"Land" vs Water birth

[3xMama]

I just need to write this out and "talk" it out with a few other people and get some other points of view!

I decided that for the birth of my little surprise in Feb, I would like to do a "land" birth (is that the right term?! lol) as opposed to a waterbirth for several reasons:

1) We really can't afford a tub rental from my mw.

2) The whole tub was a pretty big hassle. My mw rents out "spa in a box" tubs, which are basically huge hot tubs-complete with heater, chlorine and jets!-that her husband comes out and sets up. The set up process took a good hour and a half and tear down took closer to three hours. Cleaning it after the birth was a nightmare. Drain it, wipe it out and remove any leftovers from the birth (poor DH was waaay traumatized by this!), fill it, add bleach and run tub (since the water sits for extended periods it runs through a filter), drain again. It took hours plus this thing is HUGE, six feet diameter so we're talking about a LOT of water. AND we had to make room for this six ft diameter tub in our pretty teeny house. We had the tub for about 8 wks (dropped off at 36 wks, picked up several days after the birth which was over 42 wks) so it did cause a pretty big disturbance in our house.

3) We can't afford a rise in our utility bills, which did happen, since the filter and heater had to run constantly while the tub was full.

4) I had a quick labor and did not get to labor in the tub, though I did give birth in it. Total time I was in the tub was probably a half hour.

5) I really want to expirence giving birth naturally outside of water. My first was a traditional hospital birth complete with epidural and epis, my second was water.

6) I'm not really intrested in a tub that has to be set up during labor. I want DH with me through every contraction possible and focused on me. I don't want him to be bothered with setting up a tub while I"m in labor.

All that being said, I've been reading a lot of birth stories lately and one thing that's jumped out at me is comparison between the land and water birth. So many who are in a position to compare say the water birth was so much gentler and less intense than their land birth. And my mw was asking me what kind of bathtub/showers we have so I know she likes water as a pain reliever. So now I'm really torn. When it comes down to it, a good birth is what I'm really aiming for. Is a tub what I need for that? I also know that in the midst of labor, reasons 1-5 really aren't going to matter at that point should I want to get into a tub! And is having an expirence just for the sake of having that expirence really worth it in such a life changing event? I feel almost like I'm making it into a lab test, but otoh, I'm fairly certain I'll regret not having the expirence of a natural land birth (this is probably our last). I will say that having the tub set up for such a long period towards the end of a pregnancy was pretty nice. I could get in whenever I wanted and relax. The water was hot and I could float in it without touching any part of the tub itself (though in truth that made it hard to push since it was difficult to brace myself). Heaven for a pregnant lady!

So should I stick with my decision or should I opt for another water birth?

[lyno]

i don't know.. it's really up to you.  I personally loved birthing in water compared to birthing on land.  we got an inflatable tub (apparently there are some kids pools that are deep eough and cheep too).  We inflated it way in advance then just had to fill it up with water when I was in labour.  you just need a hose and adapter to your faucet or shower head.  Then after, by husband emptied it using buckets.  nothing fancy and pretty affordable.  Could you just use your bath tub?  if you run out of hot water, you just heat some on the stove.  You could go for a land birth and if you decide you don't like it, you could just fill up your bath tub and hop in.  My midwife said she delivered  babies in the tiniest of bathrooms.  good luck!

[3xMama]

I have thought about just using our bathtub. I can probably labor in it if I decide I want to get into water and I'm fairly certain that it could work to birth in if I got in and flat out refused to get out. But I really don't think its feasible either for myself or for the midwife. Its just so small and cramped. And knowing the huge deep water tub I'm afraid the little cramped bathtub just won't cut it for me, if that makes sense. Plus our bathtub doesn't hold water well so we'd constantly have to add more water. Depending on my state of mind during labor, that would either bug the hell outta me or I'd never notice!

I should also mention that my mw asks her laboring women not to get into a tub before she's arrived because water tends to speed labor up. Which is why I did not get to labor in the pool last go around, mw barely made it to catch the baby. So by the time I could get into the pool, I was ready to push. This is a big reason I don't want to put out for the tub. Another fast labor and I'm afraid it just won't be worth it. But OTOH, if I have a long labor and end up wanting the tub but don't have it...

Maybe I'm just overthinking this??

[donutmolly]

Do you have any other tub options?  The mw's tub sounds pretty heavy duty, so maybe what you need is a simpler "fishy pool" type option...

Just my opinion on the "land birth" idea -- all my 3 kiddos have been born on land, even though I used our shower/bathtub at different points in my labor, I definitely wanted my feet on firm ground as I gave birth.  The whole bustle of setting up/managing a pool felt very distracting to me as an idea, which is why I've always opted out.  I have always wondered if I wasn't going to really regret that during labor, and I can honestly say that, no, I've never regretted it -- my births were all very peaceful, very manageable.  There was a whole "land-birther's" thread on the HB forum in the past several months, so you might search for it to find more mama's who enjoyed their births without pools.

[MyFullHouse]

If you want to keep the option open, I'd go with your own tub or a simple pool.

Personally, I've yet to deliver in water, so I can't make a genuine comparison.  With my 3rd baby, I had my mw fill the hospital tub.  By the time it was ready, I didn't want to move.  With my 4th, I labored in the tub for a bit, but had to get out when ds had some dramatic decels.  Both were born "on land" without pain meds, and still very much preferrable to my two medicated land births!

[Evergreen]

I planned water births with both of my children but both ended up land births for various reasons. In fact, I used a Spa In a Box for my second and was sad I'd paid all that money to rent it without getting to use it.

If you tend to go quickly I 'd skip it.

[kawa kamuri]

I had planned a land birth with my 5th baby as that's what I'd always had. I couldn't imagine why I'd want to labour or birth in water. It sounded unappealing and full of hassle. At my 36w appointment my docs assistant handed me a fishy pool and that was that. I wasn't convinced that I'd like it until we did a test run with the pool. I got in and the water was nice enough but the real moment of clarity came when I stood up and got out - I felt so heavy! I was sold.  

I wouldn't want to deal with your previous pool either! I had the fishy pool inflated for weeks and resting against a wall. Everything needed to fill was nearby. It didn't take my SO very long to fill it so he was at my side most of the time. He emptied it a while after birth with no real problem. He's very squeamish but is the kind of man who, when I need him to, will wipe the blood running down my legs and empty the murky birth pool without flinching. 

I wouldn't want to birth outside of a pool. You sound like you want to birth on land. Do that. 

[serendipity17]

I'm 41 weeks and 1 day with baby #4, and we're planning a water labor, but not birth-- mostly due to my history of PPH. I had a fishy pool with baby #3, but I only got to enjoy it for about 5 minutes before everyone realized it was leaking and made me get out so they could drain it. But those 5 minutes were bliss!  This time around we're using my midwife's rigid tub (it's actually a horse trough, although it's never been used for that purpose, lol). It's practically indestructible! Incidentally, my midwife's clients have been using fishy pools for years and mine is the only one she ever saw leak.

That said, I had a very fast, intense labor with #2 (2 hrs, start to finish) and I spent almost the entire time in the shower with the hot water aimed at my belly. I got a lot of relief that way. So, if you're not up to the dealing with the hassle of a pool and you have fast labors, maybe a hot shower would be helpful for you.

Good luck with whatever you end up choosing!!

[EdnaMarie]

I will just say, I had two land births.  The first, I had hoped to labor in the tub, but it was so fast we didn't have time to fill it.  But there was still water in it and so it had to be sterilized and everything afterward.  What a pain.  The second time I didn't bother.  I was standing up for both of them, though, so I do think that made a big difference.

But OTOH, if I have a long labor and end up wanting the tub but don't have it...

Then you can just labor in the bathtub, I'd think.  Not sure if your MW wants you to deliver there, but at least you could labor there.

[philomom]

I hate the idea of water birth. The poop and urine are in the water, you know? And what about the weight of the tub and the keeping the water warm? Too much fuss for me who tends to birth fast anyways.

[kawa kamuri]

weight and temp issues are pretty easy if you seek out the info. also, as far as i can tell, the anus and urethra are pretty close to the vagina no matter where birth takes place. i guess i'm not very squeamish anyhow. 

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by 3xMama 
And is having an expirence just for the sake of having that expirence really worth it in such a life changing event? I feel almost like I'm making it into a lab test, but otoh, I'm fairly certain I'll regret not having the expirence of a natural land birth (this is probably our last).

I find this interesting. WHY do you want the experience of a land birth? I can totally understand that you don't want the hassle of that pool - it DOES sound like a lot of work! So I'd definitely consider a fishy pool (or does your MW rent much easier ones?)

But you don't seem to find land birth appealing - just something you're curious about.

I have to say I'm somewhat curious about what an epidural feels like - especially after hearing many mamas say they could still feel a lot, but it dulled the pain. But I don't find it appealing. I'm curious, but it's not an experience I WANT to have so I'm not going to regret never having had one, KWIM? I'm just not understanding your curiosity here with land birth.

I would think what matters most is what you find most appealing at the time - I've read many birth stories where mamas end up wanting to birth on land, even if they've labored in water & planned a water birth. I say go with with you feel at the time (if it's possible for you to have an easier pool set up.) Better to have the options, ya know? If you feel like being in the water, be in the water. If you feel like being on land, be on land.

I might regret not having an option available to me that I wanted at the time. But I can't see regretting never having birthed on land if I didn't actually want to be on land anyway when the time came.

[3xMama]

Originally Posted by MegBoz 

Originally Posted by 3xMama 
And is having an expirence just for the sake of having that expirence really worth it in such a life changing event? I feel almost like I'm making it into a lab test, but otoh, I'm fairly certain I'll regret not having the expirence of a natural land birth (this is probably our last).

I find this interesting. WHY do you want the experience of a land birth? I can totally understand that you don't want the hassle of that pool - it DOES sound like a lot of work! So I'd definitely consider a fishy pool (or does your MW rent much easier ones?)

But you don't seem to find land birth appealing - just something you're curious about.

I have to say I'm somewhat curious about what an epidural feels like - especially after hearing many mamas say they could still feel a lot, but it dulled the pain. But I don't find it appealing. I'm curious, but it's not an experience I WANT to have so I'm not going to regret never having had one, KWIM? I'm just not understanding your curiosity here with land birth.

I would think what matters most is what you find most appealing at the time - I've read many birth stories where mamas end up wanting to birth on land, even if they've labored in water & planned a water birth. I say go with with you feel at the time (if it's possible for you to have an easier pool set up.) Better to have the options, ya know? If you feel like being in the water, be in the water. If you feel like being on land, be on land.

I might regret not having an option available to me that I wanted at the time. But I can't see regretting never having birthed on land if I didn't actually want to be on land anyway when the time came.

Ya know, the lab test comment was about the point where I began to wonder if I'm overthinking this! And my DH can attest that I do have a tendency to overthink just about anything given the opportunity. The more important it is, the more likely I'll overthink it! The truth of it is, I'm not just somewhat curious or intrested in a sensation. I really do want to give birth on land. Every time I've envisioned this birth, its always been on land with my husband supporting me, even before we made the final decision to skip the tub. 

I think the heart of the matter is I read several birth stories in a row that discussed how fabulous and gentle their waterbirth was and I got a little freaked out and started thinking a land birth is going to be very difficult after having had a waterbirth. When it comes down to it though, its going to be far more than whether or not I was in water that will make a birth gentle and loving. I'll be surrounded with fabulous support, at home and secure without pressure.

I think I'm going to look into fishy pools and other birthing tub options just to see whats out there and to have on hand if I decide at the time I want to get into the water. And no, my mw does not rent anything smaller. So I'd be on my own to find something else if I choose to go that route. That being said, I know there are a lot of resources online so I'm not too worried about that.

Thank you for all the responses and different points of view! Writing it out and getting some other perspectives is exactly what I needed! :)
 

[tireesix]

Sounds to me like you really don't want another water birth, so don't have one.

I really wanted a water birth for number 2 but for some reason, really didn't for number 3, I did get in the bath at some point in labour with number 3 but it 'felt' wrong this time where as being out of water felt 'right which is completely opposite to how I felt with number 2.

DD3 was born on land and it was a pretty fab experience I have to say!

[GoBecGo]

I've never actually had a waterbirth so i can't really compare.  But i laboured in the bath with both of them, and both times i needed (felt a STRONG urge) to get out just as i was getting ready to push (transition with DD1, but never had a transition with DD2).  I just need to feel the weight of my body and feel "grounded" when i'm pushing.  Plus i wanted DP with me when i was having dd2 and there was no room in my bathroom for him and the MW.  I envisioned a birth in a deep squat, supported by DP, but actually had one on all-fours with DP's hands on my upper back, as he lay on the bed i knelt against, with him curled around my body like some great protective presence.  It was great.  I wouldn't want to trade it.

But in both my labours i had very long latent phases (DD1 SROM then13hours regular ctx which did nothing much to my cervix, DD2 7hours irregular contractions) short active phases (DD1 1hr24mins 1st stage, 5mins 2nd stage, DD2 55mins 1st stage, 6mins 2nd stage) and the weightlessness in water made me feel great during those long drawn out prelabour phases and terrifyingly groundless during my active phases.

So i would say, if you want a land birth and have a bath in case you do want to sit in water, then skip the pool.