Water births

[Mummymoo_x]

I really want a water birth. Mainly because I think it will ease the pain & make me feel comfortable....does anybody know if you could go into the water purely for pain relief purposes and then give birth out the pool? I wasnt planning on this just curious?

Absolutely, some women just have baths during labour to help, this was what was in my birth plan, when I got in the pool it was only then I thought "yup not getting out of here until I've had my baby lol" but originally I was only going to get in to help with pain relief (as lame as it sounds I was worried about pooing in the pool ) but I was so comfortable I knew I wanted to carry on and the MW just explained the procedure then and there. I then had to get out to deliver the placenta as that was hospital procedure, I haven't decided where I will deliver placenta yet this time, research isn't totally decided. But yeah course you can, some women get in and don't like it, others just as you say don't fancy doing the birth bit in it

Thankyou! I dont know anyone personally thats had one! & mostly on tv programmes etc they dont show a lot of water births. But I know I'd want one I just think the water is so soothing (you always feel lighter in water too haha) x

 

[Pearls18]

I really want a water birth. Mainly because I think it will ease the pain & make me feel comfortable....does anybody know if you could go into the water purely for pain relief purposes and then give birth out the pool? I wasnt planning on this just curious?

Absolutely, some women just have baths during labour to help, this was what was in my birth plan, when I got in the pool it was only then I thought "yup not getting out of here until I've had my baby lol" but originally I was only going to get in to help with pain relief (as lame as it sounds I was worried about pooing in the pool ) but I was so comfortable I knew I wanted to carry on and the MW just explained the procedure then and there. I then had to get out to deliver the placenta as that was hospital procedure, I haven't decided where I will deliver placenta yet this time, research isn't totally decided. But yeah course you can, some women get in and don't like it, others just as you say don't fancy doing the birth bit in it

Thankyou! I dont know anyone personally thats had one! & mostly on tv programmes etc they dont show a lot of water births. But I know I'd want one I just think the water is so soothing (you always feel lighter in water too haha) x

Lol yeah definitely makes it easier to move around more! You can always get in and change your mind, as with anything some women don't like it, I couldn't imagine doing it any other way lol.

 

[Mummymoo_x]

Me neither, soon as I was pregnant I knew I'd want a water birth! Well thats if everything goes smoothly fingers crossed

 

[Reno]

I loved my water birth, got in at 7cm after my waters broke. I must have been in for a while, it's a bit of a blur despite being on minimal g&a!

Only downsides for me were, they obviously have to keep it topped up to a good temperature for baby, and i begged them not to add any more hot water as i was boiling lol

Also, I hemorrhaged so didn't get my physicalogical third stage as they had to get me out of the water asap, and get the placenta out. Did get a little cuddle before it turned in to a blood bath and DH nearly passed out!

The only other factor was tearing. I think if i had of been out of the water I would have been examined closer and had an episiotemy.

I managed just find on g&a, and didn't even think about other pain relief once I was in the water!

 

[geordie_gal]

This is my first and I'm hoping for a waterbirth. I am a bit worried about oh passing out if water turns red and I'm a bit scared I'll poo :/ x

 

[Pearls18]

This is my first and I'm hoping for a waterbirth. I am a bit worried about oh passing out if water turns red and I'm a bit scared I'll poo :/ x

Lol I was terrified of pooing too which is why I didn't plan on giving birth in there, but honestly I was so comfortable when I got in I wouldn't have cared and I really don't care this time because I would take pooing in the pool over a dry birth any day lol, but I didn't last time so it's not inevitable

 

[greenlady]

I had 2 water births. If I pooed I never knew about it. The midwives have some kind if sieve/scoop thing to retrieve any poo as soon as it comes out so it's no big deal really. They've seen it all before.

The best thing about my births was reaching down to pick up both my daughters myself as soon as they were born. That was magic.

 

[Feronia]

The best thing about my births was reaching down to pick up both my daughters myself as soon as they were born. That was magic.

Agreed. That was the best part!

 

[Pearls18]

I hope I manage it this time, last time I don't really know what happened but I know the MW had to grab him and put him on my chest and I think even helped hold him there for a bit lol, I suspect I may have had a bit too much gas and air as it's a bit blurry so will try not to use it for the last couple pushes

 

[Reno]

I hope I manage it this time, last time I don't really know what happened but I know the MW had to grab him and put him on my chest and I think even helped hold him there for a bit lol, I suspect I may have had a bit too much gas and air as it's a bit blurry so will try not to use it for the last couple pushes

I left it for the last few pushes! Once the head started coming out I was done with it! lol! Too fed up to care about the pain at that point, just want my baby!

 

[Pearls18]

I hope I manage it this time, last time I don't really know what happened but I know the MW had to grab him and put him on my chest and I think even helped hold him there for a bit lol, I suspect I may have had a bit too much gas and air as it's a bit blurry so will try not to use it for the last couple pushes

I left it for the last few pushes! Once the head started coming out I was done with it! lol! Too fed up to care about the pain at that point, just want my baby!

Yeah I think it was my MW and DH that kept getting me to breathe it as a coping thing I think! I will be more forceful this time!

 

[Reno]

I hope I manage it this time, last time I don't really know what happened but I know the MW had to grab him and put him on my chest and I think even helped hold him there for a bit lol, I suspect I may have had a bit too much gas and air as it's a bit blurry so will try not to use it for the last couple pushes

I left it for the last few pushes! Once the head started coming out I was done with it! lol! Too fed up to care about the pain at that point, just want my baby!

Yeah I think it was my MW and DH that kept getting me to breathe it as a coping thing I think! I will be more forceful this time!

I'd love to try no g&a next time (maybe lol). Every contraction I was panicing to get it in my mouth quick enough! Don't know if I would have been better just bearing through it!

 

[Pearls18]

I hope I manage it this time, last time I don't really know what happened but I know the MW had to grab him and put him on my chest and I think even helped hold him there for a bit lol, I suspect I may have had a bit too much gas and air as it's a bit blurry so will try not to use it for the last couple pushes

I left it for the last few pushes! Once the head started coming out I was done with it! lol! Too fed up to care about the pain at that point, just want my baby!

Yeah I think it was my MW and DH that kept getting me to breathe it as a coping thing I think! I will be more forceful this time!

I'd love to try no g&a next time (maybe lol). Every contraction I was panicing to get it in my mouth quick enough! Don't know if I would have been better just bearing through it!

I think I would have been ok without it for the pushing stages but I was shouting a lot through contractions so I think the MW was just trying to get me to shut up I think it's a nice distraction during the contractions, makes me feel like I had something to control the pain!

 

[Feronia]

Sometimes I think that having access to pain relief makes it mentally harder to bear ANY pain. I had a friend go to 9 cm naturally (I was her doula) and managed it very well, but still wanted an epidural. Once she got it, she couldn't stand any pain that remained and kept upping the dose even though she managed it naturally for so long. I've seen the same happen with G&A too, but to a much smaller extent. When you have access to nothing, though, you learn to cope gradually and can bear it all. That's what happened to me at least!

 

[Mrs Doddy]

Sometimes I think that having access to pain relief makes it mentally harder to bear ANY pain. I had a friend go to 9 cm naturally (I was her doula) and managed it very well, but still wanted an epidural. Once she got it, she couldn't stand any pain that remained and kept upping the dose even though she managed it naturally for so long. I've seen the same happen with G&A too, but to a much smaller extent. When you have access to nothing, though, you learn to cope gradually and can bear it all. That's what happened to me at least!

I do agree with this , I got to 4cm on nothing as was in anetnatal ward and prob another few before gas, I refused any other pain relief as I thought it could get worse and if I was maxed out on drugs I wouldn't be in control, I'm going to do my best not to have anything this time but will keep my options open as the situation arises if I need it then will asses it then

 

[Eleanor ace]

I got to hospital at 8cm and got in the pool soon after. I wanted the gas and air but was OK without it (we'd stupidly left my notes at home so I had to fill the MW in and G&A makes me a bit incoherent ), then the doctor came to fit my cannula and I started begging for the gas and air , once I'd had it the contractions were harder to manage when I wasn't using it, even though I stayed at 8cm for a while. Definitely psychological for me!

 

[Reno]

Sometimes I think that having access to pain relief makes it mentally harder to bear ANY pain. I had a friend go to 9 cm naturally (I was her doula) and managed it very well, but still wanted an epidural. Once she got it, she couldn't stand any pain that remained and kept upping the dose even though she managed it naturally for so long. I've seen the same happen with G&A too, but to a much smaller extent. When you have access to nothing, though, you learn to cope gradually and can bear it all. That's what happened to me at least!

Intersting theory. I got to the hospital at 7cm, got the TENS machine on right away, then started g&a like 4 hours later after I was examined and no progress and had my water broken!

 

[greenlady]

Sometimes I think that having access to pain relief makes it mentally harder to bear ANY pain. I had a friend go to 9 cm naturally (I was her doula) and managed it very well, but still wanted an epidural. Once she got it, she couldn't stand any pain that remained and kept upping the dose even though she managed it naturally for so long. I've seen the same happen with G&A too, but to a much smaller extent. When you have access to nothing, though, you learn to cope gradually and can bear it all. That's what happened to me at least!

I would agree with this. With my first I had a lot more G&A, probably had it for about 5 or 6 hours after using a TENS machine for early labour, whereas the second time I used a Tens machine the whole labour (20+ hours) and only had G&A for the last half an hour in the pool (though I reckon I would have been fine without it as well, it was mainly just a prop to concentrate my breathing for that last stage). It seems to me like it hurt a LOT more the first time. I actually kind of enjoyed the contractions the second time. Im a bit weird I guess!

 

[Lez2688]

I've never had a water birth but from all your stories, I will definitely be considering this. I did have a 2 hour long bath with my first in early labor and it was bliss....I'm now swaying towards water birth for my second. x

 

[Dolly84]

Aw I loved my water birth, if we're blessed to have another child ill defo be asking for the pool, it wa so soothing and relaxing. I got to hospital at 7cm and my "active labour" is documented at 1hr 18mins. So even though I felt relaxed and chilled it didn't slow my labour down which was a bonus x