Anyone deliver in the shower?

[1babysmom]

I'm a total shower person, even in labor. I have no real desire to have a waterbirth but if I did it would just be in the tub at home instead of a birth pool. But I find the shower to be more comfortable than the bath tub (it's all one, but I like the water running on me rather than sitting in it, I guess). I can't see myself delivering in the water anyway, but if I did I think I'd be more comfortable in the shower.

Anyone done it? Is the fact that the temperature isn't the same all over (since the water isn't surrounding you) a problem as the baby is born? (you know, since sometimes the shower water is really warm and the air outside of it is cold, if that makes sense?)

Sorry if this is a stupid question!!!!!

[Veritaserum]

I'd be worried about two things:

1. The baby being cold upon arrival due to not necessarily being in the warm stream of water.
2. Slipping and/or dropping the baby.

The shower we have now has a glass door that completely seals it. It gets really steamy in there, so a shower like that may work because the overall temperature is warmer.... It would make it pretty much impossible to have assistance unless that person were in the shower, too.

[Kidzaplenty]

I do the shower. I just turn the water off when I begin to push. I LOVE laboring in the shower. It is so relaxing. As for the temp change, it is no different than birthing in the bedroom or other "dry" room in the house.

I have never actually delivered while the water was running, though. Not sure how that would work, as you would need to keep the water off the baby's face so he/she would not breath it in.

[Rockies5]

I've known several women with shower births. No problem and standing is more effective posture then sitting anyday. Its common sense to wrap and dry a cold baby, so no real worries there.

[spruce]

Had my last baby in the shower, with one of those hand-held showerhead thingies. I had a birthing stool, and sat on it to birth. (We don't have a bath, anyway, and the baby before that was born in our hot tub outside).

It was *perfect*. Warm water, a towel ready, daddy to catch, etc. I loved that birth.

love, p

[spruce]

Oh! And both my midwives and my DH said the cleanup was a SNAP in the shower, whereas my pooor DH got stuck cleaning out our hot tub (outside, in Oct) after the birth before the shower one. So there is that to think of.

love, p

[katelove]

Not me giving birth and not at home but I have had a couple of lovely catches in the shower. The most recent was in a hospital bathroom which didn't have a seperate shower recess, it was all just one room so there was plenty of space for mum, dad and me. It also had a handheld shower head.

The woman spent most of her labour in the bathroom and her partner held the showerhead and directed it for her. I sat just outside the door. She didn't stand much, mostly squatted or knelt. I think she was kind of squatting/reclining for the actual birth. The room was very warm as we'd kept the door just ajar so it was all steamy. I don't think we turned the water off until the babe crowned. I lifted him onto mum's chest and just covered him with a towel and wiped his head/face like I usually would.

It was *very* easy to clean up. Just washed everything down the plughole.

In this case it wasn't an issue because mum was close to the ground but, when I catch a baby and the mum is standing, I put a pillow on the ground between her feet so if the babe did slip (it hasn't happened yet BTW) they would land on the pillow. You could use a folded bath sheet or thick towel or something in the shower if you were concerned.