waterbirth

[mumma2be]

i want a waterbirth does anyone have stories on if they are good or bad?? the hospital near me does them i am scared that the baby will drown?

[JanetF]

Babies don't breathe underwater because they don't breathe in the womb. In a water birth a baby's head can be out of the mother's body for many minutes under the water with all its needs being supplied via the placenta. When the mama eventually pushes the baby out it is gently lifted to the surface and then begins to breathe. Wb babies are different from landbirthed babies in that they are sometimes so peaceful they're born asleep! The transition from womb to water to land is very gentle and the pain relief for mamas is great. There are many many books on wb too especially by Michel Odent, world authority and Ob, also Janet Balaskas has a great wb book.

Try these for more information:
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/watrbrth.html

The most recent Australian book on water birth:
http://www.clickonto.com.au/birth/

http://waterbirth.org/spa/index.php

PM me if you want any more.

[Ffrenchknickers]

I had a waterbirth for #2 and it was fantastic! I wouldnt do it any other way now:D The water was great and best of all, bubs came out all clean!:p

[mummycloud]

I'm not too sure how safe they are. Every WB I whitnessed, the babies have taken a while to get going. They've all needed extra stimulation.
JanetF mentioned they are often born sleeping, so that may be why :confused:
There's also a risk of infection. I know someone who's baby got Meningitis and they said it was the water birth that caused it. They could have been wrong about that because that usually happens when there's prolonged broken waters (over 24 hours) or mum has a staph infection when she's pregnant and it hasn't been picked up. Who knows for sure though. I'm interested to find out how many water birth babies have gotten Meningitis.

[Ffrenchknickers]

Every WB I whitnessed, the babies have taken a while to get going. They've all needed extra stimulation

not mine:) He was ready and rearing to go...I've never heard that before

[mummycloud]

LOL, I have only seen 4 waterbirths, so maybe I jinxed them all :o

[Ffrenchknickers]

Lol! Maybe you should stay away from waterbirths in future:p :p hehe:p

[mummycloud]

:p LOL when I'm a Doula I'll have to have that on my resume, Oh well, there goes around 20% of my clients :rolleyes:

[Ffrenchknickers]

hahaha.....:D

[JanetF]

These is actually a revised Apgar scoring system for waterbirthed babies because they do breathe more slowly. It doesn't cause any problems, they're just doing it more gently and because they're undrugged and still on their placentas they're just fine.

[mummycloud]

Ahhhh...that's good Janet ;) it's not just me then...LOL

[jarrahsmumma]

i had a waterbirth and i highly recomend it to other mums

Jarrah was born very peacefully, he didn't cry very much and he has always been a lovely bub.

there are a few 'waterbirth in pictures' sites but i'm not sure of the links....you could always check out http://forums.naturalparenting.com.au/ lots of info on alternative birthing

all the best
natalie

[JanetF]

This is a beautiful water birth story in pics :)
http://www.nandu.hu/English/Childbirth/Csenge100/csbirth01.htm

100 photos of a home waterbirth in Hungary. 2nd child. Beautiful site!

[BabyJoy]

The water birth story in pictures was beautiful. I had tears in my eyes at the end! :)
I'm also planning to have a water birth for a number of reasons, one of which being to help ease the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. A good friend of mine had water births with both her children and had no problems - no tearing, no drugs and no problems with her children, and both were fairly short births (3-5 hours). She showed me all her pictures and I just fell in love with the idea of doing the same thing. One of my midwives told me that when you catch your baby you bring them up to the surface back first with their head facing downwards to let gravity take over and let out any fluid in their mouths/lungs.

[JanetF]

This is a tiny clip from a wb video. Check out the underwater baby with the eyes open. Very cool!
:)
http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/materials.html#video

[Jamily]

Hello

I had a waterbirth with Emily - I can not recommend it enough. I will be doing it again if and when we have no. 2. Please PM me if you want the gruesome details. I am happy to write it all down here, but not sure if you want the essay!

[JanetF]

I'd love to read it! Maybe it could go in the birth stories section and you could put a link in this thread to Your Lovely Waterbirth!
:)

[Marie-Jo]

I'd love to hear it too Clairet...I am planning to have a water birth too and all the gruesome details are welcome! :)

Marie-Jo

[mumma2be]

i read in another thread that you cant have a bath after your water has broken why is that and wouldnt that make waterbirth dangerous?

[JanetF]

There is no rise in infection in bathing or birthing after membranes have ruptured. It's a myth ;)

[Jamily]

Hey ladies

As requested! Sorry its the condensed version as Emily will be up soon, but here goes.

I went into labour at 3.30am and went into hospital at 11am to find that I was 6cm dilated. I hopped into the bath which eased the pain almost instantly. My contractions were far less painful and I was able to relax and let my body totally un-tense with the water helping to support my weight. I was able to practice an active birth at home and up until getting into the water and I was concerned that I would be less mobile - as it was I was able to move around the tub and adopt different positions from lying to squatting to kneeling and "doggy". The water temp was kept at a constant so it never got cold or uncomfy. Amazingly I was offered gas as they had a portable unit, but I didn't feel that I needed it. The water really seemed to take the edge off it all.

At about 4pm I felt the urge to push (during transition apparently I went into a trance!) and as Emily's head was crowning my waters broke. The pushing stage lasted 45 mins and then my beautiful girl arrived into the world. She was absolutely perfect - the water had washed off any blood and vernix and I think it had made me more 'supple' as I had a tiny tear despite the fairly swift entrance - infact we didn't think I had torn at all.

Em was lifted straight onto my chest and I delivered the placenta and then she went to her Dad while I got out and hopped into bed for my first BF.

Even though Emily is my first bub I was able to go home after 4 hours as my birth had been so straightforward.

I can not recommend waterbirth enough. I will absolutely do it next time and hopefully at home with a doula or midwife.

I wanted a birth that had no interference or intervention and I got my wish.

Emilys Agpar results were 9 both times.

I think that is everything - please let me know if you have any questions!

Cx

[JanetF]

Beautiful! We should all be offered such a birth! :)

[reAllytee]

Wowow !
Beautiful :D

[Marie-Jo]

WOW, I hope my Birth story will be as amazing as yours...You went home after 4 hours? Do you recommend to leave that early for first timers? Imean how did you manage?

Marie-Jo

[Jamily]

Hi Marie-Jo

I probably wouldn't recommend going home so early for first-timers unless they have someone who can really help out and had a degree of confidence. I had my Mum living with us and she has a lot of experience with newborns as part of her job. In terms of "professional" help I was able to take part in something called the Early Discharge Programme which allowed me access to all hospital facitilites, midwife care and lactation consultants. I had Emily at the Royal North Shore, Sydney Birth Centre so would only have been there for 24 hours as it was...I joined the programme at 4 hours instead of 24. I went back to the hospital every day for 4 days to get myself and Em checked.

Before we left I was looked at by an Ob, Em by a Paed and I was able to demonstrate that BF was going well. If there was any cause for concern I would not have gone.

I found my labour and birth experience to be one of the best events of my life - it still makes me very emotional to think of it 7 months on....

:)

[ar1]

I was just wondering if anyone knows which hospitals in Sydney do waterbirths? I really want one but am scared of doing it at home. I would rather be at a hospital.
:confused:

[Jamily]

I had mine at the Royal North Shore - in the Birth Centre. Defs would recommend it and the hosp.

Good luck

:)

[JATS]

Anyone have any info on a water birth VBAC?

Is there increased risk there?

Amy

[ZicosMum]

Just to let you know I had a water birth with my first born son 5 months ago and it was the best thing I could have done, Agpar test was 9 at 1 minute and 10 at 5 minutes. He is as healthy as a button. I had no pain killers and loved every minute of the birth. I will definitly go for baby No. 2 the same way. Good Luck.

[JanetF]

VBAC in water is just as excellent as any other water birth. You won't be able to access it in a hospy though as they don't provide evidence based care around VBAC. If you want to birth in water after surgery you'll find home birth is probably your only option. BUt hey, that's where the best and safest births happen anyway so that's great! :)

[pthalokitty]

I had a waterbirth- it was brilliant to push in the water as it eases the pain, and the position means you get maximum push power in the final stretch- my baby's first apgar score was 7 but he had the cord around his neck as he came out- a couple of minutes later he was a 9...and he is a smart, healthy, happy little cookie! Only thing I didn't like was that they drained the bath too quick while I was still in it and was freezing!
em xxoo

[JanetF]

There's some research being done at the moment into Apgars and wb. Basically a different system is required because the babies are a little different. They're just more relaxed quite often. Some are even born asleep LOL!

[MumsieMel]

OMG janet

I just read the Birth in 100 pics and gosh how beautiful!! :)

Tears in my eyes.

Thanks for sharing

[pthalokitty]

The question about waterbirth hospitals in sydney? RPA has tubs in the birth centre and in the labour ward - I had mine in the Birth Centre- you need to be considered a "normal" pregnancy to do it- but I can highly recommend it- that's when the labour got a whole lot easier for me, but I didn't get in the bath until I was allowed to push in the final stage as they need to check you are fully dilated...
exxoo

[MoonstoneMumma]

I have always thought of using water during labour but getting out once it came to pushing as the idea of the baby coming out in the water seemed strange and foreign to me. however after reading all these entries it seems like an ideal way to bring you baby into the world.

i really do not want to have an epi or pethedine. i guess this way makes the most sense. just a bit worried that if i get all excited about a water birth only to find that they are all unavailable at the time (public hospitals!)

[JanetF]

Some hospitals will support you in taking your own tub in as you would hire one for a home birth. Hey why not have a home birth and have a better birth that's safer anyway? :) No one can deny you anything at home! You can give birth in the backyard under a tree if you like :smiliedance: