or help you focus on your breathing.
For me, the water itself was pain relief enough - it was brilliant!