Thinking about a waterbirth...

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks for the t-shirt tip Traveller! I laboured in a nightie with DD, that was short, and buttoned right through for easy opening at the required skin-on-skin time. I like the idea of keeping it on...

Nelle, I had no idea you could have a VE while in a tub - thanks for the pointer!

I need to write these things down so I can ask the MW on Tuesday...

[Nelle]

I don't think you can Traveller...but I do know that the midwife told me to feel between my legs because I'd find something (the head), so she must have been able to see something? Unless she was just guessing from how I sounded/behaved?

Re: clothes on or off, just see how you go at the time. I bought a top to labour in because no WAY was I getting my kit of unless I needed to, I'm a modest sort of gal. Or was. And seriously, the minute the middy said 'alright you can hop in the' - WHAM - my clothes were off and thrown about the room and I was IN the bath.

[Traveller]

I think I had to get out of the tub for any VE's, although the heartrate can be checked underwater. The midwives do use mirrors on sticks though so they can see what is happening.

[Nelle]

I *think* I remember them checking the heartrate. I'll ask DH if they used a mirror. I was sort of in the zone so no-one really talked to me, you know 'when the zebra's in the zone, leave him alone'. I glared at anyone who made noise.

[Schmickers]

'when the zebra's in the zone, leave him alone'

Most midwives prepared for a labour / birth in water will have a waterproof doppler to monitor heart rate. Apart from that, there's not heaps more a VE will tell you that you can't figure out from what the woman is doing anyway, unless they've been labouring for hours and hours without progress or something.

[alioops]

Do it Do it Do it Do it Do it! Water birth is awesome. I had DD1 in the pool, and DD2 was just after geting out for a VE and ARM.

Most midwives prepared for a labour / birth in water will have a waterproof doppler to monitor heart rate.

My MW with DD2 accidentally used one of the L&D dopplers, which wasn't waterproof The hospital had 1 less doppler after that.

[Mummato2]

If you have the opportunity - DO IT!!!!!

I had one with my second baby - tore with my first and not a graze with my WB.

I lOVED it - took the pain almost away and I had a completely drug free birth (and I am someone who faints with sunburn)

I only had one VE - which was out of the bath - other than that, doppler was used in the water and the midwife just knew where I was at because of the way I was acting.

I would almost have another baby just to birth again, and anyone who knows me - knows I would never have thought that before my last birth