Who has had a waterbirth?

[*LittleMissSummer*]

As mentioned in my other thread i am really interested in having a waterbirth. The warm water was absolute bliss on my back through DDs labour and was very upset that i had to get out to start pushing!

Is there anything i should know first. But mostly i am interested in hearing peoples experiences, either negative or postive! Hit me with them!

xx

[ummAadam]

I had two waterbirths.

beautiful both times. love the warm water. last birth i had to get out once to use the toilet and as soon as i stood up the difference was incredible. so much more painful outside of the water.

also last baby was my biggest (4.3kg) and I didnt tear. I didnt in the other two births either but i had grazes that stung for days. but I think this time I didnt graze or tear at all because I was in the pool for about 4 hours before he was born. apparently the water softens the perineum (sp?)

anyway, love it and highly recommend it.

[loulabelle]

I had a home waterbirth 3 weeks ago. it was amazing! I found I could really relax in between contractions. I also found the actual birth to be much easier, I didn't even have to push him out.

only warning, just be prepad for the blood etc in the water after birth. it may look like youve lost liters because it goes so red, you haven't though. just warning so you don't freak out that you're bleeding to much.

will it be in Hospital? or home?


now I've done it on water, I could never go back. definitely do it of you can.

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[*LittleMissSummer*]

Thank you both

Thats one of my DP's concerns is how "manky" the water will get But i am not bothered, i didn't even notice all the blood and stuff after delivering DD and DP said there was A LOT!

It will be at the hospital, i would LOVE to do it at home but not possible

What was one thing that got me hooked is the delivering my own baby and bringing it up out of the water, i just think that would be such an awesome thing to do. To be the first person to touch my baby

[HotI]

What was one thing that got me hooked is the delivering my own baby and bringing it up out of the water, i just think that would be such an awesome thing to do. To be the first person to touch my baby

I birthed my son and then brought him up out of the water. Very cool. The water was not manky at all, it was clear for awhile after baby was born and then became bloody when the placenta began to come away. Some people choose to birth their placenta on land, so this could be an option.

[chepie]

LMS - I ended up having a water birth at the hospital where you are going and it was beautiful!! I only got in there after transition because the bath was waiting to be cleaned and I birthed my posterior 9 pound 2 baby girl with no grazes or tears... it was beautiful and I hope I can do it again!! I think the water helped soooooo much

[meow]

I had a water birth with my second baby and I wish I had first time too. It's awesome!

I had second degree tears with both my babies, the water birth didn't help me avoid that unfortunately.

[Arcadia]

I love the idea of bringing the baby up out of the water too...it makes the birth so private and intimate for you and the baby.

I've planned a waterbirth twice now but never set the pool up. I just don't feel like it when I'm labouring. It's weird because I STILL want a waterbirth!!!! Next time....

[CKJ]

I'm wanting a water birth so glad I popped in here! Now hoping the hospital allow me!

[e_p]

Thank you both

Thats one of my DP's concerns is how "manky" the water will get But i am not bothered, i didn't even notice all the blood and stuff after delivering DD and DP said there was A LOT!

It will be at the hospital, i would LOVE to do it at home but not possible

What was one thing that got me hooked is the delivering my own baby and bringing it up out of the water, i just think that would be such an awesome thing to do. To be the first person to touch my baby

I had a waterbirth at home late last year - it was *fantastic*. At one point, I'd been in the pool for a while and thinking contractions were pretty breezy and that it was easy to relax in between. I had to hop out briefly to go to the loo and had a contraction that was like being hit by a truck! Well...not really, but I was blown away by how much more painful it was out of the water!

I lifted my baby out of the water an up to my breast - the first hands my baby felt...and the water was clear afterwards apart from a small amount of vernix. We hopped out after about 10mins because I was getting cold so maybe if I stayed put for a bit longer the water would have been dirtier?

Hope you get your waterbirth!!

[Ambersky]

My waterbirth with dd2 was great, its the primary reason i am homebirthing again, the hospitals around here are not water birth friendly and i just cant imagine drylanding it again. The water was fine till after i birthed the placenta and even then was only cloudy.... none of the 'shark attack' effect DH had been being silly about.

[loulabelle]

the water only goes bloody after baby is born. and as eutra said, it doesnt always happen anyway. mine did instantly. honestly though, you dont even care at the time anyway.

and delivering your own baby, its the most amazing thing. magical.

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[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.

[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.