My Water Birth Experience

At Home in a Birth Pool

I have always been drawn to the idea of a waterbirth. It took 4 pregnancies and 3 births to get there, but I finally did it. My 1st birth was a very uneventful, unmedicated hospital experience. My 2nd birth was an exciting, accidental freebirth on land. My 3rd finally landed in the water, safe & sound. Here are a few pointers I learned from his water birth.

Prepping the Pool

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT wait until you are in labor to blow up the birth pool. That monstrosity takes time to inflate, clean & fill with warm water. Decide where it fits best in your space and where you want to labor. Factor in water supply & proximity for easy filling. It took over my entire dining room for months because I was not risking it.

Redecorate your birth space with your birth pool plus fairy lights, a birth altar, candles & visible birth affirmations. We want good birth vibes in here!

My suggestions:

Blow it up ahead of time
As soon as you realize you are in labor, start filling it
Keep it covered to keep it warm – it loses heat fast!
Use it anytime in labor to get some pain relief + muscle relaxation
Decorate your birth space around the pool for good vibes
Keep cold water to drink by the tub in case you are feeling very warm

Positions in the Pool

Birth tubs are very versatile in labor. They provide a soft, warm, buoyant space for you – just like your womb provides for your baby. Warm water eases pain, increases relaxation, triggers your birth hormones and gives you the freedom to move into a multitude of positions.

You might plan on water and then not enjoy the tub. It’s okay to change your mind. At least have it available if you think hydrotherapy might be a great tool to try.

Common birth pool positions:

leaning back with the soft edge supporting your shoulders, head or neck
all 4’s with the soft edge supporting your forehead
the seat inside can support your bum or your hands, depending on your direction
leaning back onto your partner who is suited up and inside with you
pelvic opening, seated, asymmetrical positions
standing or squatting while holding onto another person
hanging on a bar or strong rope dangling above
partners can massage neck, backs, hips, but they are in the splash zone so plan accordingly
kneeling pad (gardening pad) for partners next to the tub is a bonus
young children love water and might enjoy splashing around in there with you if you are ok with it

Pushing in the Pool

Pushing in the birth pool is also an option, especially if you are birthing in a birth center or at home. Hospitals sometimes utilize hydrotherapy but have policies firmly in place about babies exiting into the pool. Check with your birthplace if you are curious.

My not so little guy was coming quickly so I only spent about an hour in the pool, all pushing time. It is a really cool sensation for them to slowly exit in the water and a natural progression for them to move from fluid inside of you to fluid outside of you and then slowly up to your chest.

Pushing help:

mirror or light in the pool so you can see your baby exit
if you crown on all 4’s, they will pass through your legs and you can turn around and rest back with them on your chest
can be a slower, gentler stretch on the perineum when your baby crowns
keep a towel close by to cover them up or try to keep them in the water for warmth

Pooping in the Pool Plus Clean Up

People poop in birth, period. People poop when they birth in the water. The good news is that there isn’t a pool evacuation when this happens. The quick solution is a small fishing net. Yep! Cleans it out real quick and then you can get right back to pushing.

Once your baby arrives, the afterbirth makes an appearance within the hour. If the water has been virtually clear up until now, it is about to make a color change to usually a deep crimson hue with blood and birth fluids. Don’t panic, this is obviously very normal.

Once out of the tub, the real fun begins because now someone has to clean it all up – drain, disinfect & deflate to put it simply.

Water Baby