[Roxylox]

Hi all. Me and my lovely fiancé are thinking of a water birth. We have been seeing the midwives at lismore base hospital and we couldn't have asked for better support. My fiancés sister had a water birth, along with a good friend of ours. I was just wondering if there was anyone who had been through this experience at lismore ( or anywhere else) and may have some advice or stories. Thanks for your help everyone
Roxy

[epl0822]

I was planning for a water birth but it did not happen. Bear in mind if you need fetal monitoring and are hooked up to machines you're stuck in bed!

[blackbird]

I wanted a water birth but I was in there for 5 minutes then I wanted out lol

[Old Grey Mare]

I know very little about water births but have always wondered what the benefit is to the baby?

[~shannon~]

I wanted a water birth for my first two kids but it didn't happen (for various reasons), so I am really hoping that this bub will be born in water. I have a friend who gave birth to her first in water accidentally (she meant to get out of the bath, but baby decided otherwise), and she loved the experience so much she had three more children in water. But then I have another friend who said she was in the bath too long and didn't enjoy it, so got out.
I don't think you'll know how you feel till you're going through it.

Water births need lots of discussions beforehand so that the midwives can monitor you with waterproof dopplers, and so that you and your birth partner can be educated about what happens when baby is born. There are rules about water births... eg. if your water breaks before you go into labour it is unlikely they will let you get in the bath due to increase risk of infection.

OldGreyMare, I think the benefit is that the baby is going from one water environment to another, so there is less shock to their little bodies. But for the most part, I believe the experience is to help the mother with pain relief or at least that's why I want to do it.

Any midwives on here who can give a better explanation?

[~shannon~]

My water broke long before I gave birth in water. The only criteria I was given was that I had to be a low risk pregnancy and my labour needed to be fairly low risk too, which it was.

Well, that is good to know because I was told "no way" could I get in the bath after my waters had broken. That's the only reason they gave me when I had my first baby and I just accepted it. This gives me more confidence for the birth to come to insist on getting in the bath as I am also considered low risk.

[HappyPhantom]

I have been advised not to birth in water due to large babies and shoulder dystocia risk (4.5 and 4.6 kg babies. Im 5'5"). Doesnt bother me. I had #2 on the shower floor with the shower head on my lower back - bliss.

I laboured in the bath with #1 and it irritated me so much i got out. You just have to hop in and see how it goes.

[Bron1206]

Hi op,

I had a water birth with my DS and highly recommend it as long as you have a low risk pregnancy. I found the experience to be incredible. I went into the birthing pool at 6cm as I was told i could not go into the water before 5cm as it could end up stalling the labour and found the water to be relaxing and extremely beneficial for pain relief (I found the water relaxing enough to avoid pain relief). The midwife was amazing and kept warming the water throughout and checking babies heart beat regularly. As experienced by a pp my DS came out so clean and relaxed and I experience no complications. My water also broke before I got into the water.

Definitely research water births (as you clearly are) and have a good midwife who is experienced, particularly with water births.

[CallMeProtart]

Remember to drink a lot! I was planning a water birth and didn't have enough to drink and got ketones, so they hooked me up to the IV
I suppose I could have still gone in the water and just kept my arm out - but it's not quite the same experience once you're hooked on a drip!

[Roxylox]

Thanks to everyone for their valuable input. We are really excited and have made an appointment this week to talk more with our midwives.