Water births

[bloomingbellies]

I am a mum of two boys both born drug free in the 'bath' at Nambour Selangor Private Hospital on Queensland's sunshine coast! No, I am not a hippy either. It is an experience I highly recommend if given the choice. This hospital is one of only few in Queensland where water birth is an option.
I also recommend the need for a supportive midwife if you are anticipating a natural birth. Again this hospital has just began a Care in Partnership program where their midwives provide one on one care during the antenatal, labour, birth and postnatal period. Unfortunately too late for me!

[Hokey Pokey]

Hi There!
I am not into water births myself but am fascinated by the women who are! I bet it is a unique experience! What made you decide to have a water birth??
Luv Kristy :p

[bloomingbellies]

I had no intention of having a water birth before my first labour. My husband (36 yrs) and I (29 yrs) are both medical people and were turned off by the mention of it during antenatal classes. I was induced with no.1 (he was well overdue) and found it itense pretty quickly. My fantastic English male midwife (who had taken the classes) suggested I 'hop in the bath'. The relief was immediate. I relaxed and became very focussed on my body and my baby. I got out twice and both times could not wait to get back in. After 7 hours in the bath (no I was not waterlogged or wrinkly) the baby appeared very quickly at the end nearly catching my midwife of guard and too fast for my doctor to be there.

The second time around was not as smooth as the first mainly due a very inexperienced midwife. Again my doctor was predisposed!

Nothing compares to the feeling of birthing a drug-free baby. Although I do recommend you do what is safest and most comfortable for you and your baby.

[dasprior]

I managed to twist my midwife's arm and get her to allow me to sit in the spa bath for most of my labour. The contraction pain halved at least, it was awesome ... then when she made me stand up to check my progress agony hit with the next contraction and I couldn't wait to get back in. Unfortunately she'd never done a water birth before and I had to hope out once I wanted to start pushing :( but if there is ever a next time ... give me water! :D

[sfishe10]

I had every intention of having a natural birth, practised hypnobirthing and was booked into a birth centre. Ideally i wanted a water birth but we were told we had to see on the day if there was a qualified midwife. Luckily after going through 1st stage without the use of any drugs or gas the midwife advised she was qualified and did i want to hop in the bath. After getting into the bath it just added to the relaxation and calming mood i wanted to experience during my birth. I would do it again in a flash and the midwife who was there was fantastic. Needless to say we now have a bub who also adores the water!!

[Angel]

I intend to have a waterbirth at home in April next year. I wanted a waterbirth with my DD having read about the pain relief benefits and also how it can be gentler on the perineum. It wasn't to be unfortunately with a very long posterior labour and me begging for an epidural ultimately after 14 hours.

I can't wait this time though. I've been to some fantastic pregnancy relaxation and information classes that have got me so fired up this time round; I'm actually looking forward to labour and I'm not 10 weeks pg yet!!! I feel so empowered though. We did pelvic mapping last night in order to determine which positions open up your pelvic opening and which close them so that we can adopt the best positions for us in labour. It's all about the midwives I say; they're worth their weight in gold if you want birth to be an emotional journey rather than a medical procedure.

I wonder if you hospital bloomingbellies is one I've heard of before... I'm told there is a private hospital on the Sunshine Coast that actually 'allows' breech vaginal deliveries and amazingly insists they are standing births (exactly as they should be). This is a miracle for Australian hospitals, especially prviate hospitals! At our local private hospital you're cut open for a breech and at the public they'd only consider a frank breech if you arrived with a bottom pertruding and their protocol says "lie down on the bed, legs in stirrups" - everything that DOESN'T help deliver any baby, especially a breech!

Sounds like you've got yourself a great place there anyway with midwives who can do a job like that for you :)

[bloomingbellies]

Yes If you are prepared to travel to Nambour - Nambour Selangor Hospital is a great place to give birth. The obstetricians and midwifes are very supportive of women and their partners and their birthing choice. I am not sure of their position on breech delivery but sounds like it would be the hospital you speak of.

[Kat]

I've just finished the ante-natal classes for my first baby (booked into Selangor) and from what the midwife who took the classes indicated, that vaginal breech births are indeed encouraged there and most certainly they insist / encourage the standing up position for delivery.

The way I heard about it was actually in discussion of water birth, and the exceptions to staying IN the water - if a bottom comes out unexpectedly then the Mum's encouraged to stand up to deliver the baby the best way :)

Kat

[omy]

I think water births are a wonderful choice if you can have them .With my 1st i was induced and all i wanted to do was be in the water but as i passed out on the floor i was told to stay in bed for the entire time i was in labour with a back labour that was near murder thank god i was only in labour for 5 hours

With my 2nd i stayed home as long as i could in the bath which was glorious then got to the hospital and got into there bath the only time i got out was to deliver my darling son i would of stayed in there but the bath isnt wide enough to deliver in you can spread your legs far enough you would think they would have put a bigger one in lol

Well i will have to see what happens this time hope to stay at home as long as i can again another night labour would be nice so the kids dont anoy me will let you know how i go as i have only got 9 days till im due wish me luck bye for now

[Angel]

Here's an article to get enraged over - I'm furious and it doesn't affect me directly!


Courier Mail
TUE 14 SEP 2004, Page 7

Water birthing facilities stay idle

By Margaret Wenham

THE 10 state-of-the-art water birthing tubs in the new Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital are to remain empty, following Queensland Health's rejection of one of its own committee's recommendations about their use.

The refusal to open water birth options to women, other than about 500 who manage to access the RBWH's birth centre, means the other 3500 women who give birth annually at the RBWH cannot use the tubs even for pain relief during labour.

Queensland Health's RBWH district manager Richard Olley yesterday confirmed the baths, installed more than four years ago, would not be used until a ``multi-centre randomised control trial'' could be undertaken.

But he said the hospital had no plans to conduct such a trial ``in the foreseeable future''.

The exact cost of the tubs remained unclear last night, although the hospital has said previously their installation costs could not be separated out of the hospital's $180 million redevelopment program.

Professor Olley said one committee member, a neonatologist, had raised concerns about the use of immersion during the early and late stages of labour without further trials.

In May, The Courier-Mail reported that a RBWH committee had audited and evaluated 241 water births between April 2002 and June 2003 in the hospital's birth centre, in which women used water immersion during labour and/or birth.

The committee reported ``the use of water in labour and birth in the birth centre has been practised safely with good outcomes for both mothers and babies''.

Maternity Coalition president Bruce Teakle said the decision not to open up the tubs before further audits meant the hospital was incapable of implementing the recommendations of its own committees.

``This really is outrageous. If the same standard of evidence was required for epidurals given in the labour ward or many of the other (surgical and drug) interventions offered freely to women, the whole system would come to a stop tomorrow,'' Mr Teakle said.

Up to 4000 women a year have their babies at the RBWH, around 3500 of whom have to use the birthing suites in the main maternity unit where the unused tubs are located.

Of the approximately 1500 women each year who apply to the hospital's birthing centre, which does offer water tubs, 1000 are turned away.

Mr Teakle said the outcome did not augur well for the current review of maternity services being undertaken by the State Government.

``If a Queensland Health hospital can't even implement a very safe, simple and cheap recommendation for the use of birth pools even for pain relief, how do they expect to be able to implement widespread systems reforms after the review is completed?'' he said.

The review of maternity services which started in July is looking at existing and future models of care, including midwifery services, in the public and private sector and examining the factors that have led to an increase in caesarean births.

[Kat]

It just appalling that fear and stupidity have led to this being the outcome at the RBH - whatever did they bother putting in the baths for if they were not going to permit women to USE them?

It makes me realise how very very lucky I am going to be to be able to have my baby at Selangor - where they encourage natural births, water births, Mum's doing pretty much what they feel is right for them etc etc. The midwives I've met from there are all so excellent and so into being 'supportive' for the Mums and not into medicalising the whole process.

It makes me really look forward to 9 weeks time - something I didn't really think I'd ever do - look forward to labour! I am still wary of the fact that it isn't at all fun and games but also recognise I'm going to have the best care!

I just hope that they don't have bigger baths at RBH going to waste than the ones at Selangor - on our last visit I noticed that although they are largish corner spa shaped baths that the Spas I have been used to are actually considerably bigger - I'm a pretty tall person, and my husband is a bulky 6'3" - I was hoping to have him in the water with me to lean on but I am beginning to suspect he isn't going to fit - hope RBH isn't wasting bigger tubs that this!

Kat

[Kat]

Well i will have to see what happens this time hope to stay at home as long as i can again another night labour would be nice so the kids dont anoy me will let you know how i go as i have only got 9 days till im due wish me luck bye for now

Hope that everything goes well and you soon have a lovely new addition to your family :)

Kat

[dasprior]

Hi,

I'd love to have a water birth this time around. Does anyone know where I can have one - we live on the Gold coast in Qld? We have no private health insurance either which may make it a bit difficult. I think that John Flynn hospital does them but it's a private hospital. Anyone got any idea of the costs?

Sharon

[BJelly]

I'm another mum-to -be, who'd love the chance to have a waterbirth - it sounds like such a simple, natural thing to do to reduce pain;avoid use of narcotics;and avoid tearing or episiotomy. This is not just a shame but an outrage that women don't have access to choose the type of birth in a modern, 1st world country. This makes my blood boil too! I am one of the 1000 who couldn't get a place at the Birth Centre at the RB&WH :(

[Kat]

Hi there ladies,

I'm by no means an expert in the where / how / how much in regards to water birth because I'm lucky enough to live 2 minutes away from a terrific private maternity hospital that encourages all mums to use the birth pools, shower, birth balls (gym balls) and whatever they like in their birth experience!

However I have the following ideas that might help I guess...I'm sure someone else knows more than me.

First - you can have a water birth if you find a homebirth midwife who is experienced with water births - midwives aren't covered by medicare or private health insurance, but I think cost under $1000 including ante-natal care and the birth. Had I been able to find a midwife who was available when my baby was due that is the path I probably would have chosen, even with the hospital so close.

Secondly - to go private when you are uninsured does cost thousands. Some years ago it was about $2000 so I am guessing it would be at least $4000 now as a once-off payment. From what I know this covers the birth only and then you go public for special care if required. You would have to discuss with the hospital you are thinking of attending. Still I think from the sounds of the water experience, if you can afford it, then it is worth every cent to get the birth you want.

Also perhaps check out the differences in public hospitals. You never know - some of them might still offer birth pools for pain relief. I have a theory about that. If you're in the birth pool for pain relief, and you decide you don't want to move - then who is going to MAKE you get out? Failing them gettting a crane and 10 strong men to man-handle you and to remove your protective partner (which they probably don't have time or resources to do) then who is going to stop you from staying right where you are? No-one. Of course if you are considering something like a 'sit in' in a bath that is for 'pain relief only' then I'd look into the ins and outs of birthing in water a little myself...just so you could tell whether the midwives had a good reason for wanting you out (apparently a breech baby its better to be in an upright standing squat on dry land for instance)

Well thats all from me. Good luck ladies in finding an environment to have your babies in that suits you and provides you with the care you want :)

Kat