Who has had a waterbirth?

**Jennifer13** · March 17th, 2012, 10:18 PM

I think hot water was added to the pool from memory and I stayed in for over half an hour. DD1 cut the cord while we were in there. I had to get out in the end to deliver the placenta because I was so relaxed all cx stopped completely! But we had a blow up pool so no wooden sides.

Although it was a bit slippery climbing out. I was somewhat awkwardly waddling to the toilet, but not too badly after 50 mins of pushing!

**Cassius2** · March 18th, 2012, 04:01 AM

i remember the midwives adding hot water soon after DD2 was born...but i was pretty ready once the placenta arrived to get out (this was 45 minutes after DD2 was born).

**phynna** · March 18th, 2012, 08:19 AM

Elly is a waterbaby! I laboured for hours without the pool because it took so long to fill as our hot water system ran out early on, and the difference once I hopped in was unbelievable! I could float on my back in between contractions and flip back forwards to my knees when they hit, no climbing or waddling, and it was amazing catching her myself too. She was so relaxed until I lifted her body out of the water too much and she got chilly. Took another 1 and 1/2 hrs for placenta to come, but delivered in the water just as the middys had convinced me to get out because I was shiverring s badly by then. So our water got pretty bad, but I didn't notice till the next day in the daylight, and we pumped it out the window straight into the garden anyway. Having another home water birth in Aug/Sept too, can't wait! You hear don many first time mothers speak of the horrible pain, and yes the contractions got pretty horrid but my birth was wonderful, best thing I've ever done!

**HotI** · March 18th, 2012, 09:40 AM

Phynna, come join us in the Homebirth thread!

**Cricket** · March 20th, 2012, 10:03 AM

I've had one water birth and used water for relief in labour with one other. Both were GREAT! The water totally helped me relax and made me much more able to cope with my contractions. Definitely planning on labouring/delivering in water again. (I didn't deliver DS in water, because we had to get out and change positions - he was pretty stuck, but eventually made his way out.

)
My birth stories are here:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...r-birth-49801/
and here:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...9-10-a-143504/

**HotI** · March 20th, 2012, 10:08 AM

Being in the water also makes it harder for others to touch you if you don't want to be touched. much harder to be cut without your permission if you are sitting in a pool.