Water Birth?
Printed From: OHbaby!
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=32644
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Topic: Water Birth?
Posted By: Kellyfer
Subject: Water Birth?
Date Posted: 03 April 2010 at 11:16am
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I had never really considered water births before, but have been reading up on them a bit lately, and there seem to be a lot of benefits in terms of pain management. I'm just wondering if anyone would want to share their water birth experiences, good or bad?
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Replies:
Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 03 April 2010 at 11:41am
Congratulations and welcome to OhBaby! 
I didn't give birth in the water, but I spent quite a bit of time in hot baths at home and then the birthing pool at the hospital while I was in labour. I have a very low tolerance for pain and I got to 8cm after 10 hours of labour with no drugs, so it definitely helps with the pain! The only downside was that if I was in for too long in early labour it slowed my contractions down from 2 minutes apart to 4ish, but I quite enjoyed the break to be honest 
If you do try the birthing pool try to spend lots of time on your hands and knees to make sure baby is facing the right way, baby's position makes a big difference to the pain as well. Good luck!  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: angel4
Date Posted: 03 April 2010 at 3:29pm
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I had a water birth for my second. Wanted to be in water for my first but he was a month early so wasnt allowed.
With kiara i got in the pool a bit early - i should have listened to my instincts because i though it was a bit early but everyone said i would be fine. Anyway it slowed my contractions quite a bit. However this ended up being quite good because i had a 20minute sleep lol. Got out of the pool and walked around a bit to get things moving again. Midwife did an internal to check things and a bit of a sweep. Contractions started back every 3mins. Got back in the pool and kiara was born 2hours later after one push. It was a very fast labour in the end. My only comment would be that i felt it would have been nicer to have the pool a bit deeper. Hot towels were also used during my labour on my lower back - as that seems to be where i have the most pain. The pool was great for being able to move around into comfortable positions. During the peak of my labour i spent contractions on my knees leaning over the side of the pool and then floated on my back between contractions. It was bliss. I was also able to have a very 'hands off' labour. No one touched me except to put a hot towel on at the start of a contraction and i held my husbands hands during contractions as well. When kiara was born the midwife helped me reach down and pull her up onto my chest, my husband and i were the first to touch her. Anyway that was quite long sorry. I say go for it. You can always change your mind and get out if you dont want to be in there anymore. |
Posted By: M2K
Date Posted: 03 April 2010 at 4:18pm
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The pool was the only place I felt comfortable, on my knees leaning on the side, Im not a bath person but I love hot showers, even more so towards the end of my pregnancy.
I didn't want anyone touching me except my partner, the only problem I had was getting out of the bath afterwards was very painful and I really could not get onto the bed. (I had a 10pnd 11 baby though!) also if you have long hair wear it up as mine took forever to dry and I couldn't put a brush through it for a few days haha 
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 April 2010 at 7:52pm
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I had a homewaterbirth for my 2nd. Getting in th epool was amazing !!! I probably spent 2 hoursi there. Like Angel at first I got in too early and contractions slowed. But getting out and walking around gotit going again. I had DH leanign over the side massaging my lower back as well.
With DD I birthed on the bed semi reclined and ended up with a second degree tear . With the waterbirth I had one small tear that didn't need stitched and never gave me any grief. After he was born I pulled him up onto my chest
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Posted By: bopmum
Date Posted: 03 April 2010 at 8:40pm
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I never planned to be in the water for my birth but when i got to the hospital my MW ran the bath as i had been in the shower at home and i hopped in there and stayed in there pretty much the whole time. My labour started at midnight and we went to the hospital at 5am where i was already 5cm, i think i was fully dilated by 11am and that was from being in the water and on the gas. I don't think my contractions slowed down at all, and the MW made me get out every now and then to walk around. The only reason Caide wasn't born in the water was because he was being stubborn and wouldn't come the little bit further! But would recommend spending some of the time in the water if you can! Really relaxing and helps with the pain. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 04 April 2010 at 9:02am
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Was in the water for my first , absolutely hated it, found contractions more intense and without a break between them .
Second time I refused a waterbirth , but I did spend a lot of time in the bath at home etc anyway up until I was about 6 cms and left for the hospital and loved it this time , found it great for the pain relief ------------- 
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Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 06 April 2010 at 9:12am
My first was a water birth. Did not plan it that way, it was the best thing ever, so relaxing and Lucy came out all nice and clean  I was in the pool for only 20 mins, fast labour.
Couldn't have one for my second as had a PPH, but still delivered naturally with no pain relief
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Posted By: Kellyfer
Date Posted: 06 April 2010 at 9:15am
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Thanks for the feedback!!
I'm definitely thinking I will be having a birthing bath... dunno if I will actually give birth in the water, but I love baths and find them really relaxing which can only be a good thing when in labour right? Thanks again!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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