[2bluefish]

Another thread up in parenting issues got me thinking about this - dd my waterbirth baby has always had a strong aversion to getting her head wet. Trying to wash her hair is misery. She likes to play in water, but all the fun is gone if her head goes under the water. I've tried various techniques to try and get her to loosen up about it, but she seems to be getting worse not better. When she was born, she looked me in the eye and then started screaming bloody murder - I definately got the impression that I had done something wrong. I assumed it was because it was a long difficult birth, and I had got very upset. But now I'm not so sure it wasn't the water...

Now it has me seriously creeped out about waterbirth for this one. I loved birthing in the water, but I'm not so sure my baby did? I might just labor in the water and get out on my birth stool for the birth. Anybody ever read anything or have any experience with a baby unhappy about being waterbirthed?

 

[alegna]

I think it's just the specific child.

Dd was born in water and is a fish. Never had any water fear at all.

-Angela

 

[2bluefish]

Yeah, I know - there's lot's of people who say their waterbabies love water. But how do I know *I* am going to get one? I guess it just just creeps me out, because I think in the name of "gentleness" I might have done something my baby didn't enjoy at all! DS is completely different - water doesn't bother him at all. We had our ritual baths to convert to Judaism, and little ds was completely at peace about it. DD screamed bloody murder after we went under, and I could barely recite the blessing and get out of the water fast enough!

 

[Aurora]

I have never birthed in water. My three oldest children love the water. My last UC was on land as well and baby dd HATES water with a passion.

 

[fyrebloom]

My son was a land baby and hated the water until recently (around 16-17 months old). I have a friend who also has a land baby and he hates water too.

Oh and I also must note that every time he's had bloodwork done he's never cried, just watched intently. He had MASSIVE amounts of bloodwork and nastyness at birth and 2 weeks later when he got bronchiolitis and was hospitalized. One would think he'd be freaked out about needles, instead he almost enjoys them (he signs more after too LOL!). I don't think the waterbirth traumatized your DD. She's probally just one of those kids who don't like water.

 

[BrooklynDoula]

My son was not born in the water and he, at 5, is really terrified of getting his head in the water. He loves playing in the water but only small amoutns and never his head. So, perhaps it is just the child.

 

[Mary-Beth]

I really don't think this is anything you caused by having a water birth.
Please don't beat yourself up over this.

Lots of babies go through stages of loathing water. There could be senosory issues involved as well.

As for any future water births, listen to you body at the time. If the water comforts you through conrtactions and helps you then by all means do that. get in whatever position feels right in the moment.

 

[TrishWSU]

My dd was a land baby, but she's the same as yours...loves playing in the bathtub or swimming, but the shows over as soon as you try to wash her hair. She'll even lay on her back and get the ends of her hair wet but freaks if water touches the top of her head. Some kids just don't like getting their heads wet.

 

[2bluefish]

I don't know if it is so much that I think I *caused* her not to like her head wet. It's just that she acts like she is going to die if you try to get her to go underwater or pour water over her head. It's like she has a panic attack. I just think if she had this aversion from birth - and it really seems so, then birthing her in water was really rude. I don't know... I guess I'm just questioning this assumption that since it feels good to mama it must feel good to baby, and this assumption that waterbirth is a "gentle" introduction into the world. Sure, the baby is coming from a liquid environment, but things could be happening on the way through the birth canal that are preparing the baby to enter into air. We know that babies can "shut down" when things are traumatic or over stimulating and look peaceful. Is it possible that some babies come out of waterbirth looking all peaceful because they are a bit in shock? I don't know, maybe I'm over thinking it. Or maybe this baby is telling me what it wants - I'm having a hard time visualizing a waterbirth for this one.

 

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Both my girls were born into water. My older one hates water in her face. My younger one loves it. Interestingly, my first didn't cry at all, and my 2nd came up screaming. I really doubt being born into water would make a baby not like water on her face. After all, they are created into water and spend the first 9 months of their lives there. Why would the few seconds in a similar-temp tub traumatize them?

My older daughter just went under water at the pool yesterday, actually. She was very proud. I was born on dry land, and have always hated going underwater and still do.

 

[Aurora]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bluefish I don't know if it is so much that I think I *caused* her not to like her head wet. It's just that she acts like she is going to die if you try to get her to go underwater or pour water over her head. It's like she has a panic attack. I just think if she had this aversion from birth - and it really seems so, then birthing her in water was really rude. I don't know... I guess I'm just questioning this assumption that since it feels good to mama it must feel good to baby, and this assumption that waterbirth is a "gentle" introduction into the world. Sure, the baby is coming from a liquid environment, but things could be happening on the way through the birth canal that are preparing the baby to enter into air. We know that babies can "shut down" when things are traumatic or over stimulating and look peaceful. Is it possible that some babies come out of waterbirth looking all peaceful because they are a bit in shock? I don't know, maybe I'm over thinking it. Or maybe this baby is telling me what it wants - I'm having a hard time visualizing a waterbirth for this one.

nak-
I really believe that our babies communicate to us before they are born. Trust those feelings.

 

[alegna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary-Beth I really don't think this is anything you caused by having a water birth. Please don't beat yourself up over this. Lots of babies go through stages of loathing water. There could be senosory issues involved as well. As for any future water births, listen to you body at the time. If the water comforts you through conrtactions and helps you then by all means do that. get in whatever position feels right in the moment.

:

And remember- baby has BEEN in water for 9 months. It's not like it's a new experience.

-Angela

 

[BusyMommy]

Welllll both of my water birth boys are like fish now. But, then, I never really washed their hair either when they were little.

: Baths consisted of them splashing in shallow water with toys.

And,then we got them Aqua Seal goggles and they switched to playing in the pool then the ocean.

 

[2bluefish]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora nak- I really believe that our babies communicate to us before they are born. Trust those feelings.

Ah, whew, the more I think about it the more I am convinced this baby is saying "no waterbirth mom!" It just makes me feel panicky to think of waterbirth, which is bizarre, because I'm such a fish myself.

I felt like I desperately wanted guidance from my 2 previous babies, but never felt like they communicated with me much - other than dd telling me what her name was. But on the other hand, with my previous births, I was pretty caught up in the incorrect assumption that the babies would be fine as long as I was fine. I'm starting to "get" that my job is to bring my babies into the world nicely, not make a nice experience for myself - that requires listening to *them*.

Wild - my threads are always an evolution - what I thought was the issue wasn't the issue at all

 

[alegna]

Well by all means, if baby says no water, stay the heck out of the water woman!

I had a pool for dd's birth, but intentionally didn't plan or visualize birthing there. I wanted to wait until I was in the process to see what felt right.

-Angela

 

[sarahspins]

I have a hard time even washing my DS's hair.. and he's never had any kind of water-related trauma at all. My DD on the other hand, thinks having water poured on her head is the funniest thing in the world... some kids are just afraid of the oddest things.

 

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Yeah, definitely. If you're getting a no-waterbirth vibe then by all means pay attention.

 

[Aurora]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bluefish Ah, whew, the more I think about it the more I am convinced this baby is saying "no waterbirth mom!" It just makes me feel panicky to think of waterbirth, which is bizarre, because I'm such a fish myself. I felt like I desperately wanted guidance from my 2 previous babies, but never felt like they communicated with me much - other than dd telling me what her name was. But on the other hand, with my previous births, I was pretty caught up in the incorrect assumption that the babies would be fine as long as I was fine. I'm starting to "get" that my job is to bring my babies into the world nicely, not make a nice experience for myself - that requires listening to *them*. Wild - my threads are always an evolution - what I thought was the issue wasn't the issue at all

UC'ing has been such a journey for me. With both of them I have had to learn to recognize by baby's whispers and my intuition.

 

[Mary-Beth]

I think that as women and mother's we can listen to ourselves as well as to our children. On a deep level we are in sync and what is good and nourshing for one is good and nourishig for the other.

I don't believe babies are suffering in silence from their water births. The birth canal does transition the child from water to air and water doesn't hinder that. We are made of water and deeply connected to water. My water birth was much better for me and my baby than the land birth. I was encouraged not to get into the tub when I wanted to the first birth. I think the key isn't the question of which birth is better or more gentle or whatever...instead it's about women listening ot their instincts.

Listen to you heart and focus on the birth that you feel called to and trust that it will be good for you and your baby.

 

[mothragirl]

i had no urge to waterbirth last time (assissted). i got in the tub during labor and it was miserable so i got right out. i'm getting the same vibe this time so i'm not even considering it.
FWIW, as a kid an still as an adult i hate getting my hair/head wet. it is a sensory thing for me.