To water birth or not???

Question

First time mom here who has changed my mind throughout this pregnancy on my ideas of how I want to deliver.  Based on my mother having a 36 hour labor with me with back labor and her mother having a 36 hour labor with her, and my sister having complications that resulted in 2 c sections with both her pregnancies, I've decided that I would like to seek out a midwife/doula.  In doing my research I became interested in water births and wondered why the majority of hospitals weren't really offering them.  And I also learned that most/all hospitals will not allow you to deliver the baby underwater, just labor in the tub due to not enough research to support if it is safe for baby.
According to what I've read up on about birthing centers with certified licensed midwives that offer water births, the success and happiness rate of mom's delivering healthy babies (drug free) seems to be an overwhelmingly positive experience.
I never for once thought I'd try to be one of those "tough" women who would choose an all natural birth that is not necessitated by meds.  As a matter of fact I have always thought that I would happily opt for the epidural but I am not feeling confident in the current medical care I am receiving at my OB/GYN office and I find that they shuffle me around to several doctors in the practice, are impersonal, rush through appointments and are unorganized with my paperwork, confusing my 20'week scan with my sugar test appointment.  I'm just not impressed with he hospital either after talking to others who had babies there.  
It's scary for me to take the leap and go for the birthing center at 7 months but I have a gut feeling that this could be what's best for the baby and me.  
I'm just curious if there are any other moms out there who have had a water birth either their first time or after s hospital birth and what the experience was like.  Any positives-negatives about it?  
I'm beginning to get anxiety about the labor, even starting to have nightmares about the pain.    Also curious if water birth is getting to be more common.  I know that c-sections are!

Answer

I plan to labor for as long as possible in the tub. Water has always relaxed me, and whenever I’m upset, sick, in pain, or any other kind of distress, a long bath or hot shower is the first thing I turn to. Always have, even as a very small child. I don’t think I’ll deliver in the tub. My doc is fine with me doing it either way, but she told me, and I’ve heard from many other women and doctors, that there can be an increased chance of tearing in a water birth. I’m really lucky and have a hospital with a birthing center. The birthing center is on the 2nd floor, and labor/delivery is on the 3rd floor. If things go wrong, i will have the quick option of moving floors. My doctor will also deliver my son at the birthing center or at the hospital, however things go.

Answer

I had a water birth. i was in labour for 21 hours and in the tub for about 2 at the end, the water really relaxed me a lot and I really believe it helped me get through those last few cm quicker (still extremely painful though 😂) I didn't completely give birth in the water due to complications (contractions started to slow down) so I only delivered my daughter's head before I was pulled out onto the bed, but for me, it was all a very positive experience and I will opt for it again when I have another baby ☺

Answer

I've been wondering the same myself. can't answer sadly as this will be my first too! I'm 4 weeks and 3 days so nowhere near yourself but I'm also debating everything.

Answer

I don’t have any experience with water births but I’ve also been debating whether to deliver at a birthing center or hospital. My first birth was at the hospital and I’m glad it was because there were complications with the cord around his neck and his HR kept started dropping when I was 6 cm and it took hours to dilate to a 10. I did have the epidural at 4 cm so I wonder if that slowed things down. They broke my water at 6cm. When I was finally ready to push, his HR dropped big time and they had to do an episiotomy and a vacuum to get him out ASAP with me pushing as hard as I could. He was grey when he came out but cried and pooped immediately. I don’t know how this would’ve gone if I wasn’t at the hospital so because of that experience, I’m scared to try a birth center this time around. They say they are used to cord situations but could they handle a cord situation like my first baby had?? I don’t know. I’m very torn because I want an all natural birth this time with no medical interventions(which is why alot end up in c-section) but don’t want to risk losing my baby either. I’m not fully decided yet but whatever decision I make, I want to be sure I’m confident in it. I’ll be touring the birth centers in my area and find out all my options. Ask them any questions or concerns you have and however you feel about their answer, I think will help you decide. That’s my plan😊

To water birth or not???

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