waterbirth question

[evjolin]

for those of you have had a waterbirth, did your dh/dp come into the tub with you?? i feel like i wouldn't want that, personally, and frankly, i dont think my dh is up for joining me in there. curious if you think i will want it and why. thanks!

[elus0814]

I'm planning a waterbirth or at least water labor, I'll have to see how I feel at the time, and I have no idea if DH will want to come in the tub or not. I know I'll bring up to him that I might ask him to come in but again, when your in labor things that you thought you will like seem repulsive and things that you thought you would never want to do seem like a great idea. With all my births I have been surprised with myself.

Maybe bringing it up to him to let him know that when you're in labor you might want him there for support and contact or you might not want him in the room at times. That way he knows it might happen but he won't be surprised if it doesn't.

[Asiago]

w

Mine didn't join me in the pool. Neither one of us really wanted it. I could see how it would be nice though.

[TSomm]

My dh didn't want anything to do with any unidentified objects floating in the water, so he stayed clear and didn't come in. I didn't get in the pool until I was pushing, though, but he helped me quite a bit before then.

[gillibean]

I've had three waterbirths and I've never wanted DH in the tub with me. I like my space.

[xixstar]

I labored in the tub last time and didn't want dh in the tub with me. This time I bought a stock tank instead of the fishy pool, and there won't be enough room for him to join me and I'm fine with that.

I personally don't want anyone else in with me... I'm not a fan of baths to start with, so I think it's pretty impressive that *I* want to be in the water.

[laohaire]

I thought I'd want my DH in the pool with me but I didn't. I actually "let" both him and my mom take a turn each with me earlier in my labor, but then I said I didn't want anybody in with me anymore, and that was that.

[womenswisdom]

My DH ended up in the tub with me during pushing since I felt I was most comfortable pushing semi-reclining and that is hard to do without someone supporting you from behind

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

I was in my pool on my own untill caden was born and thats what i wanted because it was my pool.

[emnic77]

I definitely don't want dh in there (he's 6'2", I'm 5'4", he'd hog all the space and annoy the crap out of me) and he's fine with that because he is not at all squeamish but has no desire to be in a "body fluid bath."

[lunita1]

Originally Posted by TSomm

My dh didn't want anything to do with any unidentified objects floating in the water,

Yeah, this. The odd pieces of um... bloody mucous? in the water repulsed dh. He was nice and supportive, but he drew the line and getting in the water with that.

[Peony]

I never wanted DH in with me and thank goodness because there is no way in heck would he be interested in climbing into a birthing tub with me.

[hunterofkyle]

I wanted my husband in the pool with me but honestly thought he would be grossed out. Luckily, our doula showed us tons of videos of couples laboring and birthing in the water. I never specifically asked him to join me, but after watching all the videos he made comments that led me to believe he would be willing. During labor, I climbed into the tub and he changed into his swim shorts.

I guess it all depends on when your water breaks and how much fun stuff you have coming out of your vagina, but we didn't notice anything until my water broke right before crowning.

Keep the room dark and the lights low and you'll be blissfully unaware of any floaters in the water.

I delivered on my knees and my husband caught our baby. I turned around and sat on his knees (to raise me out of the water so I could hold baby). DH stayed in the pool with me for 30 minutes after the birth, only getting out when I delivered the placenta and got out myself.

I actually fell in love with him all over again for being willing to experience a little more of the feeling of delivery with me. I mean, I'm going to be sitting there in a pool of floaters and debris. . .why should he be any less willing than I am? (FTR - I have never pooped in delivery. . .now I wonder if he would have jumped out at that! lol)

[emaye_to_2]

I had a waterbirth with my first. I ended up spending about five hours in the tub laboring while my DH, also in the tub, rubbed and pressed my back. Then I got out for over 2 hours and tried to push on a birth stool. When the baby was ready to birth, we both climbed back in. I chose not to have a waterbirth with my second.

[Lucy Alden]

The thought never even crossed my mind. I liked having my own space. I'm pretty sure my DH would have said a big "no thanks" on that one as well. I found that he was able to support me quite nicely from outside the pool. I do have a girlfriend that is quite short. Her husband was in the pool. She said it helped her have something solid to lean against and steady herself. I'm 5'9 and the sides of the birthing pool we rented were solid enough for me. I guess if you were in a little kiddy pool it might help to have someone to hold onto or lean up against.

[JennTheMomma]

DH will come in at the end because we are catching the baby together and bringing him above water. I want to squat while pushing, and having DH in the water will be the easiest way for us to bring him up.