anyone NOT want a waterbirth?

[EMAID]

Hi all- I'm kind of a lurker who just shows up periodically with questions when I'm in need of opinions or just bored. Right now I'm two days from my due date for my homebirth with #3, and trying to pass the time. Baby doesn't seem to want to budge; I haven't even had practice contractions in the past three days.

Anyway, this is just a question from curiosity. Why do so many people, including my midwife to a certain extent, push me to do a waterbirth? I've met a lot of people who as soon as I tell them I'm doing homebirth, they ask me if I'm going to waterbirth, and a few who just assume the two are one in the same. My midwife kept talking for a while like it was a given as well, until I wrote a birth plan and indicated that I don't expect to want a waterbirth, but would do it if it felt right in the moment. (She seems to understand me now; I'm not worried about it.)

Don't get me wrong, I understand all the benefits of waterbirth, but I just don't think I'd be comfortable. With both my previous births I spent some time in the water during active labor, but right around transition I just HAD to get out and lay down on my side. I'm not really an "active" laborer, I tend to prefer to lay in a relaxed state with DH talking calmly to me. Am I weird? I just don't find bathtubs very comfortable, and I've never been the type of person who wants to take a bubble bath at the end of a long day; I'd rather just lay down.

Is it that weird to be more attracted to a dry homebirth than a wet one?

[bird_verde]

I am totally with you on not wanting a waterbirth and I am not planning on one. Primarily, I don't like baths because I don't like the cold wet feeling I get when I get out of a tub. I will always prefer a steamy shower to a bath. I also don't like the thought of swimming around in my own dirty water either. I completely understand the benefits and respect those that want it but I just don't think it is for me.

Like you, my midwife (and pretty much anyone else) automatically assumes that I will want to get in the tub at somepoint. I have an oversize tub that if I really "want" it, I can certainly use but, renting a huge pool is not in my plans. (Plus the only place it might fit would be in my foyer or living room, surrounded by windows and french doors... not much privacy.)

With my first birth, I thought I would try the tub (hospital birth) but the thought of getting into the tub and then getting out again was everything that I didn't want at that moment. I didn't want to walk to the tub and I didn't the wet feeling on my skin. I needed firm support, to feel steady and to sit on a stool. I was dizzy and internalizing most of the pain (like self-hypnosis), I didn't want to be floating in water or bouncing around on a birth ball as that was distracting to me.

[EMAID]

Sounds like our birthing personalities are similar. I didn't like the hard feeling of the bottom of the tub, and when the contractions got really bad, I didn't like holding up my own body, even to sit. I have the same type of tub that you do. The only thing that I thought of that might change things this time is that my previous births were both on cold days (November and March), and this one is in the summer, so if I had hot flashes or something a cool bath could help keep me comfortable, but it's just one tool in the box. If I go in at all it won't be for long.

[laughymama]

I had the option. I decided against it for this birth.

My midwife is in the process of becoming a certified waterbirth specialist so she's a big fan but she left it up to me.

She has a birth jacuzzi we'd use and from what I hear it's pretty darn comfy...but I'm just not a water person. I hate baths, they feel like an inconvenience and I don't like getting my hair wet. It's long and thick, takes forever to dry itself...when it gets wet it's heavy and tangled and just a pain.
Don't like getting pruney or the cold chills I get after getting out...yeah. Just not for me.

I like the idea of being "grounded" during labor and transition. I really feel like that will be much more comforting and help me through transition than sitting in the water would.

I'm with you! Dry birth here.

[BeanyMama]

I don't want one. I don't care for being in water in labor, either.

[cileag]

I wasn't planning on delivering in the tub, but pushed too quickly to get out so I can understand your feelings. Honestly, I think it's just a bit of a fad right now. It DID help with labor pain for me--when I got so tired during transition, the tub I rented was big enough to just free float in and that was awesome, but then again I have always loved baths.

Secondly, I think another contributing factor for a home birth is that it's another trick up the midwife's (or your own) sleeve. Since pain medication is not available, I kind of wanted a "back up" in case land laboring got out of control. So for me, simply knowing I had the option of "hydrotherapy" helped.

It sounds like you know how your body has worked in the past, so there's no reason to change anything for this birth if you don't feel it's necessary.

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by laughymama

I had the option. I decided against it for this birth.

My midwife is in the process of becoming a certified waterbirth specialist so she's a big fan but she left it up to me.

She has a birth jacuzzi we'd use and from what I hear it's pretty darn comfy...but I'm just not a water person. I hate baths, they feel like an inconvenience and I don't like getting my hair wet. It's long and thick, takes forever to dry itself...when it gets wet it's heavy and tangled and just a pain.
Don't like getting pruney or the cold chills I get after getting out...yeah. Just not for me.

I like the idea of being "grounded" during labor and transition. I really feel like that will be much more comforting and help me through transition than sitting in the water would.

I'm with you! Dry birth here.

: And honestly, besides all that, we also just don't have enough hot water in the house to make it possible. We have a TINY hot water tank. (Two showers back to back drain it completely, as do a load of diapers)

So dry birth here too!

[AnneCordelia]

I feel the same way as you ladies. I've done it on dry land very well 3 times and I'll do it again. I'd rather not be wet, and have to dry off while I'm labouring or right after birth. I'm not a water person.

My twin sister loved her waterbirths though and they are a perfect fit for her.

[etsdtm99]

I am also not a water person and have decided against having a waterbirth/big tub available for this birth .. i was a little nervous about not having the option because of the way everyone talks about it but it just doesn't feel right to me.. i could have written the original post word-for-word..

[homemademom]

I've done it both ways and in my case of babies with sticky shoulders, I now prefer to deliver on land where all of us can see immediately what's going on with the baby and his/her shoulders. If some sort of procedure was necessary, it would need to happen quickly, so I wouldn't want the water obscuring what was happening.

Now, if I had one of those little slippery babies that just slide out, I would love another waterbirth. As it is, I'll settle for the pool being a place to labor (among other locations).

[St. Margaret]

I had a thread on this a while back and we decided we were the earth-birthers tribe I feel pretty much the same.

[vanislandmama]

Definitely an earthbirther!! love it! The tub is too floaty for me, I need to be grounded and feel the earth below me to get my babes out. With my second I tried a waterbirth and just had to get out of there during transition. Like others, using the water as a comfort during contractions is great, but the getting in and out is so painful, I would rather just stay out.

[MidwifeMegan444]

I'm not feeling the waterbirth either...I considered it for my 5th kiddo, but he was born too fast to make it to the tub. There is just something magical about feeling the earth beneath your feet while birthing...

[lotusma]

yep, i can't seem to jump on board w/ a water birth either, altho i consider it w/ each babe. i too have to lie completely still and relaxed on my side, particularly when pushing (usually on the floor because i can't bear the thought of climbing up and down, in and out of my bed to constantly go pee) and can't imagine having to hold myself up in a bath or birth pool.

i've just never been a water person, either.

[dex_millie]

I am with you. I never wanted one, all I can think of how cold I will be when I come out. It just never was of interest to me. The closes I came to having one is during my 2nd birth when the midwives suggested I can try a tub thing so I did but I only lasted in there 15/20 minutes and came out. Don't plan to try it again with this one(this one will be my 3rd homebirth).

[ber]

even though I understand the reasons why water birth is beneficial, I just was uncomfortable with it. I had the pool for both homebirths and got to labor in it the second time. It was awesome, but when I was going into transition, I got out to push and give birth.

I love love LOVE being in the water, but not for birthing!

[MPsSweetie]

I love the idea, but my skin gets really dry and itchy and super uncomfortable if I just get out of water without lotion of some kind. And sometimes the feeling of water makes me a little breathless, like its suffocating me.
Oh, and I've heard of too many stories of having to fish out pooh from the water, ummmm, no thanks. I'd rather that not be floating around next to me during pushing

[Twinklefae]

I think also it would depend on the time of year - if I'd had DS at home in the heat of August, I might have considered it. In the freezing February we get here? Yeah, no thanks.

[shells_n_cheese]

I am with you. No desire to have a waterbirth.

[EMAID]

I'm great with it for laboring- with my both my labors I went in during active labor, but DEMANDED to get out right around transition. I think I got nasty about it too! I remember thinking all of a sudden, "Why the heck am I in the tub?!" It might be more comforting this time since its August, but I doubt it.

I will definitely tell my MW that I'm an "earthbirther" tomorrow. Love it!

On my homebirth supply list, my MW listed "small fishing net for waterbirth". I went to Wal-Mart and asked for one in the sporting goods dept., and the worker there asked if I was going fishing in my condition, and I told him it was for a potential waterbirth. He asked what one did with the fish net, and I told him I thought it was for helping to get the placenta out of the water. He said he'd heard a lot of good stories in sporting goods, but I had him speechless with that one. Then I mentioned this on my FB profile, and my former childbirth teacher who is also a waterbirth lover, said it's actually used to get the poop out of the water! Imagine if I'd told the Wal-Mart guy that!