confused... no bath after water breaks?

NatesLady1309 · January 2012

Can someone please tell me why I've heard not to take a tub bath after your water breaks due to the risk of infection, but yet if my water breaks and I go to the hospital or a birth center, I could proceed to have a water birth and that would be totally fine? Is that not the same concept... getting into the water AFTER your water has broken?

Mrs.MillerJune2008 · January 2012

they know what goes in their pool Smile

christinbeatrice · January 2012

NatesLady1309:
Can someone please tell me why I've heard not to take a tub bath after your water breaks due to the risk of infection, but yet if my water breaks and I go to the hospital or a birth center, I could proceed to have a water birth and that would be totally fine? Is that not the same concept... getting into the water AFTER your water has broken?

WOW!!!! I was just thinking this! (I was reading the Jan. board)

crogers19 · January 2012

I think the risk of taking a bath at home is the cleanliness of your tub. However my hospital doesnt let you in the tub after your water breaks but you can use the shower.

Shawnee11507 · January 2012

I don't understand this either. My hospital also won't allow you in the tub after your water breaks because of risk of infection but will let you use the shower.

crogers19 · January 2012

In the shower you cant have water "swish" up in there...

pinksweetpea2 · January 2012

Personally I would rather risk the germs of my own home over the ones at a hospital. I don't know why people always think that hospitals are cleaner than most homes. The risk of catching staph at your home are nil to none, but at a hospital???

Unless you are swimming in a dirty pond, there really isn't much of an added risk if people are keeping their hands to themselves. Hospitals have a lot of rules that are based more on liability rather than actual fact.

FWIW, my water broke at the beginning of labor and I spent 40 hours in and out of the birthing tub without an infection...but my MW only checked me maybe 2 times in that entire 40 hours. You are much more likely to get an infection from all of the nurses and Dr. frequently checking your progress than you are from taking a bath at home.

hillbillysunshine · January 2012

Mrs.MillerJune2008:
they know what goes in their pool

This...is the theory at least. Plus, they are monitoring you; again, the theory. But you'll hear very different perspectives from homebirth advocates and/or MWs. I'd talk to your doc about it and see what s/he says.

lissag24 · January 2012

I've never heard of this, they ask you if you want to get in the tub here to relax for a while

jennylove1084 · January 2012

crogers19:
I think the risk of taking a bath at home is the cleanliness of your tub. However my hospital doesnt let you in the tub after your water breaks but you can use the shower.

Same.

ssimon621 · January 2012

Maybe it is not the risk of an infection from being in the tub, but the fact that you are putting soap in the water that could cause the infection. People who have water births aren't adding any extra chemicals to their water whether they are laboring at home or at the hospital/birthing center.

bethanyturon · January 2012

Actually you're not supposed to take a bath if your water breaks but you're not in active labor. If you're actively in labor, there is no time for infectino to develop (which is what the risk is), so there are no concerns.

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confused... no bath after water breaks?

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