labour and birth

Hi there im 6 months pregnant and have started to think about the type of birth id like to have.  I have read a bit about it and wondered if there is anyone that has had one? did it go well? did you have to have any pain relief?

Hi - I didn't have a water birth but I was thinking of one.  As it was I wasn't able to even had I wanted due to a few complications.  The main problem with water births I believe is the availability, if someone else is in the pool, you lose out.  And if there are any complications then you are out of there.  You can only have gas and air, nothing else.  You can do some of labour in it and then get out for the pushing and birth, or you can do the whole thing if you want,

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is to be flexible about the birth you want and your brith plan.  Things don't always go to plan, neither of mine did, so you have to be prepared to let the medics take over and to throw your birth plan out of the window.  It is good to explore the possibilities as then you will be prepared for all eventualities and nothing will be too frightening.

Good luck!

Hi!!

I was dead set on a water birth as I can spend hours in the bath relaxing. I find water very comforting and have a bath if i am worried about anything to help me think things through!! However, due to numerous complications i ended up with an "elective" C section, I really didn't have any choice but hey ho!!

The local hospital to me only has 1 birthing pool per ward and so availability is a problem!! As Nicolette said, be flexible! You might have an idea of what you would like but you may not get it!!!!

Hi Heidi,

I didnt plan on having a water birth, in fact the only planning i had done was that i wanted as little pain relief as possible and for baby to be born in the hospital.

I got to the hospital at about 2pm and had gas and air and sat bouncing on the birthing ball which i found helped relieve the pain. By the time i was examined at 5.30pm i was 7 cms delated, so they asked if i wanted to try the pool as no-one was in there. I was in there by 6pm and it really relaxed me and helped ease the pain. I still used the gas and air in there, but the water was very soothing. I found it moved things on a little bit too. I decided to stay in there and Hollie was born in the water.

I personally found it great and I do remember at one point i was on all fours resting my head on the side, when my head kept dropping into the water because i was falling asleep lol. I have decided that the next baby will be born in the water, and so to make sure i get a water birth i think i will hire a pool and use it at home.

For me the experience was amazing, but that was helped with the fact that i was very lucky to have a complication free labour which progressed really well. However i was told that if i wanted any more pain relief other than gas and air, i wouldnt be able to use the pool. So it is something to think of in advance. Good luck with everything when the time comes, no matter what you decide now you have to remember that plans easily change when you are actually in labour. xx

Just read up on all the optiona available at the unit you are giving birth at, plan as far as you can but keep an open mind - i wanted a natural birth with not alot of pain relief only gas and air and definately no catheter or spinal anaesthetics - i ended up with a failed induction and a c sec with spinal block and catheter - write a plan foreach stage and keep it with you - let the staff know as you progress what you are thinking of - what you would and wouldn't like - ie to move around, bath, tens machine etc wgich pain relief you intend to try so they know if you are thinking of spinal anaesthetic they can let the anaethetist know when you are labouring.

Just don't beat yourself up about following it to the letter as it doesn't always happen like that. At the end of the day the midwives are professionals and will always have your best interests at heart and won't want you to do anything you don't want to unless it is imperitive to yours and the baby's safety.

Good luck