Who has had a waterbirth?

[Dansta]

I had a water birth with DJ - 3 years ago and would have had one with vic had he not flew out!

but i love love love LOVED mine. it took all the weight off me and i could relax between ctx. also being a stubbon bull headed person in labour i refused to move so when DJ finaly made his entrance i delivered him myself. the water went manky on me thanks to being so long...and TMI but i did have a mini floaty in with me thanks to pushing for so long but the MW fished it out. but it was fantastic and for me i wish i could do it again. and yes the water goes red fairly quick but i can also say it may not help stop tearing as i tore birthing DJ.

[Sunny Love]

Cherished1 has a beautiful waterbirth story for you, it makes me well up with tears every bleedin' time!
It's in her signature if you're keen for a squiz.
xx

[Catherine]

my first was a water birth, my second a water labour.

thie resourcs is great: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Water...6796590?v=info

I have also attended several women who laboured in water very calmly. I have also attended an amazing water homebirth.

highly recommended.

xoxo
catherine

[*Ash*]

I had a beautiful home waterbirth four weeks ago. Prior to that I had 3 land births. I found it easier to relax between contractions this time around. I was also able to labour in positions that I would have found uncomfortable on land- eg. Modified 'hand and knees position' with wide knees and pelvis low to the ground; great for opening up the pelvic region.
I was the first person to touch my bub. I touched and held his head and body as it emerged. My MW helped bring him to my chest though, as I was in a semi-reclined position and could not lift him safely on my own.
He was so clean too- not necessarily better, just different; the water had washed away the blood and fluid, etc from his body. We stayed in the water no longer than 10 mins after he was born. I birthed the placenta on land.

[Julie Doula]

I had a birth pool for all 4 labours - but I only actually got to give birth in water for the last one (when I was 43 yrs old - he's now 22 months old). It was an aqua born pool, nice and deep, and very comfortable. He was born in his caul and then caught by me, and it did seem like a nice gentle way to be born. I was at home with respectful women supporting me so I didn't have to worry about anyone's 'protocols' making me get out before he was safely born. I stayed in the warm water, cuddling Rory and that's where the placenta was born, and someon caught it in a colander. We rested on the couch for a little while, my doula ran the bath for me and then baby, placenta and I all got into the bath with herbs added and it was bliss! The placenta floated in a bowl in the water next to us and me and bub cuddled more. Then after we got out, we went to our big bed and there we stayed for many days except for trips to the loo! I've loved the water for labour support during the other births but it was nice to actually have a waterbirth this time.

One other thought - a couple of my babies have had quite short cords. I was prepared for that possiblity with this birth. Sure enough his cord was quite short, so I had to stand up in the pool while we threaded the cord and the baby through my legs like a footbath, before I could sit down again and we could resume cuddling.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I didn't get my waterbirth but then i wouldnt have had time given how quickly he arrived.

[Julie Doula]

Yep, I've had that happen a time or two, LMS! The day we picked up the birth pool, daughter #2 was born - in a shopping mall food court! We returned the pool to the hire place without even taking it out of its bag! It took me till the 4th try!

[Cherished]

Cherished1 has a beautiful waterbirth story for you, it makes me well up with tears every bleedin' time!
It's in her signature if you're keen for a squiz.
xx

Awww Thanks Sunny Yes my water birth was just beautiful! I am pretty sure that if there is ever #2 that we will have a home waterbirth. The birth of ds was very quick so I didn't spend that much time laboring outside of the bath but the difference from standing to being in the water was incredible! While standing there was always a pressure there, the sensation was never gone. In the water I obviously felt the waves (contractions) but inbetween there was no sensation at all, I may as well have been just relaxing in a warm bath. As for the water being dirty I didn't have a clue, the lights were dim and I had my music playing and I was only focused on my body and the beautiful little baby that was about to be born. What I can tell you is that I never saw ds with blood on him or looking purple like most babies do. I guess he had a wash on the way out in the water and because the lights were dim I didn't see him purple. So my memories are just of a beautiful looking little bub and it all felt 'clean' being in the bath if that makes sense. As Sunny said my story is in my sig. Best of luck x

Just had a little loosky at my birth story, I didn't mention in it that I didn't have any stitches either so perhaps being in the water also helped with that?

[human bean]

I can only echo what everyone has said here about how amazing birthing in water is. I knew as soon as I got in that bath there was no way I'd be getting out again until after bub was born. The difference it made to ctx was remarkable. They turned off all the lights in the bathroom so only the soft light from the delivery suite was shining, MW sat in the corner with a torch, and I just did my thing. To be honest I don't even know if/when the water turned manky, not straight away and at some point they pulled the plug just before I said I wanted to hop out anyways. Was probably around 10 mins as we did delayed cord clamping and the first person to take DD from me was DH so I could stand up.

ETA I didn't have any tearing or grazing either and do often think perhaps being in water for almost 2 hours did help there? Who knows.