If you've had a water birth (or used bath in labour)---

[mummysgirl]

Hi,
I'm considering a water birth for my 2nd (due in June) and am hoping to hear from ppl that have done this before.

I had a really horrible labour and birth first time around and have been told that water births, and using the bath during labour, really helps to cope with the pain (or reduce it). And also that it helps you relax.

So I'm wondering, for those who have used the bath for labour, or had a water birth, does it really make that much difference?

Would love to hear your experiences, whether good or not so good, so I can understand what it's like a bit more.

Thanks very much!! :)

[Mamalicious]

I used water with both my births, only my second was a water birth though.

Being relaxed and sure f what I could do helped more than anything, but yes, the water was great! :D

I read Women who run with the wolves, I really recommed it.

I also set up a wee birthing space in my room with some special artwork that I love, and a gold statue of a woman curled up, and a bracelet of my sons...just special things that give me strength. :yes::hugs:

[Freya]

I used the bath in hospital for my first son, it was amazing. Really took the edge off the contractions as soon as I got into the pool the contractions were more bearable. The hot water was fantastic! Sadly though the hospital wouldn't let me birth him in there so they practically forced me out.:(

With my second son I had a water birth at home. It was fantastic and once again took the edge of the contractions, although it was a very fast birth so there wasn't as many contractions in the water as there was with my first son. The water was great to birth in aswel, I could get into a comfy position and there were no hands needing to get access to catch bubs because well, he's coming out into water so no other hands needed! I also didn't tear at all and this was a 9lb 2oz bubby compared with my first land birth with my son that was 7lb 14 I tore really horrendously.

Good luck! Water birth is so beautiful!:flowerz:

[Mamalicious]

I forgot about the tearing! I had 9 internal stitches with my land birthed baby who was 8 pound 3, and my water birthed baby was 9 pound 11 and I didnt even graze.

And no, I'm not a loosie goosie. :p

[demeter]

I wrote about the water parts of my birth in this thread:

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=177784


Once in water I felt calm again. The water made me feel well supported, my perenium felt well cared for and I wasn't afraid of splitting apart as I had been on land. I still experienced the ring of fire and I grazed, but all of it wasn't just manageable for me, it was enjoyable.

:) hth

[ck2b]

I had a waterbirth with DD and all I can say was it was fabulous:yes: I have nothing to compare it to only to say that I found it so relaxing and I felt so safe in the water. I did have a few contractions on land when I had to get out so they could assess the cervix and they were enough to confirm for me that the water was the place to be when you are in labour!! I also think though that it is the environment you are in. I was in a Birth Center and the whole approach to birth and labor is relaxed. In terms of my actual labour - it went for 11.5 hours, and I arrived at the Birth Centre 4.5 hours before she was born, I only had two small grazes that healed themselves, DD fell asleep straight onto my chest after the birth-she didn't even cry! I also had an early discharge so we went home after 4 hours.
I would never give birth out of the water now and I recommend waterbirth to everyone!!

[Jeca]

I loved birthing into the water. I found the bath wasn't as pain relieving as the shower was, but I definitely loved floating and relaxing between contractions in there. The first time I got in the water, about 3 hours before she was born, it was beautiful and I felt so comfortable in there - I remember saying, why didn't I do this a while ago!! Birthing into the water was wonderful though - I had torn with DS2, but with DD my perineum felt so well supported and I didn't tear. I loved pulling her up out of the water onto my chest, and she was so relaxed. If I were to have anymore children I would definitely go the (home) water birth again - wonderful.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

It made the world of difference when I was labouring with my babies and when I birthed the third. (I got out before pushing with the first two)

Fantastic, I really recommend it. :yes:

[mamajess]

Hi, I can strongly recommend using water in labour and birth. I was in the shower for ages in labour (hot water on my back was fantastic) and birthed all my babies into a birthpool.

I felt such relief when I got into the deep, warm water...it was bliss. I believe the water was the key for me to birth fairly big babies (8pound+, 10pound+, 10pound+) with no tearing.

[kymmy]

With #1 I used the water in shower very effectively.
With #2 the hot water ran out and it just didn't seem to be working.
I didn't even bother with #3 though I wanted a baby in water.
At last with #4 I birthed my way and had a birth pool at home.
It was fantastic. Though because I have short labours I wasn't in the water very long.
I felt the crowning with my first 3 but not with J.
I knew I didn't have to tear - after a 2nd, borderline 3rd degree and another 2nd degree tear - I finally had a birth in which I had no tearing.

[mummysgirl]

Thankyou all so much for your comments. I do feel a lot more confident about it after reading all your stories. (Demeter- read your other post, thanks. :))

It's one thing to read info about how it happens, it's another to hear stories about what it's like!

The hospital where I'm giving birth doesn't exactly condone water births, but they do have baths for use in labour, and my midwife has said, although they don't exactly condone it, if you've progressed to far to be able to get out, then safety is the most important so you just stay there. then gave a wink. lol... so I guess i just won't be able to move when the time comes! :D i'm lucky to have a midwife that's pro water and water birthing, and very pro what the mama needs the mama gets..

[MamaKoala]

I hope you get the water birth you want! :goodvibes:

I have only birthed on land but with DS2 I was in my bathtub at home for about 2 hours before I called the hospital with contractions 2 minutes apart. When I got to the hospital I was already 7cm dilated and spent the majority of the next 4 hours in the shower before the midwife asked me to come out and have some ice-chips to lower my core temp.
I didn't actively push bubs head out. My body did that for me but I did have to push the rest of him out without contractions (that's a whole other story) but only had grazing.

I hope they have a bath at the hospital I'm booked into though because even though I plan on staying home for quite some time it would be great to be able to be in the bath when I got there. Don't know if I'd give birth in water (don't know the hospital's policy on it yet) but it is great for pain relief during 1st stage.
Good luck with it!!

[Inanna]

I've had 2 water births and 2 big babies (9 pound 12 ounces & 10 pound 12 1/2 ounces)
I wouldn't do it any other way!
When we moved from Sydney to the country, our local hospital didn't offer waterbirth so we had a homebirth.

[Danni82]

Hi All,

I am planning on a water birth also. Does anyone know if Armadale Hospital does water births? :o

[Mum2Bella]

IMO i think water is the best thing for labour

[Mama2Mia]

i'm going to go the opposite and say the water did bugger all for me :no:

first was a full waterbirth in a bathtub and it killed....i really didn't feel like i was coping at all during the entire thing..

2nd baby i had in a private hospital and they didn't have a bath so i gave birth in a shower (next best thing) and it too was awful....

i know everyone's different and everyone has different levels of pain but after going through labour/birth twice now drug free and feeling both times like i was ready to die, i plan to go for the epidural with the next bubba....

the ony good thing about the water for me was that i never tore and that was one of my biggest fears!

[PKKXP]

I think that everyone deals with pain differently and I have nothing to compare to, but I had a waterbirth with DD and really thought that it was a great experience. Yes it hurt, but I loved the hot water and I I think it was really nice for DD to come into the world in a nice warm bath. I'm due again in July and I am hoping to go through most of the labor and the birth in a bath again.

I really hope that you get the birth that you want :)

[carli]

Hi all, I'm about to move to the gold coast, am 33 weeks preg. I would love a water birth, but i dont know anywhere on the coast that offers it besides the birth centre which I didnt get into. I would try for a home birth, but we are staying with family for the first couple of weeks while we find a house and I think that would be a bit much to ask of my parents. So unless anyone has any suggestions, I guess it will be a normal dry land birth again for me... hopefully not requiring another epidural!!!