home births on land or in water ?

[etta166]

I had two home births on dry land, but I would still say that a pool is a worthwhile investment for the fist time.

First time around we planned to use the pool, but a combination of a very fast labour and a very old boiler meant that we didn't get it full in time. I did get in after the birth to clean up, and remember finding the sensation amazingly relaxing. I think a water birth could be amazing.

Second time we didn't evn try to get a pool inflated and filled because it all happened too fast. But even without a pool I found that my home births made labour easy to cope with. I'm not saying that it was a barrel of laughs or anything, just that being at home made me relax and go with the flow, so I always felt like I was in control and calm. The 45m labour probably helped, though :)

[simonethebeaver]

We borrowed a pool (not Gubodge's, although dammit, why didn't you offer?!) and I had a very long latent labour. The midwives gave me the OK to get in the pool and I spent two days on and off in it, 'watching' TV. That and the TENS got me through. Sadly I had to get out to give birth as the baby was at an awkward angle. Next time (fingers crossed) I'd like to stay in to the end. I absolutely loved the pool and was starkers throughout with no awareness at all of being naked.

[Gubodge]

Sorry! To be honest I thought it had died years ago, it was only about a month back that I discovered it was still in circulation. It's all yours next time, if it's not more patches than not by then.

[tomo]

Forgot to say that although I laboured in the pool, baby was actually born on dry land. There was a but of a gush of blood during one of my pushing contractions which meant I had to get out of the pool so that the midwife could assess. All was fine and baby was born 10 minutes later. Would love to have a water birth next time if I'm lucky enough to have a next time!

[Saffron]

pebbles Wrote:

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> 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.

Yes, that's what happened to me! My labour progressed so quickly that no pools were available. (Poor bloke whose wife had the pool called to say that we could have it, as his wife's labour had stalled, but my daughter had been born already 20 min before he rang our midwife!)

Although, I don't know if I could have gotten in a pool anyway b/c I didn't want to give up the TENS machine. My husband kept trying to get me in a warm bath, but he couldn't convince me to take off the TENS. I think it would have helped though. I had a warm bath at the start of labour, and it was very soothing. I think we'd hire a pool if I had to do it again. Maybe a pool would have been more appealing than a bath, b/c a pool is a lot roomier. If I were definitely having a birthing pool, I'd want to have a doula too - extra help with pool etc.

[Kes]

I had a hospital birth (which unfortunatly ended in a C-section) but I loved the birthing pool for the first however many hours until it became clear things weren't going to plan. I'd definately say get one, and then see how you feel. 2 of my friends who had home births had them but never used them, one was too quick the other just didn't feel like it so I guess you just can't tell until it happens - would be annoying to really want one and not have it though. ooh I wish I could have just stayed in the pool for the whole thing.

Actually my daughter is heading for 3 now and only fairly recently stopped being terrified of all swimming, baths etc. perhaps that explains her reluctance to come out in the pool ;o)