Did you have a Water Birth???

[Veritas]

I just found out the hospital I am going to allows Water Births.... it is something I had researched and wanted to try, but had written off as someone led me to believe they didn't do it....

There is a counselling and consent process I have to go through with my midwife in order to do it, but I just wanted to get an idea of what other peoples experiences with Water Births was like....

Have you had a water birth, was it as fantastic as I believe it would be, and would you recommend it to others???

[Jamily]

Hi Karrie

I had a waterbirth and it was FANTASTIC! So much so that I had a totally drug and trauma free birth and will be having one again next time for defs.

Check out my birth story:

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=7964&page=2


Good luck :thumbsup:

:wave:

[runningmum]

Yes it was.

I too had a drug free and trauma free (no stitches) labour. I was at home until transition and got to hospital in second stage labour with an urgent need to push which I'd been resisting. I jumped straight in the pool that had been filled for me and gave birth 30 minutes later. I found I could get in a much better position for giving birth in the pool than on land, all of your weight is gone - I felt much more agile. I think the water helped to soften all of my tissues too, so I didn't tear.

If you do decide to give birth in water I hope it is an empowering event, as mine was.

Let us know how you get on.

DD - 8 mnths.

[faery]

hi,
i meant to reply to this thread ages ago but never got around to it!!
I had a water birth. It was at a birthcentre and was great. there were 2 midwives with me, my partner and my support person were both in the bath for most of the time. I ended up spending around 6-7 hours in the bath!!
It was a totally drug free labour. it still hurt, but the hot water took the edge off.

one thing i can recommend is doing lots of reading before hand to learn about ways to use the water for your advantage. I didn't really and probably could have had it easier with more prep. the midwives kept suggesting different positions and relaxations but I would have felt more comfortable doing them if i had know about them before.

good luck and i hope u get your waterbirth! I was so looking forward to mine and am grateful that it worked!

[3SPUNKRATZ]

YES YES YES!!!! i had a water birth and i highly reccomend it to anyone wanting a drug free birth. it eases the pain sooooo much. i gave birth to a 9lb 9 oz boy and suprisingly only had a tiny tear that didnt even need stitches. the water made me stretch easier and made me a lot softer. unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances i am not allowed to do it again as i am now considered high risk, but if i had the choice i would so do it again. (the high risk thing had nothing to do with me being in the bath btw)

let us know if you decide to do it and what you think if it. i found it amazing!!!!

love jess.

[wattle]

I'm thinking about it too, but dh HATES water (he can't swim and won't go near a pool or the beach). Would it be possible without him in the water too?

[Veritas]

The bath at the hospital I am going to is a massive spa bath, corner shaped.... and behind it is a huge ledge, obviously designed for people to sit on... more like a bench seat that goes all the way to the wall....

I'd check out your facility, if its set up like that then there's no reason he can't have his legs in the water and be supporting you from there....

[Jamily]

I'm thinking about it too, but dh HATES water (he can't swim and won't go near a pool or the beach). Would it be possible without him in the water too?

My hubby didn't get in - the water becomes quite, um, messy towards the end :o ...he sat at the head end while the midwives held a mirror underwater so we could both see the action....

:)

[Seekrit]

ooo jealous me. I wanted a waterbirth, then went on the ick factor, but now I want one.
They have birthing pools in the birthsuites but... *shakes fist* they're not workplace health and saftey compliant!

Good on you Kaz :)

[wattle]

The one I could use is a large oval shape, like a spa. He would definately freak out if I suggested even getting his feet wet!

[sabomum]

Hello there everyone!

I guess everyones experiences are different, but unfortunately mine was not great to say the least. I too opted for a water birth for my second baby and it was pretty average . When I got into the hospital I went into the bath about and hour after arriving....it was pretty big, not your average corner spa. My husband didn't come in at all though, I guess it just felt a little strange for us (or him), to be in there with me while there were people around! The main thing I didn't like was that there was no gravity which I really needed. Each contaction felt more intense, I felt them alot more that when I wasn't in there. I did get out once to go to the toilet so I definatly noticed the difference. I did say I wanted to get out when the time came to push but as it turned out, my baby was too heavy and I couldn't stand up. when I was pushing I put my feet on the side of the bath to push against but they kept on slipping (when you are in that much pain you can only concentrate on one thing at a time, so trying to keep my feet up was just really annoying). I remember pretty much doing bend back..stupid I know but it was almost like trying to get away from the pain!

One thing though, when Maxwell finally arrived he was kept under water for i think about 30 seconds. It was really weird just looking at him there not moving...they say that their lungs dont start to work until there entire body hits the air! WOW! It was and still is all too amazing. (thinking about that part, I think I might join the ''thinking about having another baby thread!! haha).

Also, on the up side, Maxwell is so calm...even from the very beginning. Not to say that the didn't cry, but he generally just laid in his crib with his eyes open and didn't make a sound. When I got him home he was also no trouble, would go down to sleep awake, without crying or fussing. Some people say that water births are quite peacful for the entry into the world (who knows maybe not hearing those loud screams keeps them calm).

I guess the whole water birth thing is different for everyone, no harm in giving it a go!

Good luck with everything...it is an experience that you will never forget:yes:

ps hope this post wasn't too hard to follow...late at night or should I say too early in the morning.

[alanandemsmum]

I am not even pregnant yet but after reading and watching the water birth in Pictures have decied that if when we have another baby this is the way I want to go.

I have had 2 fantastic labours and delivery's both natural and without drugs so water birth is something I would love to look into further

[lovethekid]

I also had a water birth at home - it was am amazing experience and I highly recommend it - my son was 4kg and I had him drug free, no stitches and the best bit was being able to crawl back into my own bed when it was finished.

My midwife was also fantastic !!

[*Sparkles*]

I am due next january and considering a water birth. The hospital that I want to deliver at is a low risk birthing unit and believes in natural birth, including by water.
I mentioned it to my mum who's comment was that there is a higher mortality rate. This is obviously something I will look into further, but does anyone have any info on this?
Thanks.

[Ffrenchknickers]

OOh, I had one with our 2nd and will DEFINATELY be doing it again for this baby:) Loved it:thumbsup:

[KarniF00l]

I wanted a water birth with DD2 but the midwife said by the time the bath is filled up you'll have your baby out in your arms. As you can imagine i had very quick labours :laughing:

[Ocean-Lily]

I really wanted a water birth and started with the first 4 hrs of my labour at the hospital (i was 8cm at that stage) in the spa.

After 4 hrs the midwife came to me and told me that there was no one trained on staff at that time (it was 4pm) to deliver my baby, so i had to get out!!

I was so dissapointed, but you know i still had a drug free birth (but had massive tearing).

I was so exhausted in the last part of the labour, i probably would have drowned in the spa anyway.

I think next time i will try for a water birth, but i am not too fussed.

[Zan]

Hi I had both of my girls at home with a pool. dd1 I laboured in the water and it was brilliant (had to get out though as wasn't progressing to try different positions) and with dd2 I laboured and birthed in the pool. Both times I found the pain relief when getting in the pool amazing and found it so much easier getting dd2 out with the water (i need to be in an upright position and it was so easy in the pool).
And for whoever asked about dh - I like to be alone so no way would I have asked him to get in (nor would he have wanted to I'm sure - esp after dd2 did a massive poo (lovely meconium!) just as she came out, lol!! all I can remember is my m/w telling me to watch where I stood!!). Actually that is probably another reason I enjoyed it as it gave me my personal space.
Zan

[Jamily]

I am due next january and considering a water birth. The hospital that I want to deliver at is a low risk birthing unit and believes in natural birth, including by water.
I mentioned it to my mum who's comment was that there is a higher mortality rate. This is obviously something I will look into further, but does anyone have any info on this?
Thanks.

You'll be pleased to know that this is totally untrue. Where on earth did your Mum hear that???? I spoke to my care team about this before I had Em and they said that there is no link at all between fetal death during labour and having a waterbirth.

[ashika]

I don't know.........................ignore me girls.................... but the thought of being in water with stuff coming out of your vj's just makes me quiver.................. both of my births i had to get up straight out of bed and have my shower.......... its just me ....................................... i am too padentic about laying in my own ****..................

[stellarella]

I had dreamed of a water birth my whole pregnancy and was in my bath at home for some of my labour but when I got to the birth centre and hopped in the tub there the water was lukewarm and it was horrible. I had been in a scalding hot shower and then the bath felt like nothing. I got out after 2 contractions afetr making my poor widwife fill the thing for about and hour. I must say I had been in labour for over 30 hours already and was getting quite distressed so I wasnt really in the mood for trying torelax and give the bath a proper go.

I will try again with water next time because Im hoping I wont have a 30 + hr labour again.....:fingerscrossed:

[Cherokee_flower]

Yes I had a water birth, and loved it.

I felt so in control and centred and when my daughter Kya came out she was so calm and alert.

I would recommend it to any woman that is planning to have a natural birth, it definately is a great way to go :smiliedance:

[Mother Duck]

Kaz - clearly I know you have already HAD your beautiful Pip - BUT

Yes I had a water birth - LOVED it - then had a 'non-water' birth - so intense (wasn't allowed water birth in that hospital)

Next one will definately be a water birth!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[MrsTwith3]

I have just had my DS and had him in the bath at the birth centre. It was an amazing experience that I would highly reccomend to anyone that gets the oppurtunity to have one:thumbsup:

Mel