A water birth was never in my plan. It was only after arriving into triage after hours of counting contractions that the idea was posed to me. My midwife rather flippantly asked ‘would you like a regular room or one with a pool?’ To which I shrugged my shoulders and casually replied with the latter. I’d gone nine months without considering a water birth to switching my mind literally at the very last moment, but it was honestly the best thing I could have done! My water birth experience was such a positive one! It was empowering, calming and exhilarating all at the same time.
Preparing For Childbirth.
Like with my first birth I’d been practicing hypnobirthing in the run up to my second labour. I knew from the get go that I wanted to avoid a medicalised birth (if I could help it). If possible I wanted to use breathing techniques, visualisation and positive affirmations to bring my child into the world.
Although second time around my birth was completely different, the idea and the benefits surrounding hypnobirthing were still exactly the same. Despite the setting playing a huge part in my positive birth experience I can’t deny that hypnobirthing didn’t also play a big part.
The Decision to Have a Water Birth.
I chose to have a water birth on a whim. I hadn’t done any research previously, nor had I really given it a second thought beforehand. The only thing which made me change my mind was the thought of ‘what if I never get the opportunity to do this again?’ We’re undecided on the prospect of more children so if this was my last birth I wanted to at least have experienced something new.
My decision to have a water birth really was as simple as ‘why not?’ One of the best 'why not's' I think I've ever experienced.
My Water Birth Experience
I walked into the birthing pool room in the early hours of Friday 17th September. After an internal examination and being told it was ‘go time’ the midwives began filling the pool. I say pool, but it was more hot tub sized. The water was warm, LED tea lights had been switched on and music was playing. The setting wasn’t the most luxurious (hospitals never are) but it was calm, serene and as relaxing as it could have possibly been.
Intimacy
I undressed and got myself into the pool, with my husband stretched out on a mattress next to me. The midwives left us in the pool room, situating themselves in the adjoining space.
We were given privacy right from the beginning. It was amazing as it felt like I could have been in the bath at home. This home from home, or bath from bath put me at ease so much. Having the familiarity of it just being my husband and I in the room massively relaxed me. This huge level of intimacy made my water birth experience such a positive one.
Feeling Zen
The water temperature was kept at 37℃ meaning for the full six hours I was in the pool I was kept warm and at ease. There was something about being immersed in warm water that felt almost spa-like. It sounds bizarre likening my birthing experience to being at a spa, but I was in such a state of zen that I even asked the midwives ‘is it normal to be so chilled?’ It felt so unusual being so relaxed during such an intense experience. I was worried at one point imagining that my labour wasn’t progressing. Thankfully however it was!
Midwife Intervention
In terms of midwife intervention through the labour, there wasn’t actually that much. They came in every fifteen minutes to check my temperature, the temperature of the water as well as the babys heartbeat. The non-invasive checks were done within a couple of minutes (contraction depending) before the midwives left us both to continue through the labour.
Catching MyBaby
When it came to the final stages of labour and pushing my baby out my mind was so clear and I was in full control over what was happening. I kept saying ‘I can do this, I can do this, I can do this’ over and over again in my head. This newfound level of empowerment really took over me and I was soon catching my baby and bringing her up to my chest.
The final moments felt like a bit of a blur. I’m not a terrific catch at the best of times, so when it came to scooping my baby up I was a bit flustered. This was only for a split second however and I was soon cradling my new baby in my arms.
In Conclusion.
My water birth experience was such a positive one for so many reasons. The whole time I was labouring it felt like it was just my husband and I. It was so private making it feel like we did it together, just the two of us as a team. My water birth feels like such an achievement, even now I can’t quite believe my body did that. I’m in awe of what my body has achieved and how my mindset and choice of birth played such a huge part in such a relaxed, positive labour.
I was in the pool for six hours before welcoming my baby into the world. My feet were the wrinkliest I’ve ever seen, but my water birth experience was the best ever!
I’m so glad I opted for a water birth. I had the best, most empowering experience that I’d 100% recommend to anybody! It was out of this world.
Have you ever considered a water birth?
I have always wondered what a water birth would be like as I feel like that's the one I would go for one day, and this has just made me even more convinced this is the only way to go! The serenity and relaxation transpiring from your words is inspiring, Claire! Thank you for sharing such a personal post x
This is so insightful and I'm so glad you had a positive birth experience! x
I am so glad you had a positive experience because it really does make a difference.
I am hoping for a positive experience next time around.
There was a pool in my labour room, but we went the epidural route, which is good because it resulted in an emergency c section.
It's great you adapted to the circumstances though. And it was relaxing.
Reading your post has helped me put into words something that's been bouncing around the back of my head since I started taking my service dog to a holistic veterinarian. "Even if the chemistry of alternative medicine doesn't always check out in the science department, the holistic method of delivering healthcare could, and should, revolutionize modern medicine." If every medical procedure, from basic vaccines to open-heart surgery was treated as a mind-body-spirit experience, how would that change our outcome statistics?
What a surreal positive experience. Glad it went well for you, Congratulations to you both on your baby x
http://www.nadinealex.blogspot.com
Ah Claire I'm so pleased you had such a positive birthing experience! I think it's really important that women read these kinds of stories as well as the negative ones, as these are much less frequent within the birthing/labouring world. Sounds like you and your daughter had a really pleasant experience together I'm so happy for you both.
Thanks for writing about this experience!
Sarah xoxo
http://www.sunshinesarahxo.com
This sounds like it went so well and was a wonderful experience overall; I am so glad you got to have that as I am sure it will make a positive impact from that moment on. What a wonderful decision to have made, even on a whim, it was exactly as it was meant to be.
I'm glad you had a positive experience with a water birth Claire, that'll be really good for pregnant women who are considering a water birth themselves x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
First I want to say congrats on the baby. Love that you mentioned that this wasn’t something that you plan on doing so that more people might be interested in trying. It won’t be for me any time soon
It sounds like you had a really positive experience, I've looked into water births, and if I can I would really like to try that when I have children
Ahh I’m so glad you had such a positive experience, it sounds wonderful! I wanted a water birth both times but it wasn’t meant to be.
This is amazing! I would have loved a water birth but I couldn't deal with the idea of having a baby without an epidural! They are magical but I'm a wimp.
I'm so glad you had a positive experience!
Corinne x
I'd love to have a water birth when I have children, although I know it's not necessarily something you can plan!
Amy x
I’m so glad you had a positive experience!
I really wanted a water birth but mine came too quickly. I would have loved to have that experience. Xx
I loved reading this! So nice to share your experience as everyone is different x
Wow this was an amazing read. I'd love to be able to have a water birth, that is certainly my goal. You've made it sound so relaxing and calming, exactly what I want for how my baby arrives into this world!
Rosie
I had an epidural but have always loved the idea of a water birth, I absolutely love a warm bath so feel like I'd be so relaxed!
Oh this sounds so wonderful! I was always in two minds about a water birth but ultimately it was never a safe option for me. A warm six hour water submersion sounds bliss, I find water so calming!
This sounds like such a positive experience for you! 🙂