Water birth question...

[CaitlinRhiana]

Has anyone got and tips.. Or any recommendations on things to take to use for a water birth?

[NibbleCurlynBub]

They may or may not have gel pads in there for kneeling on or leaning on. If they don't, ask for a couple of towels and just pop them in the bath.

There is nothing worse than having your knees or chest hurt from pressure on a hard tub.

Oh, and run the bath yourself. Both times I regulated the water myself to make it a temperature I was comfortable with.

If you let staff do it they can have water temperature regulations which are often too cool to be comfortable.

[CaitlinRhiana]

ahh yeah good idea....

thanks..;)

Im not to sure what to expect.... im hoping i will like being in the water, as i like to move around alot.....

[fire~fly]

i had a cloth nappy (terry nappy square) on my back and when each contraction started DH would use a jug and pour the warm water out of the pool over my back.
i found this really helped me, it was like having a heat pack on in the water. it was also good because it gave DH something to do because i didnt want anyone talking to me or touching me.

[little bean]

I used a pillow under my head as I was floating on my side the whole time. Make sure you use old pillowcases etc that you can throw out - because my pillow ended up dangling in the bathtub and it can get pretty messy :laughing:

A cold towel (with icewater) on my forehead helped too.

[mixy]

I have heard of using foam pads under your knees, in the hard baths they have at hospital.
A hot water bottle was a god send.
Birthing in the water is fantastic :thumbsup:

[kymmy]

Loved the water.
Unfortunately it was not warm enough to help with contractions but as the temp was just right J was born and that was perfect!

[Jess24]

Birthing in the water is fantastic :thumbsup:

i agree. i didn't plan on having a water birth but jsut got in the tub in the delivery suite to help with contractions as i didn't have any drugs other than some gas (which does nothing but take your mind off it) and i found it really relaxing to be in the water. i was exhausted as it was 4.30 in the morning and towards the end of my pregnancy i didn't get much sleep so i just laid in the tub on my back with my knees bent.

[headoverfeet]

i agree. i didn't plan on having a water birth but jsut got in the tub in the delivery suite to help with contractions as i didn't have any drugs other than some gas (which does nothing but take your mind off it) and i found it really relaxing to be in the water. i was exhausted as it was 4.30 in the morning and towards the end of my pregnancy i didn't get much sleep so i just laid in the tub on my back with my knees bent.

Gas does work for some people, just not everybody :) I used it for DS and found it very good although this time I wont be using it.

To the OP I havn't had a water birth (yet) but laboured with DS in the bath for 90% of my labour and found it very relaxing, as NCB said- try and regulate the temprature yourself I found mine to cold too. I have looked at getting some foam pads to pop in the bottom of the shower as I loved the feeling of the water on my back last time (and you can have the water hotter too) but my knees got sore from the tiles.

Good Luck for you water birth :goodvibes:

[Tam-I-Am]

Things I found that helped in my water birth:

-Cloth nappies for the small of my back when I was labouring on my tummy (they used them like hot packs - it was heavenly :)
-'Spiraling' my hips in the water
-Adding a cup of salt to the water apparently stops your skin absorbing the water (I didn't do this and after 2 hours got out looking like a prune!)
-A cloth to support your perineum at crowning can be helpful, but not necessary - water will help you peri stretch anyway :)


Good luck! :)