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Childbirth

Anyone given birth (not laboured) in the bath at home????

8 replies

Poshpaws · 10/12/2004 09:18

Just wondered.

Am planning a home birth in May and have considered buying one of those birthpool-in-a-box, but was worried just incase they were sold out by then, if anyone had intentionally or unintentionally been able to give birth in their bath at home?

Thanks

OP posts:

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KathH · 10/12/2004 09:32

hi - i didn't give birth in the bath but had contractions and decided to try and have a relaxing bath. Got in the bath for about 30 secs and felt so uncomfortable got straight out. Went to the loo and realising something felt a bit odd i put my hand down and to my horror (nothing compared to husband's horror as he was in bed) when i looked down there was a head and a pair of beady eyes looking back at me!

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nailpolish · 10/12/2004 09:34

Kath! what a great story!

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DoesntChristmasDragOn · 10/12/2004 09:49

I don't think a bath is big enough to allow "easy access" and is too difficult to get you out of in case of difficulties. It's not quite right to give you the "weightless" feeling of a pool. Just what I remember reading somewhere!!

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zubb · 10/12/2004 09:52

a warm bath will speed up labour apparently, or so the MW said after I had had an experience very much like KathH's. You could labour in there comfortably, but don't think there's enough room to give birth in.

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 10/12/2004 10:06

I nearly had ds3 in a bath but not at home, in hospital. I stayed in the bath for the labour and then had difficulty getting out when the midwives told me it was time to! My legs wouldn't work either so I was dragged across the floor, stark naked by my dh and a midwife with a student doctor and the other midwife looking on! What undignified situations we labouring mothers get into!

Agree with Doesn'tChristmasDragOn that the bath does not provide the access and the weightlessness that a birthing pool would.

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scubamum2b · 10/12/2004 10:21

I'm due tomorrow and had a bath this morning which is standard length (170cm) and a bit wider than normal. Even with not the biggest bump in the world I have difficulty getting out let alone the thought of giving birth there.

If I filled the bath it will not cover my bump - maybe if I lied flatter, but then my head would also be under water!

Plan is hospital pool birth, and if that is not available (apparently unlikely) then home birth. Not bothered trying to hire pool - issues being - space to put it, being able to fill it up with enough hot water from tank, wanting DH with me than running round like a headless chicken trying to sort pool out :o

Hospital pool is more like a large bath rather than a pool, with more upright part to rest back against than home bath, also looks like can kneel with arms resting on the side which I could not do at home.

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 10/12/2004 13:48

Good luck Scubamum!

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Poshpaws · 12/12/2004 13:35

Thanks.

I laboured at home in the bath first time round and then went off to hospital.

Fpund it very relaxing and eased the pain greatly.

Oh well, will just have to hire my birth pool early.