Thinking about a waterbirth...

[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