Does water really help that much with contraction pain?

[MrsFabuloso]

I think for some people it does make a definate difference, and some it doesn't. Not much help huh, lol! For me, I loved being in the bath when I was labouring at home and while I was in pre labour for days. The only place I could get comfy was the bath. I slept in the bath the day before I went to hospital because I couldn't find the same level of comfort I did anywhere else. The shower didn't do anything for me, but the bath....ahhhh, I still remember the bliss! But I love water and I love baths even when not pg, so maybe that might have been why it was so good for me.

[STARRYSKY]

what lilias said! I survived my pre labour by spending most of the nights in the bath, even had a sleep in there, also loved the shower, but was never offered water as pain relief at the hospital.

[Freya]

Nothing better than labouring and giving birth in water imo and Ive done two land-bed-back births and a free flowing waterbirth. I wish I had of had the water option with my first two.

Look, its still painful but not scary painful iykwim? It kind of dulls the pain enough that you can get through it without falling apart. I was chatting and thinking to myself while I was floating around in the tub, and when a cx hit I would lean on the side of the tub and sort of rock/swish my body through the water. Its really calming.

If your someone who has a nice hot bath if you have a sore body part then it would prob be a great option for you. Warm water soothes sore muscles and labour definately invites sore muscles right

[Rowellen]

I didn't go in the bath but I spent aaaages in the shower with the head directed on my lower back. I loved it. I didn't want to get out at all. I really found it helped a lot to get through the contractions.

[Olive]

i spent the last 30 mins of labour in the shower and it was bliss! i directed the nosel to either front or back depending on what felt better, but wish id gotten in sooner but it certainly made transition better!

[Visitor7]

All 3 of my labours have been spent in the shower, the entire time. I loved it, it was my only relief.

[Heaven]

The shower was bliss!! I was in there for hrs and hrs with the hot water on my back or down low at the front during contractions. It REALLY REALLY helped. I didn't like the bath though. I didn't like the weightless feeling. I felt more pain in there. Sort of like with the floating there was no other sensations in my body (like the weight of my feet on the ground, etc, etc) and so only the pain to concentrate on.

[Spring Angel]

I'm a weirdo in labour because I prefer to be lying down on my back. I close my eyes and kinda go into a quiet, still trance like state. I feel like I can't support my weight when I'm standing, sitting and it panics me. I've had inductions so I haven't had the bath option but TBH I couldn't stand the shower.

I think for me next time I'm going to try the shower/bath early on before the ctx get intense so I can get used to the feeling.

[Traveller]

I called my labouring time in the tub my "aquadural". I went from having to remember to try and relax, to being in utter bliss and sleeping through contractions. It's different for everyone but certainly worth a try before drugs.

[Liviam]

Both of my labours where spent in the shower - IT WAS HEAVEN!!!! Shower and DH's support where my own pain relief. DH controlled the shower for me and during a contraction it was on my tummy and on my back in between. Poor DH got drenched but he was awesome!!

[deletedit]

I spent a fair amount of labour with #1 in a nice big bath, and an hour or so in the shower (lying on my back on the floor with the water going straight on the sorest bit) and it really helped.

Was no time for anything with #3 though

[sasha]

I didn't go in the bath but I spent aaaages in the shower with the head directed on my lower back. I loved it. I didn't want to get out at all. I really found it helped a lot to get through the contractions.

This.

I went in the bath for S' birth and it was OK, probably mostly because I was able to hold onto the support bars on the side. The water went cold after a while and that annoyed me. I can't really remember if it helped the pain or just distracted me.

Then with T, I stood in the shower leaning over, then leant over a bean-bag, and then sat on a birthing stool, and all that time I had the shower directed on my lower back, and it helped a LOT. When we got close, the midwife turned the shower off and she was born then and there. I intend to spend most of my time in the shower for this one too.

Edited to add: I remember though with S, going in the shower at home and it just annoyed me because I got too hot. And I wonder if I'll feel the same with this one a bit because again, it will be at a warm time of the year? Have to wait and see, I guess. I'm actually just hoping it's quick so I don't have to worry about it too much!

[Cassius2]

water immersion was my friend! loved it! love my birth pool lol!