s/o What do hospitals have against a water birth?

AutumnBride929 · August 2010

In my other post, some of you said that the hospitals don't allow birthing tubs or will allow you to labor in them but not actually birth in them. Did they say why? I'm just trying to figure out what they would do if I was in the middle of pushing and refused to get out of the tub? lol Puncture it?

HRMJPC · August 2010

My hospital said that there was a risk of infection entering the uterus if mom is submerged after her water is broken. However, I have never heard of a mom or newborn getting an infection from a birth tub. So, I'm skeptical of the policy.

So, I can labor in the tub till then. I am hoping my water breaks late. I think the extra cushion sounds nice anyway.

Aloe0l · August 2010

I think they just don't want to have to clean it any more than they have to.

nosoup4u · August 2010

HRMJPC:
My hospital said that there was a risk of infection entering the uterus if mom is submerged after her water is broken. However, I have never heard of a mom or newborn getting an infection from a birth tub. So, I'm skeptical of the policy.

Yeah, the hospital my sister gave birth at had this as a policy, but the hospital that I had my DS at didn't care - I didn't actually get into the water until after my water had broken, aaand the midwife was prepared for me to have an unplanned water birth, even. So totally, totally aribtrary - I think providers performing less vaginal exams during labor is better at preventing infection, anyway.

The hospital that I'll be at this time allows laboring in the tub, but the midwife said that the way the tubs are set up (against 2-3 walls instead of free-standing), it makes it really hard logistically to assist for birth. Sucks, but at least it's a valid reason...

christina627 · August 2010

I was able to labor in a jetted tub at the hospital after my water broke...but then they wanted me to get out to get "checked" (idiots) and as soon as I stood up, I felt like pushing. So then I did get out and went back to my bed to get checked and I had to lay down to get checked and that relieved some of the need to push (once they FINALLY checked me...took like half an hour), they told me they didn't want me to push yet bc I was only at 8cm. So two hours later when DS was born, my MW tells me that my body was right to want to push "early" bc babies as big as him (big head and more than 10 lbs) need extra pushing to help them through to dialate you more.

Sorry, long bc I'm still just a bit bitter about being made to get out (I was as comfy as you can be during transition when I was in the tub) and about being told not to push...bc not pushing when you want to is the worst!

AutumnBride929 · August 2010

christina627:

I was able to labor in a jetted tub at the hospital after my water broke...but then they wanted me to get out to get "checked" (idiots) and as soon as I stood up, I felt like pushing. So then I did get out and went back to my bed to get checked and I had to lay down to get checked and that relieved some of the need to push (once they FINALLY checked me...took like half an hour), they told me they didn't want me to push yet bc I was only at 8cm. So two hours later when DS was born, my MW tells me that my body was right to want to push "early" bc babies as big as him (big head and more than 10 lbs) need extra pushing to help them through to dialate you more.

Sorry, long bc I'm still just a bit bitter about being made to get out (I was as comfy as you can be during transition when I was in the tub) and about being told not to push...bc not pushing when you want to is the worst!

Ugh, those buttholes. I would still be bitter, too, lol!

pinksweetpea2 · August 2010

Aloe0l:
I think they just don't want to have to clean it any more than they have to.

Yep. The nurse who taught my natural birth class said that one of the only hospitals in Boston who had A labor tub usually gave it away to women who wanted epi's first because the didn't want to deal with it.

JuliaBug · August 2010

At the hospital where I will deliver, they have large bath tubs in the bathrooms of each of the L&D rooms. I can labor in there, though my OB suggested I get out after my water breaks to prevent infection. I'd have a hard time imagining delivering in a hospital bathroom.

Verbose · August 2010

The hospital I'm delivering at allows water births for anyone that qualifies for one. You can labor and deliver in the tub. They have 3 midwives and one OB that assist in these births. All you have to do is sign a release form that acknowledges the (slightly) higher risk of infection.

PDXPhotoGrl · August 2010

I had a hospital waterbirth. The L&D room had two tubs: a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom and an inflatable tub in the main room. I labored in the jacuzzi tub while they set up my inflatable tub (my labor went quicker than anyone thought it would), and then transferred to the inflatable tub as soon as it was ready because I was ready to push. They don't want you giving birth in the jacuzzi tub because it is harder to clean it thoroughly, whereas the inflatable tub can be easily sterilized. If you think about it, those jacuzzi tubs have lots of nooks and crannies, like the jets.

lindsayll · August 2010

pinksweetpea2:
Aloe0l:
I think they just don't want to have to clean it any more than they have to.
Yep. The nurse who taught my natural birth class said that one of the only hospitals in Boston who had A labor tub usually gave it away to women who wanted epi's first because the didn't want to deal with it.

That's funny, my hospital saved the tub room for me when they knew a med-free'r was coming in. Not that I even had time to use it, but they were ready and willing.

SpinFreak13 · August 2010

It took some research to find a hosptial in my area that provided water birth as an option. I finally found a hospital who actually let you deliver as opposed to only labor in the tub.

Otherwise, the only other option was a birthing center and home birth (neither covered by insurance).

But I was also told that I had to use a certified nurse midwife as the OBs were not trained to deliver in water.

Hope that answers your question.

missfire · August 2010

Before DS was born, I had toured a local hospital. There, their reasoning for not birthing in the tubs was because they required the doctor to be wearing sterile gloves, and there was no way to reach into a full tub of water without getting water in his gloves, thus not being "sterile" anymore. Whether that was for the doctor's protection or the mother's protection, I'm not sure.

mrsjjd · August 2010

It's inconvient for them. The most important thing for anyone to know is that you can refuse ANYTHING. Including getting out of a tub. They cannot refuse to treat you.

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