I labored a lot in the tub and shower with my first but gave birth in the hospital bed, movie style. With my second I briefly expressed an interest in it, but everything went so fast they didn't even have time to fill up a regular tub for me to labor in, much less get ready to deliver in it! If we ever had a third I might try for that though.
Who had a water birth? If you had one in water and one not, how did they compare?
pear / 1703 posts
Following bc I'm hoping to labour in the tub for this VBAC! Its just a regular size tub so I don't think I could give birth in it but who knows?
papaya / 10570 posts
I would LOVE to labour in the tub. I couldn't last time because I required continuous monitoring (I was confined to the bed, on my back), but since I had E they have introduced a new wireless monitoring system which you can use in the water! I don't qualify for the hospital's "birth centre" (where there are pools in every room) because I'm high risk but there are pools in some of the labour ward rooms so if I'm very lucky (eg the room that happens to become free when I'm next in line to be taken to the labour ward), I might get to try it! 
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
Same as Cherrybee, I was hooked up and monitored my whole stay (and it was long b/c it was an induction). I would def be opened to laboring and/or giving birth in the water! But I currently don't go to a midwife or a practice that has that option.
pomelo / 5607 posts
Similar to @Cherrybee, I wasn't able to due to continuous monitoring (preterm labor with a lot of unexplained bleeding), but I would love to in the future!
nectarine / 2878 posts
I labored in the shower but my room didn't have a tub 
. I would consider it if my hospital would allow it! I will have to discuss it with my OB when the time comes.
pomegranate / 3350 posts
With my first I could have labored in the shower/tub until it was time to push but I found it miserable and got the epidural instead (and I also had continuous monitoring but it wasn't a problem, I don't remember why).
With my second the midwife recommended a bath so I did at home for a bit in early labor but I guess it just isn't my thing. I never even considered it at the end. I think I just hate being wet/cold.
coconut / 8854 posts
My plan was to labor in the tub, but all of the tubs in the hospital were down for maintenance horrible timing!! But hopefully with my next one I will be able to at least labor in the tub. I don't think our hospital allows giving birth in the tub though.
nectarine / 2951 posts
I labored in the tub and it was AMAZING! It was my goal to get into that tub and I was so excited when I finally got the ok! I went through transition in the tub, then when I felt the urge to push, I moved to the bed.
nectarine / 2591 posts
I tried but had to get out for final pushes as she wasn't descending. Will give it another go this time.
pear / 1697 posts
I labored in the tub for quite a while but didn't end up delivering there. I had a really long labor and by the end I was too tired to be confident I wouldn't nod off between contractions and drown.
persimmon / 1196 posts
I enjoyed a nice, hot shower during early labor, but I've never gotten the appeal of laboring in water. Of course, I don't like taking baths either.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
No, sitting in my own stuff like that has never appealed to me. I also like water to be very hot and I just don't think it would be comfortable for me. I'll curl up in the bed with my epidural though!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@lady baltimore: I almost never take baths but I was in and out of the tub for hours with my first, first at home, then again in the hospital. I actually don't think I have taken a bath since and she's 2.5. I really tested the limits of our water heater.
@catomd00: that was one reason I never seriously considered it until the last minute with my second, all the nastiness in the water with me. But now I'm feeling like, meh, it's gross no matter how you do it.
watermelon / 14467 posts
I labored in the shower and liked it, but it caused me to have very frequent, short contractions. I tried to labor in the tub at home but I couldn't have both my back and my belly in the water like I needed. I might try it this time.
pear / 1770 posts
I found laboring in the tub to be very helpful (went through most of transition that way) but my state doesn't "allow" water births. 
pomelo / 5093 posts
Yes, I delivered my second child in a birthing tub. I could not have handled labor naturally without it. It was amazing.
pineapple / 12053 posts
sounds nice, but my labors are a little crazy, so by the time i'm thinking, oh man, this is it, it's time to get to the hospital and have the baby! i haven't been at the hospital more than 2 hours (45 for the second) before i delivered! it actually seems like usually they don't believe that i'm really far into labor before i am admitted! so probably no time for water births for me!
nectarine / 2173 posts
I would not have a water birth for a number of reasons, but I labored in a jacuzzi tub and it made such a difference to me. I used the rhythm of the jets to pace myself with breathing and the warm water really helped distract me. I even had my IV places while I was in the tub. It made such a difference to me pain control wise that I will not consider delivering at s hospital without tubs in every room.
pomelo / 5000 posts
I think I'd enjoy laboring in the tub bc baths are calming to me, but the water can't be as warm as I like and I get cold easily. My friend is a L & D nurse and said they use fish nets to scoop stuff out. I wouldn't want to be cold and messy post labor, so no pushing in tub for me.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@Happygal: oh wait- they use nets to scoop poop out I'm guessing? I may have just changed my mind. I preferred them just wisking it away while I was barely aware it happened.
pomelo / 5000 posts
@Foodnerd81: I guess? I had a csection, so I'm not sure what other stuff would be floating around. She wasn't critical, just rather matter of fact (like most nurses are!) She called it labor soup.
My OB said he prefers not to do them, but he thinks they are pretty cool. And it seems many women love the experience.
hostess / cantaloupe / 6486 posts
I've never had one and while a hot bath sounds delightful in labor, I'm guessing it wouldn't be as hot as I'd like and I also have this weird thing about being braless for a long time. I don't enjoy it. It makes me uncomfortable and sweaty so being naked for that whole thing sounds really annoying to me lol
nectarine / 2951 posts
@Mrs. Sunshine: the nurses gave me this tube top thing to wear so I wasn't completely naked (I'm pretty modest and wouldn't want to be topless). Also, I remember staying warm and not feeling cold at all. I was in such a zone of breathing through the contractions, I just didn't notice any of the things you are worried about. I found it to be a really effective pain management tool, so it was worth it for me. I think birth is pretty messy no matter what!
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
The birthing tub was the only way I made it through 10 hours of horrific transition (I got stuck at 9cm, almost required an emergency c section, and etc.) so I'm team water birth alllll the way! The plan was to deliver in the water at the birth center but last minute we transferred care to the actual hospital where water birth aren't allowed - and at any rate at that point I had an epi so I couldn't have had one anyways.
persimmon / 1196 posts
@Foodnerd81: Interesting! Laboring in the tub wasn't really an option this time, but maybe I'd surprise myself and want to try it next time around.
I'm with you on the poop, though! 
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