Questions About Water Birth

You can do this. God created us to have babies. I am 43 and have had 4 births. My first one was at 18, I was raised by a strong mom who had 6 babies and always told me it was "nothing". I cannot say it was nothing, but it was not as hard as some people make it out to be. I chose with baby number 1 not to have an epidural, in those days the side effects of epidural scared you more than giving birth naturally. If I had had an epidural with baby number 2, he probably would have died, my doc was an idiot and I give my mom total credit for me and my baby making it through that one. Baby number 3 was the easiest of my all my births to that point. I was induced and once labor started he came quick, I labored 3 hours. However, my little girl takes the cake. I was 40 when she was born, also induced. Doc broke my water at 10, labor got intense at 11 and she was here at 12:05. 3 long pushes, (3 sets of 10 count) and she was here. I am so glad I decided to do it natural with each and every one of them.

Have faith and don't listen to negative people.

As for your other friend/family support not thinking you can do it, just tell them, "Whether you think you can or can't, you're right," (Henry Ford)...and I KNOW I can do it whether you support me or not. Moreover, it is AWESOME that your husband is so supportive..that's a good start!

I have not had a "water birth" before; however, I would say to best prepare is to get informed with the CORRECT information. To do this, ask your doctor/midwife questions and for referrals to more information on the subject (e.g. books to read, "water birth" places to tour, web sites to visit, questions you should be asking, etc.).

Also, take a tour of the place where the "water birth" will take place early on so you know what to expect and Ask questions there as well.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Well I didn't have a water birth but I had a mostly natural birth. Only 2 shots of demeral and mostly that was just to quite dry heaving during labor. Just thought I would say good for you that you want to do it without an epidural. personally you couldn't have paid me enough to have me get an epidural! I do know that water births are supposed to reduce back pain and leg pain in labor.

But after my daughter was born I was watching either discovery channel or health channel one day and saw a show talking about women having orgasms during birth instead of so much pain. dunno exactly how it all works but i do know there was a lot of massaging and kissing. so you might try to find more info at their websites.

I do not have experience with water birth but I do have experience with natural childbirth. I think you know yourself and your own body. Don't let your friends downplay your decision.

Suggestions -
1. Hire a doula; doulas are great labor support and can help you with comfort measures; positioning etc.
2. Educate yourself; What classes are you taking? If it is just the standard hospital childbirth classes - do more; Check out Bradley classes; if it is too late for Bradley; read Bradley books.
3. Exercise; sign up for prenatal yoga classes; water classes at the YMCA etc.
4. Read positive birth stories. Watch more films. Many people have seen Business of Being Born. Check out other films. Orgasmic Birth, once you get over the name, is a very tastefully and artfully done movie. It really looks at the types of support that birthing women need.
5. Tour different facilities that offer water births. I know that Barnes offers water births but so does Greenville hospital. Greenville has midwives. The midwifery model of care is more in tune to what a laboring mother needs. They will most likely provide more labor support than an OB. OBs are mostly there to catch babies.
6. Keep in mind that every labor is different. If you had an induction or augmentation with pitocin with your first your labor would most likely be longer and harder. Your baby might also have been in a less than optimal position. Different positions can also cause pains in different places; Women say that back labor is much harder to deal with than regular labor. The position of the baby also may make the labor longer.
7. Be open to different comfort measures. What you might think you want in labor might be different than what you find you actually need in labor.
8. Surround yourself with naturally minded people who know that you are serious about getting what you want.
9. Practice optimal fetal positioning. Although there are no guarrantees, getting a baby in a good position really helps labor. Some women find prenatal chiropractic care helpful. There are chiros who specialize in this. Other mothers practice some of the expercises on spinningbabies.com.
10. Some women are helped by taking hypnobaby classes.
11. Listen to your body during labor. Your body will try to get in the most comfortable position it can.
12. More education. The Thinking Women's Guide by Henci Goer is a good book. ICAN is also now offering an online seminar on common medical interventions used during childbirth. The more you know the more informed your choices can be.

For me I thought of the hardest physical and mental thing I had done in my life. I figured if I could get through this than I could get get through labor. Labor does not last forever. Like pregnancy it does eventually end. During transition, I really found a zone and stayed in that. I read Ina Mae Gaskins Guide to childbirth. She really focused on using vocalizations. Although I didn't do this the first time I figured that it couldn't hurt. I think it helped as well. The doula doing double hip squeezes was also wonderful.
Good luck with your choices.

A side note, someone mentioned Birthing From Within. There are classes offered in the St. Louis area. They were great sessions.

Hi S.,
I was in a similar situation! #1 was an epidural, and it took FOREVER (18+ hours). I promised myself that #2was going to be no drugs. She was out in 45 minutes (no drugs). If you are committed to the idea, then you probably won't change your mind. Don't listen to those naysayers who say you can't do it!! That pain is sooo temporary! And, it sounds like your husband is a great support. That will help you tremendously1

Just remember that seconds usually go faster than firsts. I commend you on your decision! If the hospital had offered water births, I would have taken it!

Also, I have a dear friend who delivered all three of her kiddos @ home in the tub. She raves about the experience.

You go for it! You will do great!

S.,
Good for you! And it's great you have your husband's support. As for the friends...what kind of friends are they...sheesh! (Like a too old bra in pregnancy...not much support there huh?) heehee.
Seriously though, I am also going to try for a med-free birth this time (basically in the same situation as you) and just got started with "Hypnobabies home study" and since I really don't even have Dh's support, I'm on my own.
The one thing I DO recommend, is keep a postive view about it...don't convince yourself it will be "ridiculously hard" but be willing to be flexible if it comes to the safety of your and/or your baby (I did rotations in L&D during PA training, and saw some scary situations where mom wouldn't deviate from her "plan" until it was almost too late!)
Also, if you want, look up in old posts a question I posted almost a year ago about thinking about the same thing...I had tons of wonderful responses. Feel free to PM me.
I'm due in early Dec. Congrats on your new little-one-to-be!

Okay, the idea that you can't do it because you didn't do it before is crazy. Everyone has a first time. Birth is hard, but we all know that. I've had two natural births, one in a hospital, one in a birth center (and am going to have another one soon). I'm not sure where you're going to get to have an actual water birth in a hospital, as it is against most hospital policys, you may look into that. Neither of mine were water births, but with my first I was in the water until I pushed, they just barely got me out. Anyway, I have a few suggestions. First of all, get a doctor who is very supportive of natural birth. Many say they are, but as you get closer to your due date talk more and more about interventions. Second I highly recommend a doula. A doula is there to help you remember what positions will help, to yell at the nurse when she is needed, to tell them what you want, to be on your side. They'll also have suggestions for ways to get ready for the birth. I had one with my first and will have one again this time. It was totally worth the money (sometimes they are covered by insurance and often by flex spending), and were were broke at the time. Finally, make a birth plan and talk it over with your doctor so you guys are on the same page ahead of time about what you want and you have something to give the nurses at the hospital. It's hard to communicate what you want in labor. I wish you lots of luck. You can definitely do it in water or out.

K.

I would recommend taking Bradley Birthing Classes. It is a class designed for women who want a natural birth. They offer ideas and techniques for relaxing through your contractions and allowing your labor to progress naturally. These classes also help your husband support you during the labor and delivery process so that you can stay relaxed and focused.

Sorry that this is a late post, but I just wanted to say YOU GO GIRL!!! I wanted epidurals with both of my kiddos, but labor went too quickly for me and I did natural birth with both.

The second usually goes faster anyway, so you will be done and holding your baby before you know it. Just stay in the hospital as long as your insurance will let you. I wanted to leave because I was worried about my daughter at home, but now I regret it. I was exhausted! Let the folks at the hospital take care of you as long as you can!!

Good luck and I'm hoping for a smooth, safe and healthy labor for you!!

Water birth would probably have appealed to me for baby number one, but after my labor with him... yikes! I'm not sure I'd be up trying anything new and exciting as attempting a water birth! haha! I just wanted to say that having an epidural is NOT wimping out and you can't beat yourself up for using one. I know that we go into these labors with a plan in our head, but we have to be flexible and realize we're only human and no matter how it happened, we have a beautiful healthy new baby at the end of it all! So, good luck and I hope your plans work out just how you imagine them! :o)

S., You can do it! If it is important to you and you have someone by your side coaching you through I know you can do it, I have had three babies that were delivered vaginally and no epidural, with my first birth I didn't think I could do it w/o pain medication and all the pain meds did was make me nautious, the second baby I was all ready to go with a different pain medication and she came too fast for any meds, and it was very doable = ) Some of the last contractions were hard, but I had my hubby right there holding my hand reminding me to breath the right way and I did it...so pain meds weren't even an option for the third ( and he came fast too which made it easy) Don't feel guilty about having a back up plan if the birth goes long, and certainly don't feel guilty if there are complications and the plan has to change = ) EVERY birth is a miracle and EVERY mom is doing a PHENOMENAL job no matter how she delivers! Congrats on baby #2 = )
B.

All good responses, just wanted to add another resource. With my first baby (natural in hospital) I read "Birthing from Within" and it really inspired me that I could do it and gave me a better idea of what labor would actually be like. A word of warning, the first few chapters talk a lot about birth art, but don't let it scare you off. After all those chapters comes the really good stuff that I found useful. The book is very pro-natural, but open to pain meds when needed. There's pain management techniques and lots of information. I reread my favorite parts before baby #2 (at home with midwife). Positive self talk and being convinced that my body can do this helped me the most. You can do it, your body was made to get a baby out. Best of luck!

Which hospital will actually let you give birth IN the water? I have heard repeatedly that they all forbid this. They will let you labor in the water, but they will INSIST that you get out before the actual birth. Are you SURE about this? I think if you want a true water birth you will have to do it at home.

Unfortunantly, we did not have the option to do a water birth. I wish could have, although I did almost deliver in the jucuzzi by mistake, my midwife was ready although it wasn't hospital policy! How does that happen? My first was an epidural baby, so when I went natural (not by my choice, they couldn't get the iv in and it was too late for an epi), I didn't realize that I was pushing to ease the labor pains. Why do I tell you this? BECAUSE IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT! So what if you had an epidural first? Don't let negativity get you down. Even though a natural birth was not my original decision, it was the best (and hardest) experience, and so very worth it! I will be attempting it again here shortly for number three. GO FOR IT!

S.-

Not only can you do, but you can love it... I had a waterbirth with my first (and only so far), and it was great. I have no other experience to compare it with, but I am a pregnancy chiropractor & a doula, and my patients and clients who have had both epidurals and waterbirths tell me that the water makes a HUGE difference with the pain, to the point that some call getting in the tub their "aquadural."

I encourage you to surround yourself with supportive people... your husband, doula, birth attendant, etc. My recipe for a natural birth is this: education, support, chiropractic care & a doula. I'm not saying you are guaranteed to get the outcome you are looking for, but it will certainly up your odds. Did I mention yet that I think hiring a doula is the #1 thing you can do? *wink*

Hope that helps, and congratulations in advance!

Yours in health,
Dr. Alyssa

Hi S.! I hope all goes well with your water birth. I have not had the experience of a water birth; however, after reading the other ladies' advice, I thought I would share one other bit of information.
I had a natural birth with my first, but it was a rough experience. I did not have drugs and he arrived after only three hours of labor; he came in a BIG hurry and he was almost two pounds bigger and 2 to 3 inches longer than the ultrasound showed only days earlier (I was told to not deliver a baby naturally who was more than 6 pounds). He came out with the help of forceps and was almost 8 pounds. I had 4th degree tears (vagina to anus) and suffered for more than two years with painful intercourse as a result. I had my twins by emergency c-section. My youngest, although supposed to be a planned c-section, came early and due to the fact that the meds for surgery did not take, he arrived via emergency c-section (the doctors were cutting me and I could feel EVERY slice until they put me out and performed another emergency c-section. I am not saying this to scare you; every birth experience is unique; you just need to be prepared in case the birth does not go according to your plan.
I hope that you can have a water birth and that it is a beautiful experience for you. If for WHATEVER reason, you do choose to take drugs, do not be ashamed of your choice. Some labors are more difficult than others and the important thing is a healthy baby.
I also wanted to say that the lady who said that drugs have only been available for 50 to 60 years is right; however, before that time, MANY women died during childbirth and MANY infants died at birth or within five years of birth. There is NO shame in needing drugs if that is what you end up needing. (I did not have drugs (except emergency anesthesia before the surgeries) yet I was open to the possibility if the need arose.) Best of luck! Keep an open mind, a determined spirit, and may god bless you with the birth of your dreams and a healthy new baby!

S.-Congrats on the pending arrival. I commend you for branching outside what's "traditional" in laboring and delivery. It's important to have a husband and midwife who know what YOU want during labor and delivery. I don't know where you're located, but I had a water birth almost 4 years ago at Research Hospital in KC with the midwife Shelia Roth from Midwest Midwifery---The best duo of midwives. I labored for 1 1/2 hours at the hospital out of the water and then was allowed to get into the tub when Shelia arrived and pushed my daughter out. No drugs, nothing. It was the best experience EVER. I read all the books; the midwives recommended an instructor in the Bradley method. They recommended the raspberry leaf tea and mother's milk tea. They had me prepared and ready. They believed in me and made me believe in myself.

I truely worry about my next labor and delivery (although not pregnant...still trying). That is because I've moved to Wichita, Ks. So far, I haven't found a midwife that does hospital deliveries, let along water-births at hospitals! If I have to, I guess I will find a midwife to do waterbirth at home. I won't have it anyother way. I demand a waterbirth as long as the pregnancy is fine and not expected to have an emergency.

Good luck and I know if I can do it, so can ANYONE else.

Based on my experience, here is my advice: visit a chiropractor in your third trimester (Alyssa-Rae Zonerich at First Choice Chiropractic is GREAT) so the baby will be lined up for easy delivery, hire a doula to support you and think of things when you can't, research common hospital interventions and decide what you will and won't tolerate (you don't have to be continuously monitored, you don't have to have a hep lock, etc.), and find a way that you can relax through each contraction. Fear leads to tension leads to pain. That's not to say there won't be any pain if you relax, but labor is fastest and most effective when you relax and concentrate on each contraction so it can do it's best to dilate you. Read Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Check out hypnobabies or hypnobirthing.

I had a csection in 2005, a hospital VBAC in 2008, and a home water birth last week, and I know you said you aren't looking for non-hospital options, but I honestly don't know of one that will allow water birth. I hope you find one! Should you consider home birth, Suzanne Ryan, CNM, is a GREAT midwife!

S.,
You've gotten some great advice, and I just wanted to second some of the suggestions. I had a natural delivery one year ago tomorrow! The hospital provided a doula and she was wonderful with helping me find positions that lessened and even eliminated some of the pain. I also visited my chiropractor a few days before and I think that really helped to open up the birth canal and make our daughter exit easily. I also walked on the treadmill during very early labor. (Ironically, I didn't know it was early labor - I thought it was just Braxton-Hicks.) I think this really helped to speed things up and also settle my mind and anxiety. Lastly, focus on breathing not on the pain or discomfort. I think a lot of my strength came from my "self-talk." I didn't focus and tell myself "Oh my, this really hurts" or "I don't think I can do this." Just count your breaths, and wonder what that little critter will look like. Think positively and your mind will begin to ignore the physical experience.

Wish you the best - you CAN do it!

Dear S.,
YOU CAN DO IT!!! I have three small children, all of whom I labored naturally, and the last two were water births. I just kept thinking about the fact that as animals in the animal kingdom, our bodies were made to do exactly this: birth naturally and without drugs. Remember, drugs for birth have only been around for about 50 or 60 years, and before then... So start reading some empowering literature and get in shape (with prenatal yoga, perhaps). It's really all a mindset anyway (your tolerance threshold for "pain"). And I've even seen some publications about how the active phase of labor can actually be orgasmic for some women (imagine that!!). I also had people tell me, (and I found out was the case), that as soon as you think you can't take it anymore, baby comes out!! And it's important to remember that with each contraction, baby is one step closer to making her way even further down the canal - one step closer to seeing her mama after all that time. Enjoy your research on the subject... I know it taught me a lot about birth and the amazing design of womens' bodies. Blessings for a wonderful labor experience.
K.

You are strong and have made your decision with your husband's support even... good for you! You will never regret it, and if you decide to not give in to the drugs b/c you KNOW how wonderful things will be on the other side, you WILL triumph. I have had 3 natural births and cannot tell you how grateful I am that I decided to do this. My 3rd was a water birth, and I would be happy to talk with you about it. We don't know each other, but I do know it takes a special person to consider what you are, and if I may say so, I am proud of you. You will have a BIG smile on your face and be very proud of yourself as well, and you will keep those amazing memories FOR LIFE! Don't give in, stay strong, and blessings on you all.
V. (please feel free to e-mail me if you'd like to chat or have questions... don't have much time to write right now.)