Hi Deana, we are also hoping to have a water birth. I'm sure they will go over it with you at the hospital or birthing center antenatal class. Where we are having our baby we were told that there is more chance of tearing in the bath but a smaller tear than you might get out of the bath. We were also told that if we had an Epidural that we could still labour in the bath but not deliver in the bath. The midwives make sure the temp is correct and they make sure the head and shoulders are out, that whoever is receiving the baby can take over, who ever that is will naturally take the baby out of the water and put bubs on your chests Re your birth plan, we were also told that the things to put on there are not so much what you want to happen but what you don't want to happen in certain circumstances. I found this particularly helpful so that dh and I could chat about it all before hand to minimise stressful decisions on the day. eg I don't want my membranes artificially rumptured, I do not want pethadine etc Good luck and as I said I'm sure your antenatal classes will cover a water birth