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February 2012 Moms
ashley35209
member
I know this is probably a strange concern..
ashley35209
member
I've been seriously contemplating doing a natural water birth but my issue is that I don't really want to be in the water with all of the blood/mucus/amniotic fluid/afterbirth that will be expelled with the baby. I don't think I would care too much at that moment but I would definitely want a shower before getting back in bed and going up to postpartum. That means that I wouldn't be able to bond with baby as much as I would like, I wouldn't be able to attempt to BF as early as I would like, and family would probably have to wait until I am transferred to postpartum to see the baby. Am I being ridiculous?
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Re: I know this is probably a strange concern..
Um, they all kind of do it differently. That's really a question for your hospital tour.
At mine I know after the birth there is stitching and paperwork going on before you can get to your real room to shower. Of course the closest thing they've seen to a birthing tub is that time their cow hid on the other side of the pond while in labor.
And remember, be flexible. I mean if there is no reason why you can't BF then do it, but if something legit should get in the way then don't worry about it. My son was born a little before 10 pm and there were complications. I didn't get to try to BF until they gave him to me at 3 am at which point we were both too tired to make it work. We woke around 6-6:30 and he latched like a champ.
I don' tthink it's ridiculous, but I bet that in the moment you actually will not care. There is so much gross stuff that happens regardless of if you are in water or are in a bed.
I'm planning on a water birth, but my midwife let me know that many women prefer to get in and out of the tub as they feel the need to do that for pain and that some end up preferring the shower- so what works for you during the actual birth could be different from what you plan on. I've seen some water birth video's and they don't look gross at all, but I did see one woman who told a funny story about pooping in the tub and then the midwife had to fish it out with a net. LOL. That said, many of my friends pooped on the table too- so it seems pretty normal.
I had a homebirth, and although he wasn't born in the tub, I was naked and squatting on the floor. After he was born we were both bloody & dirty; which I later noticed in pictures! They cleaned both of us off with towels and wrapped us up in blankets while I laid down on the floor with him. Baby stayed with me until after the cord stopped pulsing, the placenta came and he latched on (kind of). It felt like minutes. Turns out it was about an hour. The midwives helped me into the shower and my hubby held the baby skin to skin the entire time I was in the shower (quickest yet most effective shower I've ever taken!). After I was changed into cozy jammies and tucked into bed with baby they completed his newborn exam- aside from the immediate, essential things which were obviously already done when he was first born. They weighed, measure and checked reflexes etc.
As much as you want a water birth, you may not have one. Also, I really don't think that you are going to care that much about it all if you do. Maybe they will slowly drain the tub while refilling it with warm water so it's not a TON of blood etc.?