My waterbirth was at a birth centre and looking at the photos the spa water wasn't very dirty at all. I didn't tear though so I imagine if I had have then the water would have not been clear...
Thanks for posting this thread ummAadam, I am also wanting a water birth (but at a private hospital) and I'e also wondered about eh water getting dirty.
Alan does it really only get dirty right near the end like human bean said? Do you think not tearing like chocolatecatty mentioned could make a big difference?
In regards to how dirty the water gets. I only had a 1 degree tear and it wasn't dirty at all. My waters also broke in there. However afterwards the placenta fell out pretty much straight away and well yep it got very yuck then..
Also keep in mind, when pushing, sometimes you can have bowel movements and that'll make the water yuck too obviously.
Tearing usually will not have much of an effect on the water colour. In most cases when you tear there is not much bleeding. However if when you tear you damage a vein or an artery then there can be quite a bit of blood. How murky the water gets depends upon a few things including if you pee or poo, if your newborn poos, if your waters break when in the pool, how much bleeding you have after your baby is born. I usually carry a small scoop so that if mum does poo I can quickly scoop it up and dispose of it without too much trouble, and hopefully without mum seeing it. (saves embarrassment)
I have clear pictures of bub making her exit underwater so I know the water was clear then (I didn't poop during labour/birth) but then remember noticing the water pretty murky after DH cut the cord. I didn't tear, but bub had pooped in transit, and I didn't birth the placenta until out of the bath. So I guess it must have been bleeding after the birth like Alan said, that made it murky. Hadn't really thought about that part of it until this thread!
I have always wondered how you would empty the pool at home, if you syphon it out, you have to suck on the hose? lol, sorry but that just doesnt appeal lol
You do not need to suck on the hose but you could if you want to.
Connect the hose to a water tap. Ensure other end of hose is in the pool. Turn on tap. When water is flowing into pool pull hose off tap. The water will start to flow in the reverse direction and empty pool. Another way is to put most of the hose in the pool and ensure that the hose fills with water. Take one end of the hose and while it is still under the water kink it to prevent air entering then take it outside. Lay it on the floor, let it go and the water will flow from the pool.
For the above methods to work the garden needs to be lower than the floor of the pool.
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but you could if you want to.
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