Who has had a waterbirth?

[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/

[HotI]

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.

[phynna]

Phynna, come join us in the Homebirth thread!

I shall have to pop in tonight )

[*LittleMissSummer*]

Thanks Cricket

HotI - Thats the plan! I hated being touched and i want to do this all on my own this time.

[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.

[Cherished]

I had acupuncture last week and I forgot to mention in my other post that my therapist always tells me that having a water birth is as good as having acupuncture for any pain. Water birth is just good, good good

[CC11]

I had a home birth and whilst I definitely wanted to try the tub for pain relief, I wasn't entirely set on giving birth in it. But when the time came to push, I didn't want to move. Now I can't imagine giving birth any other way, I loved being in the water. Unfortunately I had heavy bleeding straight after (which turned out to be due to my placenta tearing) so I had to jump straight out - I am hoping next time I can transition a little slower from the water back to dry land haha.
I did also accidentally step on the plug a few times so we needed to keep refilling it whilst I was in it- but yeah, highly recommend it

[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!