home births on land or in water ?

[duchessofdulwich]

I was just wondering if people preferred the home water birth option or found that giving birth at home without the birthing pool just as good?

Also, did people hire the birthing pool or buy one? I've read on the internet on other forums that hiring the birthing pool is more expensive but i do like the idea of someone coming to take it away etc. Plus if things don't go according to plan and I end up being transferred for whatever reason we wont be stuck with it?

[Convex]

Hmmm, an interesting one. I had a pool but laboured a bit on the couch etc. i didnt think the water helped but my husband disagrees and saysi was better in it thanout.

Personally i think you may has well have it there and then if you don't like it, you just get out.

I had a birth pool in a box and it was fine. Mini sized.

[duchessofdulwich]

Convex did you buy or hire the pool?

[pebbles]

I had home water births with both of mine. I bought the pool because had been warned that when using the community midwives there was always the chance that it might not be available and I didn't want that to happen. To be honest having used it twice we now have it as the kids paddling pool so worth every penny :)

I have no idea what i would have been like without water but i loved it. I actually used to fill it up 2-3 times a week for a good month before birth and would watch tv all evening while floating - got rid of all those aches and pains that we get during pregnancy!!

I think it was nice to have the option so even if it hadn't worked it's nice to have all options - like having the tens machine - it didn't actually work for me (not sure if it didn't work or whether i didn't give it enough of a chance) but i liked having the option.

Good luck with whatever you decide and I hope you have a smooth birth

[mrs f]

i had a water birth at home and loved it

buy a pool and sell it on the forum afterwards whether you use it or not... or better still get your partner to do this... personally poor mr f had to deal with the aftermath in our house and he has stored it away in the loft for no 2... it's only fair after you have gone through labour

Pebbles, I love the idea of watching tv in it!! very funny.... wish i'd thought of that too!

[Sanne Panne]

I love swimming and long hot showers and the occasional bath but the idea of giving birth or even just labouring in a pool never appealed to me at all. My first was an unplanned homebirth so a pool wasn't an option to start with - but with the second I didn't even consider it. My labours were both very fast though so I didn't have any stretches during which I needed (or had time for) a change of "scenery".

Really a matter of personal taste so if you think there is any chance that you may like having a pool available try to get your hands on one just in case you do get the opportunity to use it!

[canadianlisa]

Oops that posted too quick. See above, I really like the water / swimming/ baths but the birth pool wasn't something that appealed to me all that much- honestly the logistics of it all seemed like a pain and wasn't sure my hot water tank would be that effective. If I went to hospital I might give it a try but what I found most effective last time was staying upright, walkiing around, some yoga breathing, resting by leaning over. I had a pretty speedy birth that was manageable.

Interestingly, a friend of mine was told on her St. Thomas's tour that getting into the pool prior to being 5 cm dilated can slow things down. Just something she passed on to me, not anything that I have researched.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[duchessofdulwich]

I've looked into hiring a pool and it does seem a tad pricey and some companies seem to charge more for more time etc

Think I'll look on forum nearer the time and ebay to buy need to check the logistics of our hot water system

[Vickster]

I had a pool for my first (unsuccessful) home birth and didn't find the water helped at all. Like Sanne Panne I love swimming and baths and find water in general very therapeutic so thought it would be brilliant for me, but felt the contractions really hard to deal with in the water. Out of water I felt more grounded (for want of a better expression) but in the water the floaty element meant I was unable to brace myself as effectively against the pain and so didn't cope with ita as effectively, I didn't bother with one for my second (successful) home birth.

It is a very personal thing. I would have one available as it might be exactly right for you and then you have that option. If you don't use it, it is not the end of the world. A Tens machine was my home birth saviour, but again it is a very personal thing and some don't find them effective at all.

[duchessofdulwich]

I love baths and swimming etc too. Just thinking the warm water would relax me?

Just spoken to hubby he was wondering if the birthing pool will cause condensation in the living room?

Im wondering if its worth the hassle as could always fill up our bath tub at home only means you can't crouch etc in the bath?

[Vickster]

I don't think the temperature is warm enough to cause condensation. That was actually the other thing for me, the bath was warm not hot so I just didn't feel the benefits of it like you would a hot bath. I think it also depends at what stage you use it. In the early stage I think it would definitely help with relaxation, but then so would your own bath tub. When you are in established labour, I think people tend to kneel in the pool leaning on the side, and a bath is just not deep enough for that.

[Convex]

We bought ours, didn't want the hassle of returns and the responsibility for any damage.

[The Nappy Lady]

Awight Duchess (sorry couldn't resist) :))

I've had two home births;

First one was on 'land' and it was fine 5hours 20mins, bit messy but overall OK, just used a TENS machine.

Second was in a birth pool, 1hour 30minutes - hubby managed to time it perfectly for filling up etc. although it was only a bit of a guess on everyone's part, including the midwife as I'd been having mild contractions all day, and she said I might give birth that evening or overnight. He decided to risk it and put it up, and an hour later the midwife was back and I was straight in it.

The reason I mentioned the length of my labours is only to show that I had pretty fast ones both times, so for me there was no issue with the pool affecting the labour.

Overall, for me the advantage of the pool was that I feel much more mobile and supported, and that was lovely. I think the contractions didn't feel as overwhelming either, although that might just be because it was the second time.

We have a hot water tank by the way, which produces very hot water (can be so hot at times that I'm worried about the children being burnt so they both know not to use the hot tap due to my nagging). So, we didn't have a problem filling the pool - I tank of hot, plus cold mixed in, and then topping up at intervals. It was a birth pool in a box, size small I think - borrowed from friends so very lucky, and just bought a new liner for it. I think you can often pick them up 2nd hand here on the forum.

The other good thing about the pool is that if you do manage to pretty much stay in it it contains any mess. You can get a pump to empty it, and make sure you have it near a door or window so you can pump out straight into a drain, easy then and definitely the new Dad's job!!!

I really loved the water birth, and I feel it made for a great way to enter the world for my second daughter - candle light, fire lit, warm water, she was so calm and chilled out and didn't even cry which was a bit scary for a moment, but I think the entire process was just so relaxed. I'd do it again tomorrow - wistful sigh.

So, I'd say go for it!

Good luck,

[duchessofdulwich]

Hi molly, thanks for your post. Have seen your previous posts on here aand kknow you have some experience I this field. We dont have a water tank we are combi boiler? So id have to look up if this would work?

[northernmonkey]

Combi boiler should work fine - it just means that it might take a while to fill as the speed of hot water coming out is slower. We had a combi boiler and filled a pool fine - think it took about 20mins. We had a test run a few weeks before my due date just to check then on the day just filled it up when I thought I might like to get in.

[melbourne groover]

I had both my kids in birth pools - but did just hop in towards the end. I found it hugely more comfortable in the water.

I knew after the first one that I wanted to be doing the actually pushing in the pool so did hold out on the second one to make sure I could have him in the water, first time was just the way it worked out as was in a hospital birthing unit and the pool room wasn't free until close to the end. I had my second at home, and we filled the pool too early and had to keep topping up (not me obviously) but if you buy a cover (or survival blanket)it keeps it at the temp for longer.

I think the water often does slow it all down and also think there is a time limit you can be in the pool (not sure about this but vaguely recall something along these lines).

Definitely buy a pump to empty it!

[Gubodge]

I had a home waterbirth and shared the cost of a pool in a box with a friend who was due a month or so after me. Our two water babies are now 5 1/2 and the pool continues to be passed on to other pregnant women as they need it. (They do get a new liner each time!)

I knew I'd love a water birth as I always retreat to a bath if in pain, discomfort or distress. I did find it very strange for the first ten minutes or so as my usual favoured birthing position was braced, head down in a dark corner, so to go from that to face up in a sunny kitchen was a bit of a shock. Once I'd got used to the exposure it was lovely though. I loved the freedom of movement. If I wanted to alter my position or move from front to back I didn't have to heave myself round, but could spin and writhe as much as I liked. It was a completely different experience, and to me far preferable to a birth on dry land.

[duchessofdulwich]

Bit of a bizarre question but did people wear anything whilst in tthe pool or did they feel fine about getting in the nude?

[melbourne groover]

By the time I got to the birth bit was flinging my nightie over my head in my enthusiasm to get into the water... (Not usually an exhibitionist though)

[duchessofdulwich]

Lol I think by the time those contractions kick off I wont care what i llook like

[The Nappy Lady]

Gubodge, I think my 2nd was one of those born in your borrowed pool!!

Duchess, I didn't wear anything, but I think I have a bit of a naturist tendency anyway (all pictures of me up the age of about 6 I seem to be naked!!). On One Born Every Minute a girl had made herself a bikini type thing to wear with a skirt, no gusset of course. I think whatever you feel comfortable in is fine, but personally I think wet clothes can feel pretty damp and horrible, so I'd rather be naked in the warm water (if the room is quite dark it helps you to feel less exposed, though you can't always control these things I know)!

[duchessofdulwich]

I couldn't be bothered with that skirt thing and top I think it would irritate me!

[Lindsey<3]

Hi, I had a home birth. Didn't have a birthing pool, I gave birth on my hands + knees on the bed.

I thorougly enjoyed my labour at home! I did try getting in the water (in the bath) at one point during the pushing and got sooo comfy in there (my contractions slowed right down) that the midwifes told me to get out lol!!

I did borrow a TENS machine but it was no good for me as I didn't realise I was actually in labour till i was 9+half cms lol!!

[tomo]

I also highly recommend using a birth pool. I recently had my first baby at home and used a birth pool from when I was 1cm dilated. I had also heard that you shouldn't use a birth pool before 5cm due to it slowing things down, but I got in earlier on advice of my midwife. I found that it spaced out my contractions but then they got more intense.

I bought the birth pool in a box, very sturdy and easy to assemble, fill etc. Although to be honest that was my husband's responsibility. It gave him something to do in the early stages! Hopefully I'll get to use it for any subsequent babies too, so worth the money in my opinion. They resell well so you could sell it on the forum afterwards. Definitely get one with a pump though, makes emptying it dead easy. Hose through the cat flap to the garden did the job nicely.

My labour was 11 hours long and I spent the majority of it in the pool. It became my own little space where I could just focus on my breathing. I also went starkers, dim lights all the way though. But to be honest you really don't care and it was only me, my husband and my midwife (who had just examined me- so not much to hide there!)

Best of luck with your birth!

[Gubodge]

I hadn't realised C was another of A's pool twins, Molly. I wonder how many of them there are altogether.

I wore a long t-shirt in the pool as far as I remember, but stripped off for skin to skin at the end anyway. By that point you really don't care.