water birth experiences

[cupcakekate]

I know it's a little early to be deciding on this but was just after some opinions. With my first baby I didn't even consider a water birth, I just didn't like the idea of it at all. However, when I was having contractions and was still at home, sitting in the bath was the only thing that relieved my pain. This has made me wonder whether a water birth would be better for me this time around, as the water obviously helped.

Any experiences of water births I'd love to hear!

x

 

[Mummy2Corban]

Hey lovely, I never considered it with my first but I've been reading about it and I'm swaying that way! Gonna stalk this thread! Xxx

 

[ttc bubby no2]

My 2nd was a water birth. I didn't find it to lessen the pain of contractions when I got in the pool (I remember asking my midwife if it would and she said it might). It was just as painful but I was also very close to transition so labour was quite intense. I do think it helped him come out easier as I managed to push him out with no tearing compared to my first who was much much smaller and gave me a 2nd degree tear. I also credit my awesome midwife for telling me to breathe him out and not push so maybe it wasn't the water.

Anyway, I really liked birthing in the water and do highly recommend it. One thing I would have changed was I would have asked for more water in the pool as my bum was a bit cold sticking out as I was leaning over the side.

Mine was at home with a blow up birth pool

 

[Feronia]

I loved my water birth! I used an inflatable kiddie pool, and it was pretty amazing relief. I could still feel the contractions, but they were far more manageable. I also think the water helped me not tear at all, and it was awesome catching my daughter underwater and pulling her up to me!

 

[fides]

loved my water birth - helped ease the pain a little, and i was able to get into a deep squat for an hour (something i couldn't possibly do on land) to deliver

 

[x Helen x]

It's never to early to start thinking about these things!

I didn't plan to have a water birth, I don't know why but I just didn't fancy the idea of one. Fast forward to me being in labour... I was only 1cm dilated when they checked me at the hospital but my contractions were hardcore and I was in absolute agony. After some begging (lol) they let me stay in for a while, at least until they needed the room for somebody else. I spent the next two hours in a LOT of pain (wasn't allowed pain relief as not in "established labour"), to the point where I was throwing up. It was at this point where the midwife suggested I take a bath in the birthing pool to help ease the pain. I remember thinking "yeah right, as if" but as soon as I got in that water.... OH MY GOD... Bliss!!! I could still feel the contractions but they were so much more manageable than before, I was even falling asleep inbetween contractions and hubby had to keep waking me up. It was an incredibly serene almost out of body experience for me once I got in that water.

After just under an hour of being in the pool I could feel myself pushing. At which point they had sent my husband out to get something to eat as they said it would be "hours yet", but that's another story lol! Well, when I finally managed to convince the midwives that LO was well and truly on her way out, my mum was frantically calling my husband to get him back, and Chloe was born about 5 minutes later! I didn't find delivery particularly painful. A lot of people talk about the "ring of fire" but I didn't feel any of that.

I did sustain a labial tear during the birth. Didn't feel it at all at the time but it was very painful in the weeks after and became quite badly infected.

I would ABSOLUTELY choose a water birth every time if I could. I am actually quite scared of NOT being able to have a water birth next time round, if for example there was no pool available at the time. For me the whole experience changed when I got in the water, everything seemed so much better.

 

[Mummy2Corban]

I'm hoping to go to the midwife led unit at our hospital and use the pool! How do you deliver the placenta?
Xxx

 

[x Helen x]

I'm hoping to go to the midwife led unit at our hospital and use the pool! How do you deliver the placenta?
Xxx

I had to get out to deliver the placenta. I think sometimes they will allow you to deliver the placenta in the pool if the water is clear enough for them to see, but if it's too bloody then they get you out and onto the bed

 

[Feronia]

I'm hoping to go to the midwife led unit at our hospital and use the pool! How do you deliver the placenta?
Xxx

I had the option to stay in the pool, but the warm water was slowing down my contractions (they never got closer together than 4 min when I was in active labour and pushing, which was honestly fine by me). I decided to get out and delivered the placenta 10 minutes later on dry land. Doing that also lets them check you for tears and stitch you up if need be right away.

 

[gizmodo]

I had a waterbirth in hospital and it was the most amazing experience of my life.

I was 8cm when I arrived and it was pure bliss going in the pool. I was so chilled though that it took me 7 hours to get from 8cm to 10cm! I did have gas and air, but I didn't use it much.

I will be gutted if I don't get to use the pool next time.

 

[Bingo]

I'm desperate to birth in the pool this time and hope it will help to keep me calm.

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

I had a water birth with my DD and it was amazing!!

I wouldn't say that it eased any pain, it still bloody hurt but I was much more able to cope with the pain. It also helped with the pool being so big that I could still move around although I spent most of the time squatting. Everything about it was just bliss. The warm water being over my bump helped, I didn't have any pain relief and only 2 grazes, no tearing.

I'd reccomend a water birth to everybody, when we have more I hope to have another water birth although I'd like to do it at home as opposed to in hospital

 

[Kellen]

We are scheduled to have a hospital waterbirth when I finally go into labor. I know just the normal tub at home has helped ease my backache. It is also so much easier to move around in the water. When in pain I tend to want to be mobile and I think being in the pool will really help me focus on something beyond the contractions. But... we'll see!

 

[bumblebeexo]

I went to hospital at 3pm, and I was 7cm dilated. In the pool I obviously felt pain, but to be honest it wasn't that bad. I was texting, joking with OH and the midwife, so that says it all really!
I decided to come out the pool to push at around 7pm, because I couldn't get comfy in the pool. As soon as I came out my contractions felt like they were on top of each other, and it was the only point in my whole labour I felt like I couldn't do it. Thankfully she only took 30mins to come out, so it was 4 good hours in the pool and half an hour bad out the pool!
I'd definitely recommend a water birth to anybody.

 

[third time]

I really hope I can have one! We are limited on the number of birthing pools the hospital has!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I am so hoping I get mine. Il be sad if I dont lol.
I am not hoping to use it for pain but more for ease to move around xx

 

[pinkcatgirl]

I went to hospital at 2:00am and was 4 cm dilated - had been in labour for about 4 hours by then and using the TENS machine at home which was great. I got in the pool at 2:30am and it was lovely, the contractions were still there, but mostly ok with the gas and air. It was great to be weightless and warm and my husband poured water down my back over and over which felt great. I got the urge to push at about 6am and had to persuade the midwife to recheck me (apparently they only do it ever 4 hours). She was amazed I was 10cm dilated, and so I got back in the pool. I had one contraction out of the pool, and thought "hell no" and got straight back in!

My daughter was born at 7:42am and looking back I love the fact that I delivered her and touched her first, and lifted her out into the world.

My birth plan was TENS / Pool / gas & air, and I was really happy I did it! My mother scoffed at it, especially when i showed her the "relaxing birth music" CD I had also got but it honestly got me through.

I only begged for drugs once, and it turned out that was transition and pretty close to delivery

Would be gutted if I couldn't have a water birth next time.

Good luck!

 

[blondebabe]

Ok, so all my life i have been asking ladies about THEIR birth stories and have been waiting for this moment to finally tell MINE

I had been getting braxton hicks since 26 weeks and during my pregnancy they have been getting stronger and more painful. I was 9 days overdue and had my first sweep at 1pm on 26th May...

On 27th May at around 13:00pm i started getting regular braxton hicks coming and going every 20 mins...didnt think much of them because i had been so used to the pains. (By this point i was 9 days overdue) I went shopping and got some food for tea with my OH and thought nothing more of it. Got home bounced around on birthing ball whilst watching coronation street and eastenders and ate some chicken pie and chips.

At around 8pm i was getting a bit uncomfortable so i jumped in the bath with some scented candles and a pregnancy magazine..and thats when the first pain hit me..it was the sort of pain low under my bump that had me having to breathe through it...then another came 7 and a half mins later..i thought to myself "this is strange i dont like this very much i wish it would go away..or maybe i'm in labour??? naa proberly not i have a cervical sweep tomorrow and even then i'll proberly get induced"

I suddenly had the urge to poo so i jumped out the bath and opened my bowels (alot) and then hopped back into the bath where another contraction hit me. I had my OH's iphone with a contraction timer appt which i highly recommend!!! It was strange because i had been told that a "normal" labour starts at 20 min contractions but mine were hitting me hard to 7 mins, 6 mins, 5 mins and then 4 mins! They changed so quickly i lost track of time but tryed to stay home for as long as poss just incase we got in the car and they went to 20 mins apart.

After only having 15 contractions i pleaded with OH to phone to hospital...the lady was really nice and managed hear me whilst i was having a contraction so she could assess how far i was....she heard me and said "ok yes come in" i relaxed a little after that and chucked my PJs on and got in the car.

We got there in 14 mins (midnight) & during that time i had 4 contractions. They were pretty sore pains by this point but i tryed to stay brave. We turned up at recieption and thats when we realised we had forgotten my notes!!!! *shit* i was like "omg i m so sorry" i was nearly crying lol i thought they were gonna have a massive go at me but they were lovely. We phoned OH's parents and they brought our notes which was so kind of them because it was now 12:30am! The midwife examined me & i was 6cm yay
The next thing out my mouth was "gas & air please" whilst they filled the pool up for me. As soon as i got in there it was lovely! i had a tank of gas & air on wheels so i could use it whilst i was in the pool. The pains were coming thick & fast about 2-3 mins apart. I was able to give the gas and air mouthpiece to OH between contractions so i could relax. Between contractions i started to shivver a bit and the midwife put some more hot water in which was lovely. He was amazing and helped me count and breathing and calm my breathing down. By this point it was about 3am and i was getting fed up of being in pain and this is when i started to lose my head a bit wimpering and saying "oh god i cant do this" (aparently thats when your about 8cm?) they didnt check to see how far i was but they said they could feel baby's head coming down. By this point the water was starting to get cool but i didnt realise and told them not to put too much hot in. There was a massive pain straight after one of my contractions and i grabbed the mouthpiece back and started hyperventilating on gas and air and blacked out!! when i came too the whole room was spinning and i felt really funny and my voice was very deep like a mans voice lol. Aparently my OH and midwife were actually talking to me to slow down my breathing but i couldnt here them it was ever so strange!!! Anyways at about 3:30am i started to push as for some reason the pains changed and i felt like i needed to push the pain away so i did...after 20 mins of pushing i SUDDENLY felt the head start to move down..i was like "omg i can feel the head coming" i calmed myself down as much as i could gave some really strong pushes. I could feel his head coming down as i pushed but then go back up slightly. I carryed on pushing and then suddenly i had a burning sensation in my vagina as i pushed it got worse and worse. (for a first time of me doing this, the feeling was so wierd!!)
The midwife asked me if i wanted to deliver him myself and i said yes so they asked me to lie on my back and give a push. By this point i had forgotten about gas and air and i was quite ok without it. I pushed and his head poped out along with his hand (naughty boy) up against his face. As i waited for my next contraction i went to touch his head but was told not to because he might go into shock and suddenly inhale a load of water.

With the final push he came out into my hands and i cuddled him. He cryed straight away and my OH cut the cord. The water was quite cold by this point but i didnt realise. The midwife took a sample of blood from the cord (because i am o rh negative) and handed baby to OH whilst i got out the birthing pool. My plan was to have an injection to pass my placenta but it came away fine by itself i was just told to cough a little and then she pulled it out. I was a wierd feeling as it was coming out i can only describe it as a soft dinner plate folded in half and then as it came out it up flopped lol.
They dimmed the lights and tryed to help me latch him on but he wouldnt so we just cuddled him and said we would try again later. The midwives left us alone for a good hour and a half which seemed to fly by !

Harry Matthew Born at 3:54am on Saturday 28th May

Hope you enjoyed my story xxx

 

[third time]

That's a lovely story!

 

[xx~Lor~xx]

I laboured in the birthing pool with my first but had to get out to deliver as there was meconium in her waters. With my second, despite there being meconium in his waters too, there wasn't enough time to get me out and I delivered in the birthing pool. I absolutely loved it, personally. If you want to read my story click on the link in my signature to 'Logans birth story'