Who has had a waterbirth?

[Jennifer13]

DD2's home birth was in the water. I loved it. You'd have needed to drag me out with a crane to deliver her anywhere else!

I loved being able to easily move around to any position and kneel for the whole time on the padded floor (I have dodgy knees). And I thought it would probably help with tearing. Not sure if it was water or the position, but I had no tearing. And I was able to catch my baby myself. That was amazing!

I lost only a little blood so the water was fine really. M/ws had a scoop to fish anything out during pushing but I didn't notice. I had to get out to deliver the placenta, but that was about 50 mins later when I'd had plenty of cuddles!

If I ever have another baby the pool will be ready early, water certainly didn't slow my labour down.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

Thanks everyone! Now i am getting VERY excited!!

Its the contractions i worry about, they were so intense and overwhelming with DD's labour which made me have pain relief which i really didn't want but i wasn't coping.

Because all of the new rooms have baths every woman has the option of a waterbirth but i will be saying i want one so they can be sure i have a midwife who is trained to be there.

Cherished, i'll check out your birth story soon! Looking forward to it!

[Traveller]

Sometimes when there is a bath in the room, the hospital policy is not to allow a waterbirth but just to allow them for pain relief. It depends on the depth of the water. Also in a bath you can be restricted for movement. Speak to the hospital and if this is in fact their policy you may be able to take an inflatable birth pool into hospital with you (depending again on their policies). They may also have a larger birthing pool somewhere which is very awesome for labouring.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

Oh no they are promoting water births. I was asked what i thought about it and if i was interested. This particular midwife has been at 24 water births and she said each and every woman loved it. She said she found water to be a great pain relief for herself.

The only time i wouldn;t be able to have the water birth is if i didn't have a trained midwife. But i will be making note that i am very interested.

[Traveller]

that's fabulous then, what a brilliantly equipped hospital! I struggle with the concept of being trained for a waterbirth but as you say as long as you let them know from the offset that this is your plan then it shouldn't be a problem

[meow]

Make sure you check their water temps too. I've heard a lot of hospitals have luke warm water and a water birth is pointless because you don't get the pain relief from nice warm water.

I was almost falling asleep between contractions in the birth pool- it was awesome. And I was much calmer and zen during them too. Outside of the pool I was carrying on and panicking during contractions and willing myself to relax between them.

[Jennifer13]

I have heard some m/ws will not object if you stay in the bath/pool, even if it isn't policy. I've often wondered what they'd do if you refused to get out anyway?

You need the water deep enough so the baby's head cannot get above the water until it's completely born and lifted out. That's right, isn't it Trav?

And the baby is quite slippery when you lift them out!

[Traveller]

I have heard some m/ws will not object if you stay in the bath/pool, even if it isn't policy. I've often wondered what they'd do if you refused to get out anyway?

You need the water deep enough so the baby's head cannot get above the water until it's completely born and lifted out. That's right, isn't it Trav?

WRT the birth if you refuse to get out the bath, not unheard of for the plug to be pooled so you are in a cold hard bath with no water. It helps if you don't push vocally so you trick them into thinking the birth is a while away though.

In reference to the water depth: Yes that's right

The hospital I had the twins in had baths in every room but strict warnings of no births in them because they were not deep enough. However they had a lovely pool which was massive and loads of room for turning around. I loved it

[meow]

And the baby is quite slippery when you lift them out!

Oh yes! TBH I found the birth pool a pain in the bum within about 5 seconds of giving birth I suddenly noticed the water was colder, I was tired and trying really hard to hold onto slippery, soft baby and not drop him in the water. Then when I wanted to hand him to my H to hold so I could get out of the water my MWs wouldn't let me because it might jerk the cord so I somehow had to heave myself out the pool (it was a high sided wooden one too) while holding baby and I was kind of ****ed off and cranky about it all. As much as I loved it at the time, I was so glad to be out!

[Jennifer13]

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]

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]

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]

Phynna, come join us in the Homebirth thread!

[Cricket]

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/

[phynna]

Phynna, come join us in the Homebirth thread!

I shall have to pop in tonight )

[Pip82]

I had one at home but we ran out of hot water at the worst time so couldn't keep the temp up after the baby was born and I had to get out before the placenta came out. It was an annoying distraction but I would do it again, with an urn as backup!! The waterbirth itself was great and such good pain relief I didn't even think of any drugs (not that I had any available to me). I would recommend it for sure.

[gypsy79]

I laboured in a bath for my first and birthed in one for my second. I loved both of my water experiences!

My first labour was great. I was in the bath from about 5 cm and really felt relaxed between contractions. Thought I was doing great, as did my midwife. Had to get out for ob to check me (I was at a private hospy and they don't allow water births), got deflated to hear I hadn't progressed, let the pain get to me and ended up with an epidural. TBH I was probably about ready to get out anyway though, as I wanted to be kneeling and the bath wasn't deep enough for that.

Prior to my second labour I had done a lot more research. I was at a public hospital this time which did allow water births, my midwife was trained for water births and knew I was interested in one. I had also read Juju Sundin's 'Birth Skills' and had lots more strategies in the way of pain management techniques. Once I was at the hospy, after all the initial checks etc, my midwife suggested the bath and I agreed cos I knew I would like it, even though I felt like I was happy where I was at the time. I was about 7 cm at this stage. The deeper pool (as was necessary for actual water births) was great, cos I was able to be on my knees leaning over the side of the pool and was still in the water. I was talking and making jokes in between contractions, very relaxed, and I'm very glad that I did agree to get in! DD arrived quite quickly in the end, so I would say I wasn't in the pool for more than half an hour, and unfortunately I got a second degree tear (same as last time).

Even though I loved my waterbirth, there were a few negatives for me.
- I delivered in a kneeling position, so it actually felt a bit panicked cos they made me sit back as soon as she came out so they could pass her up in front of me, instead of her coming up behind. So they were giving me instructions before she was born, and then as soon as she was out, it was like 'right, sit back, do this, do that...'
- Also, at my hospital the policy is that you have to get out of pool to birth the placenta. So just a few mins after she was born, I handed her over to DH so I could get out and deliver the placenta (not an easy thing to get out of a deep pool with a clamp attached to the cord that's still hanging out of you ). And DD wasn't given back to me for ages - we had done the placenta, I had waddled back to my room and I think they had started stitching me before I got her back.

So, even though I loved the water, I'm not sure what I'll do next time. I will definitely labour in the bath again, but may get out for the actual birth.

Oh, and I didn't notice the muckiness of the water (although I think DH did). But for me, the lights were dim, it was very relaxing and the colour of the water wasn't an issue at all!

[*LittleMissSummer*]

Thanks for sharing.

I've been giving it alot of thought and the bath during my DD's labour was great but for the actual pushing i was comfortable on the bed so i may even give that a go again. I just liked the idea of being the first to hold my baby but DP is a bit nervous about it and said he would like to see our baby boy being born.

I guess ill wait and see how i feel.