Not having a water birth?

[VeganEmma]

It seems like every hombirth/UC story I read is a waterbirth. I don't plan on renting or buying a tub for this birth and I am wondering if any mothers had a land birth? How was it like, where was it, how was it? I was thinking making a 'nest' in my bedroom with a shower curtain and blankets...

Thanks for the input :)

[MittensKittens]

I gave birth to my second child on the bathroom floor - like you say, with a "nest" of blankets and towels underneath me. I did have a bath during labor, and it really helped me cope with the contractions. A waterbirth did not appeal to me much for several reasons, including having to set up a birth pool and clean it after the birth. I would also be worried about leaks reaching the neighbors in an apartment. The last thing you want is to argue about water damage in the throws of labor :).

[happynaturalmama]

Our second was born at home, not in water.  The only water I labored in was the shower.  He was born in bed and it was fine :)

[Tumble Bumbles]

I didn't have dd in water, though I labored in water. I couldn't stand the feeling of water/floating when I had to push so I got out and birthed on land.

[lafemmedesfemmes]

i've had two unassisted births and labored and birthed on the living room floor both times.  we made a nest with a mattress protector and a bunch of towels on top.  worked out great!

when we get pregnant again, i will try out laboring in our bathtub-- we now have a nice big garden tub that i occasionally like to soak in-- but i'm keeping an open mind about whether i'll actually give birth in there.

christina

[Rainystar66]

Both of my UC's were comfortably in my bed.  I tried for a water birth with my first, hated the feeling of the water after transition...  With my second UC I labored in the water for a short time and then moved to my bed and relaxed and rested until it was time... I had a nest set up with a plastic backed sheet, an old sheet and a few chucks pads, for me the clean up was so easy, just roll the whole mess up and throw it in the trash in one swoop.   I tend to birth on my hands and knees/kneeling, and I loved having the softness of the bed under me....

[VeganEmma]

thank you, good ideas. :) 

[jshannyn519]

I haven't ever given birth at home, but I'm planning to UC with this bean and not in the water. I have a plastic shower curtain liner that I got at the dollar store and I'll be putting that down with some old sheets on top and some chux on top of that. I will probably be in and out of my shower during labor, or even the kiddie pool that we'll have set up in the back yard for the kids since I'm due in June. The idea of a waterbirth sounds good to me in theory, but I don't think that it's going to work for me.

[dayiscoming2006]

I've not gotten the chance to UC yet, but I don't like staying in water that much normally. I can't imagine giving birth in water. It just doesn't sound very appealing to me. 

I sort of did my own thing for labor and pushing in the Romanian hospital with my second. They are too understaffed for specific care and just leave you to it until it's time to push. Well, they didn't catch that I needed to push in time. I was already set up on my hands and knees and involuntarily pushing in the bed and they were trying to convince me to go into the room next door with a metal table to continue. I told them no way. After pushing for like 10 mins, they forced me onto my back and one last push and baby was out. If I could have taken them away - I think it would have been a nice land birth experience though. So, anyway, I'm all for land birth. :)

[indignantgirl]

I liked the water for labor (not pain relief, which I didn't get, but relaxation).  However, right about the time transition hit I definitely did NOT enjoy the floaty lack-of-control I felt when trying to move in the water.  I needed to be on solid ground when birthing. 

I also don't like the idea of being slapped with cold air when getting out of the warm water after the birth.  I hate being cold more than anything!  I get very shivery after birthing anyways, so I prefer to be dry and wrapped in blankets at that point. :D

[catholic74]

I birth really fast.  My last birth, my water broke and the baby was out within 30 minutes, so I don't see myself going to all the trouble to buy, set up, tear down, a birthing tub.  I could use my bathtub, I guess, but it's pretty small and I'm just not interested. Besides, with the rate of speed I birth, by the time the tub was filled at just the right temperature, the birth would pretty much be over!  

I birthed my son on the floor next to my bed (I had a rug covered by a chux pad underneath me). I swatted down, pushed once or twice, caught him, then climbed into bed and pulled up the covers!   It was just fine.  No, it was better than that. It was exhilarating! 

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by indignantgirl 

I liked the water for labor (not pain relief, which I didn't get, but relaxation).  However, right about the time transition hit I definitely did NOT enjoy the floaty lack-of-control I felt when trying to move in the water.  I needed to be on solid ground when birthing. 

I also don't like the idea of being slapped with cold air when getting out of the warm water after the birth.  I hate being cold more than anything!  I get very shivery after birthing anyways, so I prefer to be dry and wrapped in blankets at that point. :D

you make a good point bc I do not like to be cold either. 

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by catholic74 

I birth really fast.  My last birth, my water broke and the baby was out within 30 minutes, so I don't see myself going to all the trouble to buy, set up, tear down, a birthing tub.  I could use my bathtub, I guess, but it's pretty small and I'm just not interested. Besides, with the rate of speed I birth, by the time the tub was filled at just the right temperature, the birth would pretty much be over!  

I birthed my son on the floor next to my bed (I had a rug covered by a chux pad underneath me). I swatted down, pushed once or twice, caught him, then climbed into bed and pulled up the covers!   It was just fine.  No, it was better than that. It was exhilarating! 

that is great to hear, I am not sure if the pros outweigh all the work of setting up and cleaning up a birth pool. I want it to be special, but stress free too. I have a lot of thinking to do!

[Italiamom]

Originally Posted by Tumble Bumbles 

I didn't have dd in water, though I labored in water. I couldn't stand the feeling of water/floating when I had to push so I got out and birthed on land.

Ditto.  I had actually planned on having a waterbirth.  But I got into transition and that was NOT happening.  Apparently my exit from the tub was pretty hasty.  Or as my husband says, "you FLEW out."  There I was, giant, completely wet, practically running to the bed across the tile of the bathroom and then onto the wood floor.  The midwives didn't even have time to dry me off.  Although, if I remember correctly, the coolness of the water on my skin felt lovely, especially before being completely drenched with sweat 10 minutes later...

Tubs are a nice option to have for labor, and for many women they're great for delivery too.  I'm personally of the opinion that I like to have lots of (natural) options, and no hard plans!

[BroodyWoodsgal]

With DD I labored on land and delivered her into the water....DS was born in the kitchen on land. Were I to do it again...I'd probably go for "on land". I don't know why...I like the idea of water better, I loved that DD was born into water, I think it is a really nice transition between the womb and the world...I don't know, I cant put my finger on why I don't like it as much! Something about being wet right after birth I guess? With my son, I like that I gave birth and then picked him straight up and went to lay down in warm blankets with him. There was no drying off or anything. I don't know, now that I've typed that, it seems kind of like a dumb reason!

I would recommend it, TRYING it, you know? I did like relaxing in the water with DD after she came out, that was nice, ALSO I loved being sort of "washed off" when I got out of the tub. I don't like showering after birth. To each her own!

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

Originally Posted by Tumble Bumbles 

I didn't have dd in water, though I labored in water. I couldn't stand the feeling of water/floating when I had to push so I got out and birthed on land.

Ditto.  I had actually planned on having a waterbirth.  But I got into transition and that was NOT happening.  Apparently my exit from the tub was pretty hasty.  Or as my husband says, "you FLEW out."  There I was, giant, completely wet, practically running to the bed across the tile of the bathroom and then onto the wood floor.  The midwives didn't even have time to dry me off.  Although, if I remember correctly, the coolness of the water on my skin felt lovely, especially before being completely drenched with sweat 10 minutes later...

Tubs are a nice option to have for labor, and for many women they're great for delivery too.  I'm personally of the opinion that I like to have lots of (natural) options, and no hard plans!

LOL that was a great visual! :)

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by AverysMomma 

With DD I labored on land and delivered her into the water....DS was born in the kitchen on land. Were I to do it again...I'd probably go for "on land". I don't know why...I like the idea of water better, I loved that DD was born into water, I think it is a really nice transition between the womb and the world...I don't know, I cant put my finger on why I don't like it as much! Something about being wet right after birth I guess? With my son, I like that I gave birth and then picked him straight up and went to lay down in warm blankets with him. There was no drying off or anything. I don't know, now that I've typed that, it seems kind of like a dumb reason!

I would recommend it, TRYING it, you know? I did like relaxing in the water with DD after she came out, that was nice, ALSO I loved being sort of "washed off" when I got out of the tub. I don't like showering after birth. To each her own!

that doesn't sound dumb that actually makes sense to me!

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by AverysMomma 

With DD I labored on land and delivered her into the water....DS was born in the kitchen on land. Were I to do it again...I'd probably go for "on land". I don't know why...I like the idea of water better, I loved that DD was born into water, I think it is a really nice transition between the womb and the world...I don't know, I cant put my finger on why I don't like it as much! Something about being wet right after birth I guess? With my son, I like that I gave birth and then picked him straight up and went to lay down in warm blankets with him. There was no drying off or anything. I don't know, now that I've typed that, it seems kind of like a dumb reason!

I would recommend it, TRYING it, you know? I did like relaxing in the water with DD after she came out, that was nice, ALSO I loved being sort of "washed off" when I got out of the tub. I don't like showering after birth. To each her own!

Hey, AverysMomma, nice to "see" you again! How are you?

[durafemina]

With both my births I laboured for a time in water and then got out around transition. I just wanted the solid land feeling. I had ds in bed - there was just a plastic sheet under a towel and an washable absorbent pad (like a reuseable chux!) on top. Not messy at all (and my waters went right before he emerged).

[indignantgirl]

Originally Posted by AverysMomma 

I would recommend it, TRYING it, you know? I did like relaxing in the water with DD after she came out, that was nice, ALSO I loved being sort of "washed off" when I got out of the tub. I don't like showering after birth. To each her own!

Yes, this!  Even though I didn't want to birth in the water, I would recommend that you TRY it.  I know that I didn't set up a tub/pool with my second UC because I didn't think I'd need it (having only used it for about 30 minutes of labor with the first) and I ended up regretting it.  I would up laboring for an hour curled up in my tiny bathtub while DH poured water over the part of my belly that wouldn't fit under the water.  It was very soothing but would have been easier in a more suitable tub. 

This time I'm going to get one of those egg-shaped birth tubs, even though it will probably be just for labor.  The fishy pool was WAY TOO BIG for me to feel secure, which was especially horrible-feeling while in transition, but I definitely want something bigger than my bathtub. :D