Water Birth Questions

[LaDeesseduTout]

First of all let me say I'm not pregnant nor trying but I have been doing some reasearch and Gotta a question......

When I had my DS I had a hospital birth, and am thinking about a home birth for the next one (whenever that is). With DS I labored in the tub most of the time, and I was not premitted to deliver in the tub. I loved the Tub pain relief wise, but I kinda felt like if it had came down to pushing in the tub, I wouldn't of had any leverage to push or move freely into a more comfotable position because I would just be kinda floating around. Does anyone have any thoughts. Am I just silly?

Also - I know for a birthing tub most people use a small childrens pool in their living rooms or kitchens. Two questions.....how do you keep the water warm?? Why not use you bath tub??

Hope that makes sense and doesn't seem to silly, I just want to get all the info I can.

Thanks
Shannon

[cottonwood]

Your questions aren't silly at all!

My second birth was a water birth. It wasn't exactly planned that way (I was open to either way) but after I hit transition there was no getting me out of that tub, except maybe with a hydraulic lift! (Of course, if the baby had been in danger, I would have jumped out of there in a heartbeat.) So the baby was born into the water.

I didn't at any time feel that I was floating freely -- I wonder if there wasn't enough water for that, that is, perhaps I weighed more than the water? In any case, leverage was not really an issue for me in the first place because I planned not to do forced pushing, but rather just allow my body to push my baby out (although at the end I couldn't help but bear down!)

We used a water trough, which is deeper so that there is less exposed water to the air than with a kiddie pool. It stayed hot for a good two hours. One advantage of the water trough is that you can drain the water through the spout at the bottom, then refill it as necessary. (Our hot water heater is small, so we had plenty of large pots for boiling water on the stove.) Some people use a special birthing tub that comes with a heater -- I think the Aquadoula has that option?

I didn't use our bath tub to labor in because frankly I'm too big to fit comfortably in our bathtub when I'm pregnant. I wanted to be able to immerse as much of my body as possible. But it is possible. Here are some pictures of a woman who did just that:

http://www.ucbirth.com/catch.htm

[Gagesmom]

I think if your bathtub is roomy enough then you are lucky to not have to rent a birthing tub!! My 1st was born in a big tub at a natural birthing center, a big bathtub that had the whirlpool jets, etc. I did not like the jets and just wanted the warm water. I did a lot of my pushing on a birthing stool and (unfortunately) flat on my back with my knees up, because my DS's head was flexed backward (with chin up) instead of forward (with chin down to chest), so we had a bit of a time getting him out. However, once he was close to crowning I moved back to the tub and birthed him there. I had my midwife, two doulas, and my DH, when in the tub, I had no problem pushing him out, I believe one of the doulas was holding me from behind with her arms under my armpits...my DH was on the other end since he caught DS as he entered the world.
As far as this birth (edd 11-9), we are having DD at home, but we have a very small tub/bathroom, so we will be renting a birthing pool, called "Aqua Doula" which can be found online, www.aquadoula.com. The pool is bigger and deeper than a kids pool, it has a pump to help empty it, and it has a heater. I think I would have enjoyed the water more with my 1st birth if it had been deeper-I couldn't be submerged in the pool during 1st birth unless I was sitting, but I had so much pressure in my lower back/rectum during 1st labor that I mostly walked and stood and "danced" thru hard labor. I would have been grateful to be in a deeper pool where I could have been submerged if on my knees or even standing. The Aqua doula is deeper (2' deep) so it will accomodate a need like this easier than a bathtub.
Hope this answers some of your questions? Good luck to you.

[mtn. mama]

Bumped while posting lets try this again!

No, definitely no silly questions! And there is alot of great info. out there!

I can share some info with you, all of my kiddos were waterbith babies. With all babies I labored in a jacuzzi and when it came time to push I got into the birthing tub. There are many options when it comes to the tub itself. My first two were born in an oversized inflatable pool. My third in a pool with firm but flexible plastic sides, not inflatable. There really isn't much of an issue with leverage and you can push in a variety of positions. My dh was in the pool with babies #1&2 behind me. So I was able to use him as a prop to push against. With baby #3 he was outside the tub with my son and daughter. My midwife had a large beanbag that dh put under the tub as he set it up and it created a seat for me to lean against or sit on to push. You can also use the sides. Or push on all fours. You don't encounter much of a problem at all.
The water itself needs to be aprox. at body temp when pushing the baby out. So, as I labored in the jacuzzi the tub was filled according to how my labor was progressing so that it would be the right temp when I got in.
My VERY first preg. ended up in a miscarriage at 12 weeks. I spent the labor in the shower and delivered in the bath tub, just dh and I. So I suppose that one could deliver in a bath tub. It wasn't as comfortable as a pool or birthing tub though. Oddly enough it was this experience that sold me on the wonders of waterbirthing. Whenever I meet pregnant woman I always tell them about the option of waterbirthing. It is soooo awesome I literally can't keep my mouth shut about it!
I will also add that it is an excellent experience for men. Setting up the tub gives them an active role and I highly suggest that they get in the tub with the woman. It is bonding for all parties and a true life experience for the men. My dh has a picture of the tub AFTER baby was delivered that he shows people. He likes to remind me that by sitting in that bloody mess proves how much he loves me. Am I grossing you out?
I hope that your next preg. finds you delivering in a tub or warmth and love! Blessings

EDITED TO ADD: I too did not use jets. Way too much stimulation! And rocking in the water between contractions while pushing is a huge relief for the pain as well as the water!

[cottonwood]

Reading the last comment about rocking in the water reminded me that one thing I loved about the birth tub was the ability to change positions almost effortlessly -- that made it really easy to experiment and find the position that felt best!

[LaDeesseduTout]

Thank you all!!

Thank you for all of your responses, I would really like to try a home birth for the next one (whenever that will be) I had a very long labor with my first one, it started Thursday evening around 8pm with a minor car accident and I delivered Sunday morning 7:04 am. I tried to do it naturally but around 11pm Saturday night I gave in and took the pain medication, I was very dissapointed in myself but my body was just worn out and Jeremey's was posterior so progression was slow. I am afraid that I will plan a homebirth and when it comes down to it I woun't be able to handle it! Thinking back I keep thinking I could have done if It wasn't for "this or that", So I just want to gather all the information that I can. I'm not even sure if I have that option in this area (very small town). I used a midwife with DS but I don't think they do homebirths.

Thanks for your help!

Shannon

[MamaSoleil]

I am planning a waterbirth for dc#2, who has not been conceived as of yet. BUt I am thoroughly enjoying this thread. IF anyone else has some info or tips to add, please do so!
Thx,

Mamasoleil

[Nee Nee]

waterbirth

Shannon,

check out this super link on everything you could ever want to know on waterbirth

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/watrbrth.html

Renee

[saphire]

Water labor and Water birth

My 1st was a midwife assist at a hospital with a tub to labor in, waterbirth was against hosp policy. I don't think I could have done it without the water . 2nd time was a planned homebirth and waterbirth. It is so great to push in the water, I did not like pushing the 1st time, but 2nd was better under water. As you can tell, water comes highly recommended. I certainly would have another home waterbirth

[melamama]

My dd was a water baby born at home. We rented our tub from Barbara Harper's site http://www.waterbirth.org/index2.html
It came UPS with very thorough instructions about set up and take down, and I think a 24 hour phone help line. I had to call them once because my dd was born a week past the edd, the wonderful woman on the other end of the line said don't worry, babies are born on their birthdays not their due dates.

There are photos of the tub on her site, but the sides are reinforced and you can fill it about 2 feet deep. I remember leaning against the sides, and during pushing my doula sitting on a stool on the outside of the tub supporting me. I am 6' tall and was very comfortable and never felt cold. The tub has a heating source to maintain the heat (you fill it with hot water).

I had back labor and the tub was the only thing that made it better. I was able to change positions and mostly submerge and that was great. The big advantage over a bathtub is that your belly fits under the water.

My dh also really liked having the task of assembling the tub, filling it, etc. It was a great concrete thing for him to have to do when things started to head in that direction.

[mtn. mama]

I agree with melamama, having the tub to assemble is great thing for the partner to focus on! It draws them into the mix of everything, not on the sidelines.