Water Birth

Hi there,

My due date is closer now. I'm a bit afraid of the labour and pains. I want to have a water birth because some friends recommended that it's easier and a pain less progress.

Has anybody here had a water birth before? or going to do it? Share some experience with me?

Oh, I live in central Auckland. Could you recommend some good water birth please?

Thanks

Lucy

Edited by babybaby

I planned on using water as pain relief too, unfortunately I hated it when I was actually in labour and it seemed to make things more painful.

Auckland Hospital has birthing pools (although not in every room) and Birthcare has pools as well, im not sure how far along you are, but dont you have some idea of where you are going to give birth?

I didn't have a water birth, but spent a good deal of my labour in the birthing pool (in the hospital). I was open to the idea of actually having DD in the pool, but in the end it just didn't feel right (and turned out for the best seeing as the cord was wrapped around her neck a few times, and had to be cut before the rest of her came out - which would have been more difficult if I had remained in the water!).

I actually found that the water sped up my labour (as in went from 3cm to fully dilated in about 2.5 hours), so it was anything but painless for me! (I had some gas while in the pool, but that was it for pain relief). Having said that, I'm so glad I did spend a few hours in there, and next time will definitely do the same.

Just make sure you research your options, and be prepared that you might hate it once you're in there - so don't totally commit yourself to a water birth only, or you might be disappointed.

Babybaby, I'm planning to have a waterbirth. The best thing would be to get a book about waterbirth. I have read a couple from the library. Definately helpful, and cover alot about when is a good time to go into the pool etc.

I had a unplanned water birth for DS, and am planning on doing it again this time round. I heard it was harder to push in the water, but I probaly need to work that out myself. I laboured a bit it the water too but it stopped my contractions alot and had to keep getting out to start them up again.

Thanks a lot for the information.

I did a bit research and heard lots of other people's experience. Most are positive. I decide to give it a go. Like Andriea said, if it's not my thing, I can always get out. I might book in birthcare or Auckland hospital. Oh, It's 26th week now. I still have some time to go.

i had a water birth with ds2 and laboured but didnt birth in the water with ds1 as he was still posterior at 9cm.
i found the water helped control the pain i had with ds1 as it was all in my back. and the only thing that helped that was the shower nosill directly on my back.

ds2 was a rather quick birth so i wasnt in the water long and i was already high as a kite on gas so i dont know if it made any difference to the pain but i was deff able to get more comfertable in the water.

with ds3 i just didnt feel like getting in the water.
well i did want to but i was already comfy on the bed and once u get comfy u really dont want to move.

he he milliemoo - I was the same, I had baby in the pool - no gross stuff, blood etc for me, then about 20 mins later I had placenta and got straight out. mw's sorted out cleaning up the pool, liner and stuff after.

I had a water birth with Emily and will have another one when we have #2. I found it great cant imagine being on a bed.
With the ick side once Emily was born and we had a cuddle she was passed to daddy and the mw helped me out of the pool i delivered the placenta on the bed about 40min later. So didnt sit in the blood for long. Also there wasnt really that much - Hubby thought it would look like a scene from Jaws lol even he aggrees it wasnt that bad.

I had a waterbirth with my first and there wasn't as much blood as I thought there would be, and the midwife took care of it all anyway... for my second I planned a home water birth (rather than hospital) but DD came so quickly DH didn't even get to finish filling the pool and she was born in our bedroom instead !!

Edited by HippyMama