Homebirth but not a water birth?

[Kirley64]

Most home births I see are all in water...for my first son i was really interested in a waterbirth because i love water comfort for pain normally - however being hooked up to a ctg for the whole labour i wasn't allowed in the bath. Instead though i was really really hot throughout the whole labour process and wanted lots of cool washers and ice put on me....

So my question is...are there many mums who have home births that aren't planned water births?

[LionsandBears]

One of the benefits of homebirth is being able to birth how you want. I wont be homebirthing anymore, but even if we did, I suspect I'll want to be more "grounded" and birth out of the pool. My bed would be nice. I've laboured in the bath and that was good but the circumstances weren't so I dont know. I also had ice whilst in a hot pool. I really wanted the warmth on my belly.

I have read you reduce your chances of tearing birthing in water. Not sure why.

[*Ash*]

Hi Kirley!

I have had two homebirths - both on land. I think I am just a land-birther! I am still contemplating whether to have a birthing pool at my next homebirth. My first child was born in hospital; we had planned a home water birth (and had a birthing pool available), however, I had PROM and did not progress to labour. So, I ended up in hosp on a synto drip. No water was available to me there.

With my second preg (first homebirth) we decided not to worry about getting a birthing pool - I had birthed on land once and knew that I could do it again! I was also feeling a bit ambivalent about the setting up and packing up of a pool. We had a similar though process with our second homebirth, and by then I was a seasoned land-birther! However, my legs felt very weak at one stage during that labour and it occurred to me later that a birthing pool might have alleviated that.

[meow]

My first birth was at a birth centre and I just knew I wanted to be on land.

Second birth was at home and I decided to try for the water birth thing to help prevent tearing. I got a wooden pool so it would be firm and help me feel grounded and I was quite skeptical that I would want to be in it at all. So while I had it, I didn't plan to have a water birth unless I wanted to on the day. And oh boy did I want to! It was SO good to get in the pool and there is no way I would have gotten out

[Eenee]

I labored in the water but birthed on land as I couldn't get into the position I needed to push DD out.

[Maruschke]

I was in the bath at the hossy and needed to get out... just because like others I needed to be anchored. Totally up to you how you birth .

[e_p]

I used a pool and LOVED it but the beauty of planning a home birth is that you get to birth how and where you want! I reckon if I wanted to give birth under the dining table or in the backyard my midwife woulda supported me to do that

[Jennifer13]

I've borrowed a birth pool for my upcoming home birth. I have no idea whether I'll birth in it or not, but it's there as an option! All I needed to buy was a pool liner ($40) and the tap fittings for the hose (negligible).

I figure I'll do whatever I feel like on the day!

[Julie Doula]

Three of my 4 homebirths were land-births. The first I used the birth pool for labour comfort but ended up birthing on land. The second I hired a pool but gave birth in the shopping mall the very day it arrived, before we even unpacked it. The third we got a pool all ready but my membranes released and I had a midwife who said 'no pool' - I know better now, there's nothing wrong with being in water during active labour with SROM so long as there are no signs of infection! The 4th - we finally had our waterbirth. I was in a kneeling or hands & knees position each time, in or out of water.

I figure I'll do whatever I feel like on the day!

yep!

[meow]

The second I hired a pool but gave birth in the shopping mall the very day it arrived, before we even unpacked it.

Oh can you please share that birth story? I'd love to know how a birth in a shopping mall works out!

[Julie Doula]

sure - here 'tis :Melbourne Doula: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is" - the birth of Saoirse Deborah

My freedom girl is 11 years old now.

[Liz]

Well, the plan was to have the pool set up incase I wanted it, and also so I could have a place in mind to be, cos I really had no idea where I was going to end up. I just couldn't 'see' where/how it was going to happen itms. But I'm not drawn to water during labour.. no inclination to get in shower or bath at all.. turned out that we didn't have time to get it setup anyway! LOL. So even my homebirth was a land birth

[LuluHB]

I birthed at hospital so not a home birth but laboured in the spa bath there . It was fantastic and I was starting to worry how I could stall the midwives from getting me out when the time came (no water births allowed). I needn't have worried though because I had a sudden urge that I needed to get out of the water NOW. DD2 was born 20 minutes later.

[Jennifer13]

Well, I waited for my m/w to ask if I was good to get in the pool and I LOVED it! I got out once to go to the toilet where I had my show but I couldn't get back in fast enough. I have dodgy knees and there's no way I'd have been able to kneel for that long out of the pool.

All up, I was in there for a couple of hours (about 50 mins of pushing) before she was born and at least half an hour afterwards. I didn't tear at all, I think one of the reasons water helps with that is the ease of leaning forward, which means no pressure on your perineum and some help with stretching things.

My support team added hot water when it cooled down, otherwise it was no hassle. Getting the pool ready was DP's job.

[Tegam]

I land birth at home sitting on the edge of my bed. I labour rather quickly. I love the shower.

If we go again I'd like to have a pool set up so I can of I want. I think I like the idea of water so there is a barrier between me and the people around me. But that's my issue I need to deal with before deciding if there is a number five put there

[Kirley64]

sure - here 'tis :Melbourne Doula: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is" - the birth of Saoirse Deborah

My freedom girl is 11 years old now.

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful story. I will be sure to check out those verses
Although i'm pretty confident God was a huge part of DS's birth. It went so smoothly and so quick despite being induced and despite being small and him a big baby. I'm so glad I have the confidence in how God designed women's bodies and childbirth! I think it makes a huge difference in the birth outcome.

[mommy_2_3]

I've often contemplated having a water birth at home. I know water births can also be at certain facilities across the U.S.. I think water births tend to be the most comfortable at home.