Why Why WHY!!?? water birth/ non water birth - Page 2

[katelove]

This is a link to the Cochrane review of water imersion for labour and birth. You could use their reference list to find the original research papers they reviewed.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/coc...111/frame.html

FWIW the hospital where I did the practical component my midwifery course and, as it turned out, where I had my first baby offers water birth as an option. They are also in the middle of a remodel and the new birthing rooms will have proper birth pools in them (at the moment there are only 2 spa-type baths in little rooms not proper birth rooms).

[NuzzleNudge]

Another thing to consider, is that Water birth babies come up 'cleaner' than land babies. Personally I'd rather not be cuddling and kissing on my precious one when they are covered in blood and gook. :P

And from the experience of having a miscarriage and really bad heavy periods, I ABSOLUTELY HATE bleeding all over my self/down my legs. So the water will be nice as a quick rinse before I get some 'protection'.

[mylilmonkeys]

I've planned 5 home births, only the first was a water birth.  It was nice, but taking care of the tub seemed a lot of unnecessary work.  For other labors, I've made use of my shower, but most have been too quick to even fill a tub, much less birth in one.  Home birth works equally well without a birth tub.  You just squat or stand or side lie or hands&knees or kneel--whatever feels right at the time.  

[jeminijad]

I would love to labor in deep/warm water, but am not interested in actually giving birth there. I'm a mammal... it just doesn't make sense to me.

But that is only my opinion! It isn't based on anyone's advice, or research. I hope you come to a decision that you are comfortable with.

[etsdtm99]

my home birth was not a waterbirth..  i labored for a while in my bathtub and got out to push (needed more space) .. baby was born on the bedroom floor .. i was on my on hands and knees.. i wouldnt change a thing .. 

[allisonrose]

With my first, I had a hospital birth. The hospital had a labor tub. I spoke with a midwife (not the one I went with for prenatal care) and asked why no births in the tub. She said it was a "logistical nightmare": mom and baby are losing body heat and they have to figure out how to get mom and baby safely out of the tub. Funny that homebirth midwives have figured out the answers to those questions.

This time around I am planning a homebirth. My midwife lent me a tub. I am planning to labor in to but am going to play it by ear as far as where I want to deliver. (Not due to my concern about safety of birthing in water but rather the safety of the tap water in my area - long story.)

[mdnaturalmama]

Originally Posted by MegBoz 

There's one hospital here in Baltimore that does water births. Friend of mine is birthing there, but with an OB rather than the CNMs. I asked her if WB was an option with the OB. She said her OB said it can be a risk for bacteria to get into baby - like if you poop in the water. (Funny how it's safe enough for the patients of the CNMs though. )
I told her I read in the book "Pushed" that HB MWs ask Mamas to have fish nets or colanders available to scoop the poo out of the labor tub. a funny image, I must say.
 

Ahahahahahaha!!! Oh my goodness, this is something I've been wondering about. I can just see a nice little poo floating up to the surface. That'll proly happen to me even tho it never did with my first two. Lol.  ;)

What hosp in Balt does WB??

[bri276]

I had dd2 in a birth center which had a jacuzzi but did not allow water birth.  I was in the tub off and on throughout labor and happened to be in it when I started pushing (involuntarily, very sudden and intense).  The water really didn't make a difference for my physical comfort at any point.  My contractions weren't painful until the last hour or so before she was born, and even then, I was no different in water than out.  However, was very hard to get out of the tub once the pushing started.  I didn't want to move from that spot!  I even had them drain the water, but the problem was my mw felt like she couldn't deliver in the tub period, it was too deep, she couldn't reach, etc.  Anyway, I would say that if you don't want to deliver the baby IN the water, try not to be in it when you feel like transition or pushing is close, because getting out at that point is a PITA.  ;)  OTOH, I had a somewhat weird labor pattern and delivery b/c we're pretty sure she was posterior until the last 20 minutes (i.e., when she finally got into position and slid out!)

[bri276]

Originally Posted by jeminijad 

I would love to labor in deep/warm water, but am not interested in actually giving birth there. I'm a mammal... it just doesn't make sense to me.

But that is only my opinion! It isn't based on anyone's advice, or research. I hope you come to a decision that you are comfortable with.

So are dolphins and whales :)
 

[lookatreestar]

i also labored in the water with my second home birth (uc) but felt the need to get out during pushing.

[indignantgirl]

The "logistical nightmare" excuse is exactly why I (a UC'er) can't picture myself actually giving birth in the water.  I enjoy laboring there (no pain relief but it's soothing in a different way), but I cringe to think about that first step out of the tub, feeling that slap of cold air against my skin.  There's nothing I hate more than being cold!  And all air will feel cold after being in a warm tub, and besides, I always get very cold and shivery after birthing.

I'm afraid if I actually give birth in the water I'll feel trapped.  I won't want to get out because it'll feel cold, and since we delay cutting the cord, I'll have to deliver the placenta in water so that the baby and I are separated enough for DH to help us out of the water.  So I'm forced to stay in there for a while.  But what if I want or need to get out sooner?  Or right away?  If I were going to have a midwife and/or doula around, I might feel differently.  But so far I've liked having solid ground beneath my knees.  :D

[raelize]

I agree. Showers and baths helpme but with both my labors I felt theneed to get out and lay on my side