Water birth at the new Royal Women's Melbourne

[willitrain]

Hi, I am 30 weeks and am booked into the Royal Woman's in Melbourne. I would love to consider a water birth but am not sure if this is possible at the hospital? At an early meeting with a midwife there, I was told that all the birthing suites in the centre have pools, which were installed with the intention of them being used for water births as well as relaxation during labour. However she also mentioned that a change was needed in the hospital policy before water births would be encouraged there. Has anyone had a water birth there? Or do they just pull you out of the pool before the baby comes out?
Would love to hear your experiences.

[shelle65]

Hi, hopefully someone with more recent experience comes along, but I had DD at the old RWH 2 years ago (in the family birth centre which doesn't exist at the new hospital) and you couldn't have a water birth then - they had the bath there for labour but the policy was that you had to get out to give birth.

Maybe the policy has changed since then, but if it hasn't then no they won't allow you to birth in the water.

All the best!

[al87]

Hi, I'm due to give birth at the Royal Women's in a few weeks. In my birthing class, the midwife told us that the tubs can be used for labour, but the policy is that you have to get out as soon as you feel the need to push. She did say however, that sometimes it is not possible to get out of the tub and you can birth your baby in the water if you get stuck. I know this happened with a friend of mine at the old Royal Women's and this wasn't a problem.

[willitrain]

Thanks for the replies. I will be sure to ask more questions when I do the classes myself in a few weeks time.
Not that I have given birth before, but I can't imagine being pulled out of a pool at the moment you feel like pushing to be a very easy thing to do! If anyone has experienced this, would love to hear if you feel it made any difference to your labour? Any positive/negative things experienced in this situation?
Wonder if I should get in the pool at all?

[StudentMeg]

Thanks for the replies. I will be sure to ask more questions when I do the classes myself in a few weeks time.
Not that I have given birth before, but I can't imagine being pulled out of a pool at the moment you feel like pushing to be a very easy thing to do! If anyone has experienced this, would love to hear if you feel it made any difference to your labour? Any positive/negative things experienced in this situation?
Wonder if I should get in the pool at all?


I would suggest refusing to get out of the water when the time comes! I had my last child in the water at the old Moorabbin Midwives Birth Centre, which has since closed.......... he was my fourth child and I wish I'd had all of my children in the water. Granted, being number four it was a pretty quick birth...... but the relief I felt as soon as I got in the warm water was fantastic. I still felt contractions of course, but the water just providing amazing relief and relaxation. Water birth is a completely safe option. As soon as the baby is born it is brought to the surface. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants it............ again, when the time comes, just refuse to get out and tell them you are NOT moving. Oh, and try to position yourself over the plug. I've heard of situations where the woman says she can't move and get out, so they have just reached in and pulled the plug out. Bloody ridiculous if you ask me. All the best to you......

[al87]

Lol, that's a great idea Meg! Depending how everything goes, I might have to try that myself! :thumbsup:

[lau]

Hi, ive just done my birth ed classes at Royal Womens and she said they do not allow water births there also.