Splish, Splash, Waterbirth anyone?

[mom3b1?]

I know we all have a long wait yet before we birth, but someone brought up waterbirth in a homebirth thread and I thought I'd bring it out for everyone.

I had a waterbirth for number three. I thought I'd like it because I've always turned to water when I needed comfort for pain, emotional or physical. In fact I did enjoy being in the water when my third was born. I've heard of some moms who've planned waterbirth, then hated how it felt in labor, and birthed on land. I've heard of the opposite too.

What about you? Have you had one? Interested in trying it for the first time?

Kiley

[lovetobemama]

I didn't have one with my first. My OB would have been fine with it, I just never felt like I would want it, and in labor, I never felt the desire to even hop in the shower. With this one, though, now that I know what the pain/feelings of giving birth are like, I am interested in working harder to explore more ways that I can deal with the physical aspects of labor. I am totally undecided of what I want to try/add to the experience...water, hypnobirthing, accupressure, etc.
I can't wait to hear more mamas experiences and feelings about waterbirth!

[newcastlemama]

I don't know how I would have survived a homebirth without one. I had such bad back labor that you could not pay me to leave it. Plus, ds was so peaceful when he arrived in the water I definately want one again.

[Greeneyes0506]

I'm hoping for one. I just need to get DH on board

[LoveChild421]

we'lll definately have a birth pool set-up for me to labor in. And when birth time comes we'll see how I feel, I felt like getting out for the birth last time, but that warm water was a lifesaver during labor!

[naturallia]

I think I would hate the water plus the idea of setting up and flood potential intimidates me. I don't really like baths so why would I like a waterbirth?

[LaurenB]

Originally Posted by mom3b1?

I thought I'd like it because I've always turned to water when I needed comfort for pain, emotional or physical.

: There's something so soothing and comforting about being in water. I've always felt this. Sick or sad, take a long hot shower. So it only seems natural to labor in a tub. My husband isn't open to the idea of a home birth for our first so I think we're going to be in a birth center. It's a compromise.. but I am excited about a nice, big tub!

[Nature]

It was my goal to have one last time, and I labored in the jacuzzi ..... but I really honestly didn't like it when it was time to birth. I got out and went to the bed. I'm hoping this time around I'll find the tub much more relaxing and maybe actually get to birth there like I wanted.

[flapjack]

No. There's just nothing about the idea of being in a tub full of soft, movable liquidy goop in labour that appeals to me. I like baths in early labour, and trying to get sprurious labour to stop, but for the important things in life, like pushing babies out, I want to feel good solid earth beneath my feet. I have nice short sensible labours, though, so I'm really not one of the people that Odent suggested water for. (He originally suggested that it was an intervention best suited for women who whose dilation slowed once in active labour.)
Saying that, my eldest was a water baby- born in the caul, fell down the toilet

[loraxc]

The birth center I think we'll use does 50% of its births in water. I LOVED the tub last time, so I think it's definitely a possibility.

[crbyard]

I am definitely game for a water birth this time. I wanted one for my first, but the hospital didn't have the facilities/desire to do one. My laboring room did have a wonderful shower with a never-ending hot water supply, though. I also had an excruciating back labor in which the warm water of the shower was the only time that I felt focused and somewhat in control. I hope that the still water of a birth pool will provide the same relief.

[glowfaeriejosie]

we will probly have a fishy pool set up again. i loved it for my first.

[Jlcampbellkidz]

Had a home waterbirth in a blow up fishy pool last time. I only wish I had gotten in sooner. My labor was only 4 hours, so not sure how that would have worked. IYKWIM
Water has always brought me peace and relaxation. It did work out nicely last time and I am anxious to do it again.

[Gracecody]

I guess I hadn't thought that far ahead, but I would definitely consider it. I am too busy just trying to sell dh on homebirth right now so I can start interviewing midwives! Last time I delivered in a hospital in a midwife but she no longer catches babies. I can't bear the thought of going to an OB for prenatals and having a hospital birth without my midwife. Last time I spent the entire time from 5-10cm in the jacuzzi tub and it felt so rotten to get out, I was really angry at them for making me get out to push.

[bloominmamas]

I am debating, we live in an apartment and don't have much extra space, but it sounds so awesome that I really think I want to do it. We could rearrange a bit right?

[KariAnn]

We're planning for a homebirth and will definitely have a birth pool. We'll see what happens and what my body wants to do.

[azyre]

I've got an outdoor spa and I'll probably get a tub indoors as well

[Mama2-4]

I would love a water birth. I labored in the birthing tub with our last baby, but had mec stained fluid so they would not let me give birth in the tub. I am trying to talk DH into a home birth this time, and in that case I would get one of those fishy tubs!

[frontierpsych]

I'll be having a water birth if I can sit still for it! I wanted one last time, but I couldn't quit moving. I still don't remember how I ended up upstairs, because I remember being downstairs when she started crowning.

[LoveChild421]

Originally Posted by bloominmamas

I am debating, we live in an apartment and don't have much extra space, but it sounds so awesome that I really think I want to do it. We could rearrange a bit right?

we had the teeny-tiniest apartment when I gave birth to my son, we managed to fit the fishy pool in the bedroom. It took up almost the whole room except for the full size bed but it worked!