Uk water births allowed if induced?

[cooch]

If you're getting induced are you allowed a water birth? If not why not?

 

[MindUtopia]

From what I've been told, if you are being induced with the pessary, you can sometimes make the case for a brief period of monitoring and if all is okay, then you can get in the pool. If you're being induced with the drip, then no. The reason being is that induction raises the risks to you (of high blood pressure and hemorrhage) and baby (cardiac distress) and means they have to monitor you more closely than they would otherwise. The pessary is less likely to cause any problems and they usually don't ask to monitor you continuously in that case, meaning you're free to move around more. But because the drip is more risky for both of you, they like to keep you on a continuous monitor which you can't have on you in the pool. Also, realistically, being induced makes you much more likely to need an epidural, which means you won't be able to stay in the pool. Because most hospitals have limited pool rooms I think they tend to discourage you from using them if they think you'll not be able to stay in the whole time, because it just pisses off the other women who come in after and want to use it. If you get out midway through, they can't move you to another room, so the pool just goes unused even though there are other people who want to get in it. I don't think they'd give that as a reason, but assigning people to the right rooms is always a big source of stress and makes everyone really grumpy so I imagine they just try to avoid causing the backlog to start, if you see what I mean. All that being said, if you just go overdue, there really is little to no additional risk of just letting nature take it's course until about 43 weeks, so no real need to induce. If you're being induced because of medical complications during pregnancy (IUGR, pre-eclampsia, GD, etc.), they would probably not let you in the pool anyway because you'd considered 'high risk'. But if you're just getting the pessary and not due to pregnancy complications, definitely advocate for yourself to use a pool. My friend was induced (only the pessary) and she had a water birth.

 

[cooch]

The situation is I'm told I'll be induced as I had ivf. The hospital I'm with induce as they feel the risks are higher of the placenta failing in ivf births.

Not sure what I make of it tbh. I want the baby out safe, I know what kind of birth I want also. I'm also quite a small person height wise and I'll find out tomorrow how much further ahead baby is measuring, I think its a big baby as I'm the size of people whi are over 30 weeks. May go by myself I suppose.

 

[kanga]

No because they like to constantly monitor you and this can more easily be done if you're on dry land.

 

[baileybubs]

I was induced and they wouldn't let me even move around much I'm afraid let alone use the pool. They had to keep me on continuous monitors which meant I couldn't really move, and then as mindutopia said, despite trying to manage without an epidural I ended up really needing one which again added to the reason why I couldn't use the pool.

Remember though it is your choice whether you get induced though Hun, even if it is suggested that IVF babies get induced it doesn't mean you have to do that.

 

[liz1985]

I was told at my hospital that you can use the pool with induction. You dont have to be induced if they recomend it. You could request extra monitoring etc. Do what you feel is best.

 

[Eleanor ace]

At my hospital you can use the pool as long as you're not on the drip. If you have the pessary and go into labour they monitor you for 30 mins and then you can get in the pool or do whatever you would with a non induced birth. If you have the drip aand go into labour they turn it down until you're off it and if labour still keeps going on its own you can go in the pool. It seems differnet hospitals have different rules so I'd ask yours what their policy is.

 

[Amygdala]

I was told ahead of time that you can use the pool if induced by gel/pessary but not the drip. When I was in labour, they wanted to break my waters (to speed things up) and I was told absolutely no pool because baby's heart rate kept dipping. My whole pregnancy I'd been absolutely set on a water birth as I'd had one first time around. In fact I was terrified of a "land" birth. But the in labour, I just had to get on with it. I ended up giving birth in the "worst" possible way, lying on my back on a bed, pushing on command. Complete opposite of what I'd wanted. And you know what? It was fine. In fact it was better than my "perfect" water birth first time around. I'd go so far as to say I enjoyed the experience. And I didn't have a recovery that was any more difficult than first time either.
What I'm trying to say is, by all means aim and prepare for the birth you want. But don't worry too much if it turns out that certain things aren't possible or recommended. You can still have a great experience! Best of luck with everything!

 

[smileyfaces]

I was induced hoth times and as soon as I was in labour I was constantly on the monitor which meant a big no no for the pool.