Undecided

mamaj1220

Hi ladies this is my first time over here and I am a FTM so I was hoping maybe I could get a couple answers from those more experienced than me. I am very interested in being in the whirl pool for a least some of the labor has anyone done this and what was your experience? Also I will be delivering in a hospital if I choose natural birth what should I be prepared for with a hospital setting?

KateLouise

I don't know if I was in a whirl pool but I laboured in a tub of sorts, and I LOVED the effect of the warm water.

I'm in NZ and our hospitals are very natural birth friendly, I understand hospitals really vary in the US. So it would be a good idea to find out what the policies are of your hospital in regards to things like, will they allow intermittant fetal monitoring? Are you required to get an IV? Will they allow you to move around as much as you want while labouring?

Having an idea of how natural birth friendly your OB is probably a good starting point, and you might also want to consider post birth choices like delayed cord clamping, skin to skin and BF. delaying the first bath, vaccines and eye ointment etc etc. 

mamaj1220

Thank you both! I really appreciate the input! 

tesskerr

Kate Louise, I am in nz too! Where abouts are you?