Early labour and baths

Everything I have read about having a bath in early labour is different so whats right does having a bath in early labour speed things up or slow things down?

i had a bath while in the hospital...and before i knew it there was the baby...

i personally think that what a bath does is dull the pain slightly so you dont feel the contractions as strongly and then therefore dont realise how far along you have come...

When I was in early labour with Krystiana, my mw suggested I get in the bath because having a bath in early labour usually slows things down. That's unless you're past the point of no return (which no one ever knows when that is). I ended up yelping and getting out of there in a few minutes lol!

rubydooby, did you end up with a water birth? I am seriously considering labouring in the bath as baths so far in my life have got rid of every ache and pain....even this horrible pubic pain goes away in the bath and I can sit cross legged there.

So I want to labour in the bath but I am undecided about birthing in the bath. Any advice?

Piper, just give it a try during early labour, plan on waterbirth as option A but have an option B if you change your mind. If you don't wanna be naked you can wear a hospital gown or a t-shirt and the hospital (I presume all hospitals) has spa baths with jets I tried for a water birth with Hannah but it turned out that even though I like being in the shower for mid-labour, I don't like the bath at all! I was really surprised at myself but I just couldn't handle the sensation of the water moving around me.

Thanks busymum, I have to have a plan B anyway as there are not many birthing pools in chch ( I think Chch women's has 1) so it will be first in best dressed (or undressed).

I've heard that it can slow down labour, but mainly eases discomfort in the earlier stages of labour? Can't remember where I heard this, so it could just be more dribble that's floating around my confused head at the moment!

i had a bath in early labour with haleigh and it worked alright lol.
not long after I got in things had started progressing and i had to get out as I got the sudden urge to push.
if things are going a little slopw for me this time round im def going to try that option again, i had few drops of lavender in my bath, i had also had some homeopath tablets to my mw gave me.

rubydooby wrote: I'm not too sure... I've heard both... I tried getting in the bath but my labour was so quick I don't know if I even had 'early labour' - lol!! What does your MW say???

lol my labour was so quick we didnt have time to even fill the bath.

im not sure what it does but i know it is suposto ease contractions

nzpiper wrote: how fast was your labour catrad?

just under 1hr 20min didnt even have time for any pain relief ( apart from the gas but i kept sucking in and forgetting to breathe out then id hyperventalate lol)