How was your experience with water birth?

I had a homebirth waterbirth with my first baby, she's now 3 years, and we're planning one with our second child due in 7 days. It was amazing! I had a virtually pain free birth and absolutely no medication. I also experienced only a couple of tiny tares with a 9lb 7 ounce baby and I have a normally 5 ft 2 inch frame that prior to pregnancy weighted less than 100lbs soaking wet. As for additional costs I can only tell you about a home birth, but for my entire birth kit (not just the water birth portion of it), the birthing pool, garden hose and faucet extensions it was less than $150. The pool is mine to keep as is everything else left from the birth kit. The only thing I did differently this time was buy a water pump to empty the tub $50 because we moved out of state and the midwife we're using this time doesn't provide that, unlike our daughter's midwives who did.

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Had my first (and only) at home. We were planning on having her in the water, but it didn't happen afterall...it happened in my bed...but I REALLY wanted it to be in the water. I was in the tub for a LONG time because it felt so great. In fact, i really didn't want to get out. I think I was in there a total of 20 hours!!!!!! My labor was 26 so you can see I REALLY didn't want to get out. I actually was in there ALL night long. I started having major contractions at 6:30 at night and didn't have her until 2:26PM the next day. WHEW!!!! It was GREAT GREAT GREAT to have the birthing tub. I had no drugs...so THAT WAS the "drug." It calmed me down I guess too much b/c I couldn't push her out in the water. So, I HIGHLY recommend it, even if you don't end up having her in the water, it is AWESOME to relax you. My husband was in there with me the whole time and I wouldn't let him get out. He got pretty pruny in there! (He was in his bathing suit...by the way). Good luck to you! Great decision you're making to have a drug free birth! :)

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I had a water birth at the puget sound midwives and birth center (something like that) in Kirkland. It was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! I don't know what it would be like in a hospital, but as far as the water birth itself: it was helpful for relaxing and dulling the pain. And of course it's a lot more comfortable when actually pushing because the water supports you instead of (like with my first) having to have all the people hold up your various appendages while you push. When the pushing phase spontaneously started, my husband got in the hot tub so I could be cradled by him -- leaning against his chest. The midwife had access in the front -- it was ideal. -- it was like a triangular hot tub. It was the most beautiful experience in my life, but of course there are a lot of other factors than just the water birth. I had previously given a birth in the hospital in Monroe, and that was okay, but using the midwives at PSMBC was infinitely better. There were a lot of things they did differently and so much more supportively and naturally. Congratulations and good luck.

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I myself have not had a water birth. But as a doula I have supported a few water births.
I can tell you from what I have seen it is wonderful. I had one mom say that she felt guilty when she was in the water because the contractions would be so much easier.
The hospital I volunteer at also offers water birth. But keep in mind that some complications or situations may make it so that you are not able to get into the water.
If I where to have another baby I would have a water birth.
Good luck
B.

I haven't done it but would have given an arm and a leg if I could have (insurance wouldn't cover it and our hospital/birth center didn't offer it). And anyway, if you change your mind during labor no one is going to force you to go in the pool, lol! What a wonderful opportunity! :-)

I just had a waterbirth at home. But it was amazing, once I got in I was not going to get out. I could deal with my contractions by myself in the water and easily changed positions when i wanted to push.

Water births are awesome!!! i had one with my second baby and it was the best thing in the world, i totally recommend them and would do it again in a heart beat. you don't get in too early so you don't completely relax out of labor, or if you do get in for a little bit you can get out again to keep things going. it was so comfortable and soothing. it's easier to get into comfortable positions to push, and just feels good, maybe not good but better, when you're going through contractions. i was in a birthing clinic and my insurance covered the normal amounts, of course births altogether aren't that cheap but it wasn't any extra :) good luck and congrats on baby #2!!

Well I will throw a different perspective in here... I am a home birthing mama :) I had planned a water birth for my 2nd child however I had very long and very slow progressing births at that point... they have since improved some, but not much... anyhow being in the water was amazing! It was so comfortable... it stopped my labor :( I know I am the rarity but I had to get out of the water to get the ball rolling again... which was discouraging to say the least! But with that said if you have the option at the hospital, I would go for it... anything to make that experience better! I have had two hospital births...not by choice :( so I am a bit tainted against them... anyways just want to share my perspective and enjoy you new little one when he comes!

I did a waterbirth with my daughter and I loved it. I had mine at Andaluz Waterbirth Center, so I can't speak of expenses or other charges that may occur in a hospital. But I can tell you that it relaxes you, helps localize the pain in the area it's meant to be felt and therefore more tolerable, allows you a ton of freedom to move around allowing your baby to get into the right position and made the delivery experience amazing. All of these advantages should allow you to give birth with little to no intervention which in the long run would save you more money than the expenses of an epidural, which usually leads to Pitocin, which then increases the odds of needing a c-section. So it's certainly worth trying!

I am definitely going to do it again! It was truly amazing! Plus my midwives really prepared me for the entire experience and were there for me from the early stages of pregnancy all the way through the entire labor and delivery. It was nice to know people I loved and trusted were there for me through the entire process. Even at that moment when I thought I couldn't do it, I suddenly remembered my midwife months before telling me that when a mother says she can't do, she wants to go to the hospital or she wants drugs, the midwives will get all excited because th baby is coming right then! I remembered her saying that and knew my baby was coming and I made it through with no problem! I wouldn't trade the entire experience for anything. It was truly amazing and beautiful. Plus I loved that my husband was in the tub with me, rubbing my back and being able to support me.

Congrats on your second baby! Waterbirth is an incredible aid in having natural childbirth and I would certainly take advantage of it if your hospital is offering it! I had a "natural" birth (but was on pitocin) in a hospital with my first, a home waterbirth for my second, a home birth with my twins where the first was born in water and the second "on land" :), and as I type I am nursing my 2 day old little boy who I just gave birth to here at home in water...2 land births and 3 waterbirths later I am telling you "Go for it!" it can be so helpful at the end when the pain is just off the charts and it is such a natural and soothing transition for your baby - water to water. Additionally, I feel like the healing process for my war torn body has been much faster after waterbirth. Whatever happens, enjoy your baby and newly grown family!