Is anyone considering a water birth?

[Mrs Eleflump]

I'd like to try it, as long as I'm allowed (there's a chance continuous monitoring will have to be done, though I'm hoping it won't happen). I'm not sure if I'll be in the midwife-led unit or the labour ward next door to it, so will see what's available closer to the time before I get my hopes up!

 

[GillandJamie]

I would love a water birth, but I am high risk. Epilepsy, back operation last year high BMI, it just sucks really as I am most comfortable in the water for my back pain. I have never heard of anyone being high risk and getting a hospital water birth! Please feel free to correct me if im wrong lol xx

 

[dlj2]

I wasn't allowed one last time due to high risk so expecting the same this time unfortunately.

 

[NotNic]

For some women it can slow down labour, but of the five of my group who laboured in the pool this was only true for one but she still delivered in the pool. I was the only one who had to get out but then my son got stuck. I progressed fairly quickly in the pool: 5-10cms in 3hrs with a back to back baby.

 

[CaptainMummy]

I had a water birth with dd2. It was such an amazing experience. The water was so good for relaxing me and I seemed to sail through contractions, I was sort of lost in my own little world with the lights down. I did poop in the water (it was so embarrassing, I was mortified!) but I guess they see it all the time haha! I only suffered a small first degree tear but didn't need stitches, where as with dd1, I had a second degree tear and a huge graze (owwies!)

I'm definitely hoping for another water birth this time.

The best bit for me was that bobody touched my baby. The midwife sat back and I was the one to take her out of the water

As for labour, I was 1hr 40 mins in total, only spent the last 45 minutes in the pool as I wasn't getting strong contractions until 5/6cm so I didn't think I was anywhere near giving birth. It definitely didn't slow my labour down!

 

[Buttercup84]

I'd love one but i'm at a high risk of hemmorhaging after the birth (lost 2.5 litres with my DD) so the consultant advised against me using the MLU where the birthing pool is. Don't feel confident enough to have a home birth but i'm hoping if I don't hemmorhage this time around I might be allowed to use the MLU when I have our third baby in the future

 

[Mcrobinson]

I want a water birth so bad! Both the hospitals my doctors and midwifes deliver at font have birthing pools. They do have showers though in the labor rooms. I thought about laboring in the shower with the water falling on my back or stomach while sitting on a ball. You think it would help?

 

[heidi87814]

I made the decision last week that I'd be having a home birth and have been thinking about making it a home water birth. Well, after reading all the positive experiences you ladies seem to have had, I think that's swayed it for me. A home water birth it'll be. I know my midwife's all for it.

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

We're planning on a water birth and after reading all the experiences here I too am super excited about it! Of course after speaking to the midwife and seeing the birth center (I'm too scared to do it at home) I was tickled but now I can't wait for December to be here already! Definitely worried about the whole pooping in labor thing though... I know I won't be the first or last, but it's still embarrassing to think about..

Mcrobinson - If you can't do a water birth I think still laboring in a warm shower would feel very nice and soothing.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Im hoping for a home water birth, i have already bought my eco in a box.

Main reason i wanted water birth this time was because of my SPD in my 2nd pregnancy, im getting SPD in this one.
I wanted water birth last time but hosp only had 1 pool at it was in use at the time.
Other reason for home part is i hate hosp, im uncomfortable in them and wasnt treated nice last time


I have high bmi this along doesnt stop you having water birth, my mw is very supportive of my choice but said we wont talk more about until im 30w.

I was told you shouldnt get in pool until 5+cm or it can slow labour down.

Id like to get in around 7cm, as for pooing in labour in general just something women need to accept may happen as gross as it sounds. If your there in labour stressing about having a poo it wont help.

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

Im hoping for a home water birth, i have already bought my eco in a box.

Main reason i wanted water birth this time was because of my SPD in my 2nd pregnancy, im getting SPD in this one.
I wanted water birth last time but hosp only had 1 pool at it was in use at the time.
Other reason for home part is i hate hosp, im uncomfortable in them and wasnt treated nice last time


I have high bmi this along doesnt stop you having water birth, my mw is very supportive of my choice but said we wont talk more about until im 30w.

I was told you shouldnt get in pool until 5+cm or it can slow labour down.

Id like to get in around 7cm, as for pooing in labour in general just something women need to accept may happen as gross as it sounds. If your there in labour stressing about having a poo it wont help.

I hope you get your water birth! That's too bad that the hospital you went to only had one pool and that they treated you awful I've heard so many terrible stories about hospital births from my friends I don't want to do it!

Hopefully working through labor will keep my mind off of stressing over the pooing lol

 

[Elizdia]

Thanks for all your responses, so helpful. Water birth it is then! I'm actually excited...

 

[Nanninoo]

I would LOVE to have a water birth but as I'm down as high risk like my last pregnancy I doubt they will even consider it! I'm so jealous as my hospital had a new multi-million maternity department and labour ward built and all rooms now have birthing pools in so I will be able to see it when I'm in labour and dreaming of being in it

 

[Elizdia]

I would LOVE to have a water birth but as I'm down as high risk like my last pregnancy I doubt they will even consider it! I'm so jealous as my hospital had a new multi-million maternity department and labour ward built and all rooms now have birthing pools in so I will be able to see it when I'm in labour and dreaming of being in it

Oh what a shame, thats so typical isn't it. I was classed as low risk but then that could change at anytime really cant it?
You just have to think they put you at high risk for a reason and that you want you baby to be healthy at the end of the day.

 

[BigAl]

I'd love a waterbirth, not worried about blood and things in there. Giving birth can be messy, it's not anything worth worrying about.

Unfortunately there is only one pool in the whole maternity unit, so i'm not holding my hopes up.

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

Thanks for all your responses, so helpful. Water birth it is then! I'm actually excited...

After deciding on a water birth with our midwife I switched from being nervous over the whole labor process to now I'm actually looking forward to the experience!

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Im hoping for a home water birth, i have already bought my eco in a box.

Main reason i wanted water birth this time was because of my SPD in my 2nd pregnancy, im getting SPD in this one.
I wanted water birth last time but hosp only had 1 pool at it was in use at the time.
Other reason for home part is i hate hosp, im uncomfortable in them and wasnt treated nice last time


I have high bmi this along doesnt stop you having water birth, my mw is very supportive of my choice but said we wont talk more about until im 30w.

I was told you shouldnt get in pool until 5+cm or it can slow labour down.

Id like to get in around 7cm, as for pooing in labour in general just something women need to accept may happen as gross as it sounds. If your there in labour stressing about having a poo it wont help.

I hope you get your water birth! That's too bad that the hospital you went to only had one pool and that they treated you awful I've heard so many terrible stories about hospital births from my friends I don't want to do it!

Hopefully working through labor will keep my mind off of stressing over the pooing lol

To say the hosp hadnt long been done up, one of main ones in the area having 1 pool was very poor.
Yeah, its so sad. Going to have your baby is such an amazing time, you need all the support from the staff.
Thankfully my first birth was amazing (hosp was 4.5hr away from the second) so that gave me the strength the second time but if second time had been my first i would have struggled like crazy.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

I would LOVE to have a water birth but as I'm down as high risk like my last pregnancy I doubt they will even consider it! I'm so jealous as my hospital had a new multi-million maternity department and labour ward built and all rooms now have birthing pools in so I will be able to see it when I'm in labour and dreaming of being in it

Please look in to it, being high risk shouldnt stop you having water birth (is depending on certain reasons)
Some people are classed as high risk purely on bmi thats just rubbish.
Deffo look in to it.

 

[littlefishygg]

I am hoping for a water birth but haven't spoken to my midwife about it yet. I am technically a high risk pregnancy because I have a health condition that increases the risk of miscarriage and premature labour and obviously I know if I go preterm I would be having a high risk birth but apart from that this condition doesn't raise any risks delivery wise so if I get to full term does anyone know whether I would still be classed as high risk?

 

[Hoping4Four]

Unfortunately (especially in the US) most doctors want you lying flat on your back with your legs up in stirrups so they have the easiest access to you and baby. It's one of the worst positions to give birth in! But I imagine a high risk mother wouldn't be allowed to birth in water simply because doctors/midwives can't be very "hands on" and baby can't be constantly monitored.