Water births
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19605
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 12:38am
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Topic: Water births
Posted By: Two Shoes
Subject: Water births
Date Posted: 29 July 2008 at 6:39pm
Would be keen to hear what peoples' thoughts/experiences are/have been with water births. Would you recommend them? What pain relief can you have with them? Has anyone had them in Tauranga? 
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Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 29 July 2008 at 6:44pm
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I couldn't give birth in the bath with Josh but I spent a lot of time in the bath dilating. I had a shot of peth while in labout with him and could still be in the water. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: sonyaw
Date Posted: 29 July 2008 at 7:05pm
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i had one with DS2 and i absolutely loved it and plan on doing it again with this bub am hoping and prayng i can as the water makes you feel weightless which is GREAT inbetween contractions i had to get out of the bath to get placenta out but by then my son and i had a fair bit of skin to skin contact before he got taken weighed and dressed...
also if you go up to the top of page and search the forums for water birth topics i think you will find a few threads that you will find interesting ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
SHAY 9 QUIN 7 2 angels @9wk 1 day on 30-04-09 our angel 6-06-07 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 July 2008 at 7:18pm
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Sarahbetha from our Due in July group just had one and she's down that way somewhere but not sure where. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 29 July 2008 at 7:23pm
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I had a water birth with DD#2, I hadnt planned it but it just kinda happened and found the experience quite interesting. It was slightly harder than my first (maybe because DD#2 was 9lb 6oz), although not nearly as uncomfortable as was I would have expected.
I tried going in the pool during contractions but i found I got too hot and the contractions ended up stopping all together. I found it a little scary when the baby was coming out. The head had come out and I had to wait untill another contraction to push, and there were a good few minutes where I was worried that baby was stuck under water. I know the baby was fine but its still a little scary. I also found after giving birth I didnt quite know where to put my self and found myself crouch trying to hold the baby above the water as they were filling it to keep it warm. I was sitting like that for nearly an hour and became soo uncomfortable (I think I had an unusually long time before the placenta came out) Other than that it was really great, and it was quite nice not feeling as gross once it was all over. It was really relaxing and the baby seemed extreemly calm as well. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: Brenna
Date Posted: 29 July 2008 at 7:54pm
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I had a water birth and it was great! I didn't use any pain relief and found the water really soothing and calming.
Best of luck with your decision, I'd definatley do it again  ------------- My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 29 July 2008 at 9:17pm
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I tried for a water birth and found that as soon as I got into the water all of the pain went, it was bliss! I'm hoping to try again with a water VBAC next time
I didn't have any monitoring when I was in the pool (except for a couple of internal checks by the MW to see if I was progressing) and I was on the Gas too (equally as good as the water  )------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: Alianasmummy
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 7:42am
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With number 1 i was in Auck hospital and i tried the pool in the room (Sooo great they have that now) but i didnt like the temp, it had to be body temp but it felt like getting in a cold spa.
We tried again for a water birth at home for number 2. Unfortunately we didnt do a trial run before i went into labour and we ran out of hot water but it was only 1/4 full! my partner spent 3 hours heating water on the stove and tipping it in the pool. Just as the pool was up to temp, Aliana was coming out! At least it kept him busy i spose. Maybe one day number 3 might work out... let us know how it goes. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  tickers" /></a>
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 10:04am
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I'm thinking of having one this time.
Having baby under water sounds a bit worrying though, so I'll just see how I feel at the time. Now I know from last time that your birth plan can change depending on how you're feeling/how bubs is doing, so I'm open to change  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: first
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 10:13am
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I'm planning on having a waterbirth but really it is very flexible becuase you never do know how things are going to go so don't feel like if you decide you'd like to try a waterbirth that that's the only way baby is allowed to come out. You can get in, say I hate this and get straight back out again.
Best of luck with your decision ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/"> 
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 10:13am
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I laboured a lot in the bath , personally i hated it, it made the contractions come every five seconds and i couldnt get comfortable.
In hindsight tho, it probably sped things up a lot for me , i went from being 5 cms dilated to 10 by the time we left for the hospital half an hour later ( i wanted to push in the car) |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 10:27am
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I laboured in the water. Had a bath at home which helped with the pain and i was sitting with legs spread wide to help encourage the cervix to open.
When at the hospital i laboured int he water pool at aucks for a while but when they got me out to break my waters there was meconium so my midwife wouldn't allow me back in. i was allowed a shower which was FANTASTIC! i deffinately recommend water as pain relief. I am planning a home water birth this time round but midwife has said she doesn't allow you in pool til 8cm but i will be allowed in the bath & shower. Apparently being birthed in the water, the baby doesn't breath until either their skin is touched by either an adult or the air. I read up a lot about water births last time. Found it really useful hearing peoples experiences -------------   
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Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 10:39am
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I would love waterbirth, but hte pool's you hire would never get into my house and I can't afford a blow up one and would prefere a homebirth then an water birth so that is what we are planning for.
ETA: we would not be able to fill a pool with our hotwater tank anyway we can barely fill a normal bath. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:48pm
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debs that really sux. i haven't phoned the hire person fo rhte birthing pools as i have heard they are pretty much the same price as buying one. $180 from memory. We are quite lucky that we have a big open area in kitchen/dining where we can set it up and the laundry is inside so the hose can connect to that. -------------
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Posted By: BessieBear
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 5:08pm
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OOOOH me me i just had one, absulutely brilliant. I highly recommend!!! I spent the first 2 hours in the water and dialated from 4 to 6 cm and then went in again about 3 hours later and it nearly stopped my contractions but it gave me a good rest and was really relaxing. I hadn't planned on giving birth in the water but my Mw heated the water up and said to just hop in if wanted. Was easy to be on knees in there aswell. There was a gas thingy hooked up beside the bath i had to puffs and it was really yukky other than that i just had the water for pain relief. It's alright that bubs head is under water becuase they still think they are in utero. it's when the come up to the surface that they get such a shock from the temp change that they start breathing. And when bubs comes out hes all clean. yay. Oh i don't know about Tauronga i have a friend who had her girl there in April. But they've just done it all up so they might have pools. Ummm Kimmies would know she just had her girl there but not in water. I birthed at Waterford in Hamilton.
------------- Sarah Mum to, Boy 07/2008, Girl 03/2010, Boy 05/2012, Angel 07/08/2014
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 6:51pm
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Am i the only woman in the world who has laboured mostly in the bath and hated it ? and when i say bath , i mean spa bath , it was big, i just couldn't get comfortable, i needed something to clench when i got contractions , which were coming way too often for my liking , and there wasnt even a rubber duck
Perhaps it was because i hadnt planned to be in the bath ? |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 9:38pm
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some people i know don't like the water for pain relief and can't stand it. that's why you need to be prepared for all things i guess -------------
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Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 9:52pm
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I spent a couple of hours in the bath once I got to hospital - from 8cm until ready to push. I loved the bath (and the gas) and wanted to stay in to have my baby but the temp was too low by the time I said I wanted to, and my mw didn't think we had time to warm it up.
So, my advice is to let your mw know in time if you want to birth in the pool. In saying that, I was actually pleased afterwards that I didn't birth in the bath - I ended up delivering in a squat on the floor, which was the perfect position for me - it would have been difficult to maintain this position in the pool and have the mw see what was going on. I was also able to be supported by DP and it was nice to have him so involved. (I think Dad's can get in the pool with you if they are game). ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 10:10pm
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I couldnt get comfy in the tub at the hospital and it felt cold. I so dont remember how i got out and onto the hospital bed (not allowed to birth in the tub down here just labour).
I would definately use the tub again tho i think it helped speed things along and put me in a better position where as otherwise i would have lay on the bed the whole time not knowing if i should stay there or move. Dunno if ill be allowed the tub next time as they arent sure there will be time and will break my waters early since my labour was so quick last time. -------------   
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 31 July 2008 at 11:02am
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I used the tub during contractions, though towards the end it was so painful I stood up for contractions and leant against DH (he was in there with me). Before that I remember leaning on the side and my mum pouring cold water over my face. It was great to be able to lie back and relax during contractions, so lovely feeling weightless.
As for pain relief, I totally recommend acupressure. And Kelly funny you say about needing something to squeeze during contractions, one of the acupressure things is to squeeze a comb with the sticky out bits at a certain point on your fingers, it releases endorphins which makes you feel less pain. Plus I liked having something to squeeze! It was great. Anyway here's the link to where you can download th booklet if you're interested (I'm convinced it's because of acupressure that I didn't need any pain relief), http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/acupressure/download.aspx - acupressure booklet ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 31 July 2008 at 3:23pm
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that's really awesome arohanui.
I foudn it great to be able to lean on the edge of the pool between contractions & DH said i relaxed heaps, almost nodded off a couple of times. It was cooler water but didn't feel too bad coz i was so warm with the labour anyways. DH was on the side comforting me & talking to me & trying to make me have a drink & mw sat beside the pool talking to me too. And they were monitoring his heartbeat every couple of mins with a portable thingy. -------------
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Posted By: Two Shoes
Date Posted: 01 August 2008 at 1:23am
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Great thanks everyone! It does seem like most of you have experienced more comfort being immersed in water, even if not to have the baby, but to help with the contractions and dilation. I will be quite open with my choices and obviously you need to expect the unexpected, so one's choice of birth option will be swayed with how one's labour's going.
Arohanui: Thanks for your link about acupressure, which I hadn't heard of before. I'll be sure to have a read. ------------- http://img73.imageshack.us/my.phpimage=william23098daysold.jpg" border="0"> 
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 01 August 2008 at 9:37am
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two shoes, just make sure if you want a waterbirth that you specify to your midwife and check they do them. My first midwife i hadn't asked & had to ring a couple of weeks before my appointment to see if she did them & she didn't so then had mad rush to find a midwife that wasn't booked up for August or on holiday & that did a water birth. This time, that was the first thing i asked. lol. -------------
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Posted By: Two Shoes
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 12:31am
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Chonny: Thanks for your advice also. Yes I will make sure I ask whether they do water births. By-the-way, how did you find having a water birth, what was it like for you?
I've got my scan tomorrow, and am very, very excited! Hopefully it'll go well and I can break the news to friends, family and work mates. Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy. xx ------------- http://img73.imageshack.us/my.phpimage=william23098daysold.jpg" border="0">
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 10:35am
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good luck for the scan two shoes! i never managed to haev my water birth as there was meconium in my waters (due to maturity) but they wanted to make sure it was maturity not stress. This mw said she doesn't worry bout that, just keeps an eye on baby. But i lvoed labouring in the water. you can read my birth story if you like under the pregnancy page under birth stories. Full Name Chontelle -------------
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Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 11:19am
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I had a wonderful home waterbirth a couple of months ago. Was awesome!
I was in the bath (lying down flat) at first then moved to the birthing pool when I got to about 8cm... I was kind of lying back reclined holding onto the top of the pool behind my head. The contractions were REALLY painful, but when I was in the process of moving from the bath to the pool it was soooooo much worse so it definitely did help make me more comfortable... Pushing was painless though & I think the water really helped soften things up so it was able to stretch easier. I pushed her out in 18 minutes & had no tears or grazing or anything. I sat in the pool for a few minutes then stood up to get out & my placenta fell out LOL so that was really easy too! ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 2:12pm
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so does anyone know what the situation is with breech babies in the water? -------------
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 3:25pm
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You probably wont be allowed a breech birth in the pool, they generally C section a breech dont they?
I know one OhBaby mum WRXandJosh had a breech normal birth, but they didnt know he was breech. I had a water birth, was fantastic. Will do it again too. I got to the hospital at 6cm, got in the pool about 8cm and birthd in there. Didnt get much skin to skin as Kylah had breathing difficulties.. ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 4:47pm
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yea the breech thing is concerning me. will have to talk to mw in a couple of weeks i think. afterall, subsequent babies keep moving round aye? -------------
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Posted By: Two Shoes
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 12:00am
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Thanks for everyones' comments about their water birthing experiences. They sound really positive and more of a natural way to birth.
I definitely want to consider it as an option, and thus want to find a midwife who does them. I think I should start phoning around this week, as we had our scan on Tuesday 5th and everything is going well. It was so amazing to see the little bub in there, wriggling and moving around, and hearing it's heart beat! So cool, such a special experience! I think DH was more nervous than me, he was sooo excited! I had to empty my bladder though 10 mins into the scan in order for the sonographer to get better measurements etc...So exciting to finally tell people!
So our next scan is at 23 weeks (in 10 weeks time). We don't want to find out the sex, prefer the surprise at the end! Ha! I just had a couple of questions for Kylahs Mum and Toniellis about your births: Did you have any pain relief/did you want any? Also, how long were you pushing for? I know it sounds a bit strange to ask (& excuse me for my naiveity, doh!), but is there any chance of the baby drowning during the birth process, or is everything safe with it? Good luck for everyones pregnancies xx ------------- http://img73.imageshack.us/my.phpimage=william23098daysold.jpg" border="0">
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 9:03am
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two shoes, you better get on to ringing midwifes quickly! they tend to dissappear and depending on where you are there may not be many that will do a water birth.
As for baby drowning, the baby doesn't start breath until either their skin is touched or the air hits them. my understanding is the midwife often just lets the baby be in the water until fully born before they touch them unless they desperately need to. i could be wrong? -------------
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Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 1:13pm
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The baby is still getting oxygen through the umbilical cord until it breaks the surface of the water, so won't breathe independently until then, so there is no chance of baby drowning. I know my DD's head came out first and the MW did a very quick check on her position (by touch) before I pushed the rest of her out, and she didn't breathe until she was placed on my chest immediately after. ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 11:25am
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thats good to know pearls. thanks -------------
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Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 2:48pm
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I highly recommend the acupressure - DP continued to do apply pressure on my lower back while I was in the water - it was fantastic. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 7:42pm
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Hi again two shoes,
I wanted gas for pain relief for the contractions but in the end I didn't use it... My midwife forgot to bring it & the second midwife didn't have time to grab any or she would have missed the birth LOL. I pushed for 18 minutes and there is no chance of Bubs drowning as long as he/she stays under the water. I remember I was kind of holding myself half out & my midwife said "in or out hun??" LOL & I had to keep checking that Bubs was coming out when I was pushing her out to make sure I was making progress ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |
Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 8:50pm
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I had a natural water birth with my first DD, as there was no time for anything, as I nearly had her at home, it was straight into the pool. It was amazing, I felt stress free and so relaxed, even though she was crowning. It did sting a little bit, but I just let my body take over and being in the water really helped. I would have had another water birth with DD2 but with complications after the birth resulted me to have another natural birth out of the water and hooked up to a machine.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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