anyone had a shower birth?

[Mama2Mia]

so we're not allowed to have a waterbirth at this private hospital we've been booked into next month.....they said i can use the shower (not the same obviously) but just wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and used the shower instead?

how did the water get 'down there' IYKWIM???? i'm just trying to imagine what position i'd need to be in to make the most out of this silly shower!

any thoughts would be much appreciated!

[Amara]

Did they say you could give birth in the shower? I've only ever heard of women labouring in a shower & then giving birth on or next to the bed. It would be awfully slippery in a shower & I can't see many hospitals would be keen to deliver in one.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I don't see a hospital agreeing to it, personally, but DEFINITELY ask. The staff there are the only ones who will be able to answer your question properly.

Oh, and with the water reaching places, Most hospital showers have the hose and hook kind of shower, where you can just unhook it and point it anywhere. :)

[Mama2Mia]

hmmm..come to think of it no they didn't specifically say i could have the baby in the shower.....

so disappointing i can't have another waterbirth :(

anyone know of a cheap inflatable pool i could buy??? the ones most people recommend is too expensive for us to buy at this stage.....and i've enquired into hiring one and for the cost they charge to hire it i might as well buy one!

[megaminz]

you can give birth in the shower at my hospy, they just said they will turn the water off when the baby is ready to come right out...

the shower has two heads, a normal fixed head and a detachable one that you can use to put water anywhere you want

They do have a bath but dont allow you to birth in there.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

If they don't allow waterbirth, they won't allow you to bring your own pool in.

Perhaps look at a different facility, like a birthing centre, if you are hoping to achieve a drug-free water birth.
Unfortunately hospitals are notorious for controlling women's birthing abilities and one big give-away that you are being controlled in your options is when you use words like 'allowed'.

This is your birth, you should be free to make whatever choices you want to!

[MothersMilk]

If they don't do water births then they won't do one just because you bring a pool.
I believe they have to be trained to deliver in water also (not 100% on that)

[traseal]

i was given the option of birthing in the shower, unforunately i thought i needed to use the toilet but once i got on there i realised it was an urge to push so i dived on my all fours and gave birth on the flloor next to the shower. i dont believe hospital are out to take away every right i just think they are covering there bottems as every sues everyone these days and health and safety is different in a hospital then your own home...
good luck on achieving the birth you want

[Mama2Mia]

i checked with the obstetrician and she said i can bring in my own pool but she'd have to ask me to get out or stand up when head is crowning.....dunno if they can actually make me because from memory of 1st waterbirth, i was in horrific pain and couldn't move which is why i ended up having a waterbirth (not planned).

unfortunately we've already paid our ob fees etc so we don't want to lose out on that and have baby anywhere else...nevertheless apparently all private hospitals in SA have a 'no waterbirth' policy so no matter which private i go to its going to be the same situation....

i didn't tear (well did tear but no stitches) with my first and i truly believe being in the water had a lot to do with that so i would love to be in the water in any way i can with this one too..

[Mahjong]

I had the option of having my second son in the shower as my waters broke too fast for my middie to run the spa to have a waterbirth (3 hour labour from start to finish) I basically sat on a birthing ball with the shower head (2 of them) on me the entire time. I didn't as I was scared of slipping though.

It's a shame that the private hospitals in your area dont have waterbirths, considering the amount of money you are putting into the care you are given :no: You would think you would get more say in the way you birth your own child.

I had my DS2 in the local birth centre.

[Mama2Mia]

we had our 1st baby last year at the local womens and childrens and they fully encouraged a water birth....

we decided to go private this time but i will be comparing the level of care as well as the overall experience for next time....so not necessarily going private next time depending on how this birth goes.

its silly but i just want a nice private room where i don't have to worry about disturbing others and with the first one, i had terrible wind afterwards and i had to hold them all in (very painful) because i was in a share room...

[MothersMilk]

I had a water birth at the birth centre in the Lyell McEwin hospital.
The rooms are private and big. No sharing :) and hubby can stay with you the whole time.
Could be an option for next time?

[SmileyBJ]

I got to labour in the bath and shower and then got out for the pushing stage with ds. I found I couldn't stand in contractions very well so I had a seat in the shower... at times I hated the shower head water on me at all also and had them turn it off but absolutely loved the bath.

Best of luck with everything!!

[AM]

Great they are happy for you to supply the pool. :)

As for 'having' to get out at crowning, I think it is pretty common for them to ask you to, but you sure as heck don't have to say yes, they will just note down that they requested you to hop out, and you refused or couldn't or whatever.

Having waterbirthed before, I'm sure you'll work out a way to do it :)

Go for it.

[Hayley80]

In Victoria we are on water restrictions, so if I was to have a shower birth I'd be imagining someone putting a water timer on the shower wall and coming in after 4 mins to say "times up, out you get!" :)

[trin_007]

I'm embarrased to say, but I spent HOURS under the shower during my labour with DS - the pain relief/relaxation was fantastic - but other than that one instance I am the all time water Nazi :laughing:

If you are able to take your own pool in (which sounds pretty strange) I don't see how they would be able to 'make' you get out (I agree with AM - they might 'ask' you, but it is your choice once you are in there). I bought a great sized pool from Mr Toys for $60 - I've often thought it would make a great birthing pool!

Good luck!

[Mama2Mia]

actually had my ob appt today and questioned her about the shower thing and she said i can actually have the baby in the shower if i wanted to :yelclap:

i thought about bringing in a pool of my own but don't know how practical it would be and who would blow it up etc...

Ob. said i could stay under the shower for as long as i wanted with the water on the entire time.....also she said around the edge of the shower are padded areas which allow me kneel and lean over with some support...i can also bring in a mat or fit ball or whatever i wanted to.

not as great as a bath obviously but i'm glad they at least allow me to stay in there the entire time which is a relief.

unfortunately lyell mcewin is a bit far from us and i don't think our Ob delivers there.....

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I think we can just forget water restrictions when talking about something as important as birth. ;)

I'm a public patient in the FBC and get a full room, double bed and en suite to myself. :yes:
Just because you go public doesn't mean you have to share a room. :)

[Nan]

Just because you go public doesn't mean you have to share a room.
That's so true & if we're talking about Adelaide I'd go public every time. I birthed at Mount Barker hospy and all their rooms are private. Bathrooms are twin share, but have lights so you know when the other lady is in there. Going by my friends' private experiences, I'd say mine were better, so I wouldn't bother going private. Private hospitals (Adelaide ones) seem to have fewer options and more restrictions. Maybe its just my perception. I dunno! I know that doesn't help you now that you've paid your fees, as you said. Glad you at least get to birth in the shower! :thumbsup:

[Mama2Mia]

well ladies, i had my shower birth (best alternative available at the hospital) and it was ok.

not as great as being submerged in the bath and it was a little uncomfortable because all i had to hold onto was that shower chair.

my goal was achieved though......no grazing nor tearing!!!!!

[StudentMeg]

i checked with the obstetrician and she said i can bring in my own pool but she'd have to ask me to get out or stand up when head is crowning.....dunno if they can actually make me because from memory of 1st waterbirth, i was in horrific pain and couldn't move which is why i ended up having a waterbirth (not planned).

unfortunately we've already paid our ob fees etc so we don't want to lose out on that and have baby anywhere else...nevertheless apparently all private hospitals in SA have a 'no waterbirth' policy so no matter which private i go to its going to be the same situation....

i didn't tear (well did tear but no stitches) with my first and i truly believe being in the water had a lot to do with that so i would love to be in the water in any way i can with this one too..


Simple solution for this. If they will allow you to bring your own pool to labour in, just don't get out! They can't force you out of the water. When the time comes, just stay put. If they are allowing the birth pool for labour, then they obviously have a water proof doppler to monitor the baby so there's no reason they can't just continue to do this during second stage. You've had a water birth before, so you already know it is safe.......... if I were in your shoes I would simply stay where I was and refuse to get out.

[MamaKoala]

Congratulations on your birth. I was going to say I spent most of my time in the shower but was pulled out because I had it on hot and my core temp rose so they forced me to eat ice-chips. I was not impressed. Glad you had half of what you wanted at least :smiliedance:

[ladybugblue84]

well ladies, i had my shower birth (best alternative available at the hospital) and it was ok.

not as great as being submerged in the bath and it was a little uncomfortable because all i had to hold onto was that shower chair.

my goal was achieved though......no grazing nor tearing!!!!!

Congrats on your shower birth. I am a bit late to this thread but just wanted to say I spent a bit of time in the shower during my birth & it was great BUT I kept thinking of the water restrictions & getting out, then getting back in, then getting out. Next time I am not going to give a rats about the water restrictions. They also said I could give birth in there but I didn't.

[Lil X-men]

Congratulations on the arrivall of your bubba.:party::smiliedance:

Just wanted to add ( also late to this thread), I laboured and gave birth to my last child in the shower at my local public hosptial. It was great I loved being in the water and I also didn't tear or graze at all. The only thing that I didnt like was it was bit slippery lol. I ended up on all fours under the shower and delivered bubs DH caught him and handed him to me as we smiled and cried with joy on the floor of the shower lol!!:laughing::goodvibes:

[IndigoJ]

I got to labour in the bath and shower and then got out for the pushing stage with ds. I found I couldn't stand in contractions very well so I had a seat in the shower... at times I hated the shower head water on me at all also and had them turn it off but absolutely loved the bath.

Best of luck with everything!!

Same as me i tried the shower for pain relief but couldnt stand up for contractions so i would sit then get up agin once it passed, so here was me up, down, up, down, up, down, every minute, i was exhausted after ten minute so i went back to bed. My hospital doesnt offer water births or baths for pain relief, or epidurals for that matter. :(

And congratulations on the birth of your little bundle :)

[AM]

Congratulations! Great you didn't tear :)