Home/Water Birth

cawalp · May 2015

Is anybody else considering a water birth or any non hospital birth? I want a natural birth but my husband is very worried about not being in a hospital.

folkfemme · May 2015

I have had 2 home births, one of which was a water birth. If I'm a good candidate this pregnancy, I'll be having another.
It is possible to have a med free/low intervention birth in a hospital. Another option, if you're husband doesn't come around to the idea, is a birth at a birth centre.

thismplsgirl · May 2015

I had a hospital water birth for my second daughter and it was awesome. Best of both worlds as far as safe but intervention free.

cawalp · May 2015

My first plan was a natural hospital birth, but I've been reading so many stories of doctors and nurses basically threatening the mom to receive medicine or hooking up mom while she sleeps. I'm very nervous about things not going the way I want in a hospital.

ChipMonster · May 2015

With DS, I delivered with a midwife in the hospital with no interventions. If this option is available to you, it may be one that can put DH's concerns and yours to rest while reaching a compromise.

lindenheart · May 2015

I delivered in a regular hospital med-free/Intervention-free with no pressure. Pick a good hospital and a good doctor and they should both listen to your desires whatever they are.

thismplsgirl · May 2015

My hospital water birth was attended by a midwife. I would look for a list of providers at local hospitals and choose a midwife group if possible.

aazami · May 2015

Yes! We are hoping to have a home water birth. Just us in our own peaceful space, husband totally is on the same page.

babybluu · August 2015

It's been a few months since this topic, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any input?? I've finally decided to make the switch tomorrow to a midwife, and will be doing a home water birth. I'm nervous about not having the option for an epidural but I'm soooooo very excited at the same time

willashbaby · August 2015

Start reading and take classes. I'm currently reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and will be taking Bradley. I'm not sure if there's specific suggestions for water birth.

MrsB915 · August 2015

@willashbaby those are both very good suggestions! I read Ina May's book and we took the Bradley class when I was pregnant with DS and both helped immensely with my med free no intervention hospital birth. Honestly, now that I think of it, I wasn't even offered an epidural or any med other than an anti nausea medication (which I took and will take again) during my entire labor. I think the nursing staff was impressed although possibly irritated when I kept asking to get out of bed! I'm hoping that their lack of compliance with that request was because my son was so premature and they were nervous. This time around will be different.!

I plan on brushing up on my Bradley and Ina May's book. Good luck OP!

UptownPearl · August 2015

I'm giving birth at a center with midwives. It's in the same parking lot as a hospital so if there is an emergency I can get transported quickly, but that's a last resort.

anitamtl · August 2015

I'm planning on a water birth at a birthing center with a midwife. It is 3 blocks away from the hospital, should anything go wrong, which reassures me. I'm also reading Ina May's guide and a book about hypnobirthing, and I am considering taking hypnobirthing classes, but they're very expensive. Has anyone tried this and has any advice on the hypnobirthing classes, are they worth it?

samara267 · August 2015

I'm in the process of switching from a very medically oriented hospital midwife to a homebirth midwife who will bring a tub. For the first time since i found out i was pregnant, I'm actually excited about the birth.

enkb · August 2015

I'm planning a home birth for my first baby and have been really happy with my decision so far. My prenatal appointments have made me and my husband both feel comfortable with the credentials, safety record and expertise of our midwife, and my parents even came to our last apt and they are feeling reassured also.

I am a researcher by nature and training, so for me I feel a lot better after looking up the actual scientific information on how rare complications are and the safety record of home births in a variety of studies, but I know that's not something everyone finds helpful.

For me I also feel more comfortable with my midwife than I would with most OB's because she is the one I see at every appointment (for at least a half hour) and talk to every time I need to call between appointments and will be with me throughout my labor. This continuity of care, in my opinion, makes her more likely to detect an issue early or be able to recognize normal variations in labor and less likely to miss something or diagnose something that is not actually there than a Dr who has only seen me sporadically prenatally and during labor.

I'm glad you have made a change to something that you feel more comfortable with, and wish you the best of luck!

mommachanner · August 2015

I plan on doing a water birth with a midwife at a birthing center. I love Ina May's book and will be taking a hypnobirthing class in September!

ntyravgsp · August 2015

@babybluu I have a couple of friends who have done home water births and been very satisfied with their experiences.
I believe midwives can offer alternative pain relief but from what my friends told me the water helps with much of the labor pain.
Best of luck!

babybluu · August 2015

Thanks ladies! I'm excited at the thought of having my baby at home, and glad I have the option of a water birth/ labor now. At the hospital I was being seen at they don't even have tubs

mommaSimpkin · August 2015

I have always wondered and kinda secretly wanted a water birth.
But I had complications with DS after labor, so this time I have to be in a hospital to be watched. Plus I had to have pain meds last time due to the position of DS and how he was putting his head in my back and it was preventing me from progressing. 12 hours at 6cm is not fun. So no water births for me.
This is my second an last pregnancy. I don't think I wanna go through this again. (I have been having complications with BP and anemia). So not even for a third pregnancy.

But I do think water births are fascinating. I wish I could do one. I heard it reduces tearing and it helps with pain? But I don't know if that's true.

anitamtl · August 2015

mommachanner said:

I plan on doing a water birth with a midwife at a birthing center. I love Ina May's book and will be taking a hypnobirthing class in September!

Oh nice! Tell us how it went after you've done it, I'm on the fence on whether reading the book, listening to the cd and the app is enough or not.

mommachanner · August 2015

@anitamtl I will definitely let you all know about the class. I was going to just get the book but I was worried that I wouldn't find time to read it. So I figured that the structure of a class will help me get the info.

mg137 · August 2015

@UptownPearl that sounds perfect! The water birth center I found was way across town from our hospital and DH isn't comfortable with that.

I'll be at a hospital but they have great tubs in all the rooms so I'll labor in water. Midwives attend and doctors only come if there's a problem. They also have bars and balls and seats and all the other natural labor friendly goodies. I don't expect it to be as nice as a birthing center or home birth, but after last time, with IVs and continuous corded monitors and having to push on my back with feet in stirrups, I'm thrilled with what I'm getting.

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