Those who wanted a water birth (UK).... did you get one?

[Wtbam]

Hi there

To all of those in the UK, who have had babies before, how many pools were in your birthing unit, and did you get one?

There are 2 in the unit I am booked in to deliver at, and I was wondering about the chances of me getting to use one?

 

[Gingerspice]

I phoned in an asked while I was in labour and they said both pools were currently free. ObvI Ousby couldn't guarantee they'd stay free before I was in, but they said they didn't have anyone calling in likely to be planned entry before me. The asked me to wait at home for a while longer. When I got in I was 5cm dilated so they said I could go straight into the pool.

Personally I think this was a mistake. I'd already been in labour for 2 days and the water really slowed me down again. I got in the pool at 6PM. . At midnight they got me out and broke my water and little progression but body was telling me to push anyway. Which caused cervix to swell.

In end LO was born via ventouse at 4.22am with episiotomy.

The water did help ease pain, but i would suggest holding off until definitely beyond 5cm to hope it doesn't slow things down.

 

[Wtbam]

Thanks for that! I didn't realise the pool would slow down labour in the early stages. That is really useful to know!

 

[Gingerspice]

Thanks for that! I didn't realise the pool would slow down labour in the early stages. That is really useful to know!

It's just something to consider. At that hospital
5cm was the point where you were allowed into the pool because before that it can slow thin gs a lot. I think it's something to be wary of, and perhaps wait until you are definitely further along

 

[CaptainMummy]

I think there are 2 (or possibly only one) at my hospital. I was induced and so gutted that I wast going to get my water birth. Went in at night and was given a sweep and a dose of gel... And the midwife said she would just leave me until the morning because she knew I wanted a water birth so would wait and see if my body did anything. Come 9am, contractions had just started, and I was put on the monitor and examined and Bingo! I was 5/6cm! It took them a while (about. 45 minutes) before they even moved me, but I was taken to the delivery room with a pool. I couldn't quite believe my luck!
40 minutes of being in the pool and she was here!

I'm hoping for a water birth again this time

(This was my second baby, I was induced and waters broken/on pitocin etc for dd1)

 

[Yo_Yo]

Yes, I wanted one with dd2 and got one. Was fab

 

[EmzyJA]

I was induced but still got to go in the pool. They broke my waters and contractions were getting strong. Can't remember how dilated I was but it slowed it down for me too and had to get out and get on the drip. I found the water was too shallow and wasn't warm enough anyways. I like a hot bath lol. They can't make it too warm obviously. I may try again this time if I can x

 

[CaptainMummy]

I was induced but still got to go in the pool. They broke my waters and contractions were getting strong. Can't remember how dilated I was but it slowed it down for me too and had to get out and get on the drip. I found the water was too shallow and wasn't warm enough anyways. I like a hot bath lol. They can't make it too warm obviously. I may try again this time if I can x

I like a hot bath too. I remember when I got in the pool (it was still running.) and the midwife was saying 'I'll just add some more cold' and I insisted that it was fine and I didn't need it colder... Clearly not thinking ahead lol! It didn't actually feel cold now that I think about it. I would absolutely hate to take a 37 degree bath though!

 

[NotNic]

Of sorts. I got in the pool for 5-10cm and an hour of pushing, but as he was stuck I ended up being transferred out of the birthing suite into the labour ward. For me it didn't slow anything down. It took roughly 3hrs to get to 10cm with a back to back baby. I will say though, I was freezing after I got out, but didnt realise. This time I will make sure OH is prepped to get me a nightshirt to put on for when I get out.
Also there were 2 pools in the birthing centre and I think 1 or 2 in the labour ward. I just had to ring and put my name down for one when I started having proper contractions. It wasn't to reserve it as such, but for them to manage the pools fairly.

 

[pinkcatgirl]

There were 2 on the midwife led unit I was due to give birth in, and one on the labour ward. When I arrived at hospital at 2am the MW unit was shut due to lack of staff! Had to go to labour ward and luckily the pool was free. Another lady came in to the ward just behind me and I was yelling "Bagsy the pool, Bagsy the pool!". I got in at 4cm (2:30am) and stayed in there til I delivered at 07:42am. I got out for 1 contraction so they could check me, and it was so much more painful, I got straight back in.

No idea if it slowed things down, think 5 hours for a first labour is pretty quick!

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Only 1 on L&D when i had my 2nd girl in 2009. It was big L&D do it really was pot luck.

You must remember what is good for one women may not be for another. Same goes for length of labour in water, for some it will speed it up for others it will slow it down.

As far as i am aware you are not recommended to enter pool until you are in active stages of labour, as before may not help and could stall it.

I found in my first labour after having 8hr of irregular contractiond which had stopped the water brought them back once i got out the bath they stopped again but went into active labour approx 4hr later.

Im hoping for a home water birth this time.

 

[Mrs HM]

I think there are 4 pools at my hospital and it's pot luck if you get one or not. First time I didn't as my DS was undetected breech so it was an emce for me. I was 36weeks anyway, so technically premature and wouldn't have been allowed to use the pool anyway.

This time I did get to use it for my VBAC and it was fab. I arrived at the hospital at 6cm dilated and got into the pool an hour later ready to push, and my DD was born 35mins later.

 

[Eleanor ace]

At my hospital there are 2 pools on the MLU (there are 3 rooms total on the MLU) and 1 room with a pool on L&D (out of 10 L&D rooms). I wanted a water birth with my 1st but couldn't have one due to some complications. Both pool rooms were available on MLU that night though. With my 2nd I had to deliver on L&D and I got the pool . My delivering MW said that the pool room on L&D isn't requested all that much because usually women delivering on L&D (rather than the MLU, which is in the hospital just a little way down the corridor) are there because they want the option of pethidine or an epidural which you can't have with a water birth (or at least with pethidine, you then can't get in the pool for 4 hours).