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.
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!
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