Water Births and Meconium

Pikefoldpixel · Mar 14th, 2010, 18:44 PM

Ok so i were at my MILs today and i were telling her that im having a water birth.

And well SIL piped up then and said eww youll be sat in the skanky water and what about Meconium?

Well i were just like well im sure i wont be sat in there for ages, her respone "youll be too tired to get out"

Im getting so annoyed with her "ive been there and done it" comments

Anyway what are the risks of Meconium with water births?

I thought it was what came out in their first poo?!? so i cant see there being much risk of it!??

lynnikins · Mar 14th, 2010, 19:06 PM

theres no extra risk regarding meconium and water births although if your waters go and they do see meconium it will cancel your plans of a water birth,

waterbirths are much cleaner than normal births anyway imo the water stops stuff sticking to you, i found the water didnt get dirty at all while i was labouring in it and obviously after the birth then there is blood but it doesnt mix with the water so much and most people do get out to deliver the placenta so you dont have to worry so much about that ( i had ds on a bed on my back in the end after my waterbirth went sour due to him not desending properly due to having his arm up )

madasa · Mar 14th, 2010, 19:15 PM

Why would meuconium in the amniotic fluid mean you "can't" birth in water?

In any case, they can advise you to not birth in the water and give you the reasons.... but the final decision of where and how you birth is YOURS.

lynnikins · Mar 14th, 2010, 19:23 PM

because most hospitals will see meconium and think the baby is in distress and needs to be born fast, and the risk of infection apparently is greater

and as much as its true that the final choice of how and where you give birth is yours then if its their pool then they can make you get out or refuse to let you get in it

madasa · Mar 14th, 2010, 19:38 PM

I see. In my situation, it would be my pool. Not sure about hospital policy... it may vary from hospital to hospital?

It's worth mentioning that if a baby is full term or overdue, then meuconium is not necessarily a sign of distress, although it's nearly always taken that way. Often, it's just a sign the gut is mature. For any mum (or any midwife for that matter!!) to decide how best to proceed,, surely the WHOLE person (mother and baby) need to be assessed, not just one aspect (whether the waters are clear)....?

I hate blanket policies and box ticking. One reason I'm staying at home if possible; in hospital you are a "patient" under doctors orders.... in your own home, you have much more control and more say in what goes on.

Pikefoldpixel · Mar 15th, 2010, 05:04 AM

Thanks guys

xx

Her "been there and done it" comments are just really getting to me now (we are the same age aswell

)

LoobyBump · Mar 15th, 2010, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikefoldpixel

Thanks guys

xx

Her "been there and done it" comments are just really getting to me now (we are the same age aswell

)

There is always one who has that attitude

I've had 2 babies, and neither one has poo'd before they've been in the outside world, cleaned, clothed and nappied!

So my thoughts are, who is to say you baby will decide to have a poo during birth anyway?!

I can see the water would get a bit bloody immediately after birth, but lets face it, i'll be on a bed with an epidural...so i'll be sitting in it all! If you think about it, a water birth is the 'cleaner' option

Anyway, you do things how you feel is right for you, ignore everyone else (although personally i'd listen to the docs!), good luck!

xxx

Pikefoldpixel · Mar 15th, 2010, 07:02 AM

Thanks Looby, ive not really spoke about it in length yet to MW i just asked it if was possible for me to have one. Obvs if theres any reason why i cant for babys sake then i wont think twice about it. But at the moment it is what i want as i spend loads of my time in the bath its the only time im comfy so im thinking itll "help" with pain during labour xx

lynnikins · Mar 15th, 2010, 07:07 AM

lol i need a bath with a padded bottom lol caus sitting anywhere hurts but i do intend on a water birth if i dont go so far over they refuse

LoobyBump · Mar 15th, 2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikefoldpixel

Thanks Looby, ive not really spoke about it in length yet to MW i just asked it if was possible for me to have one. Obvs if theres any reason why i cant for babys sake then i wont think twice about it. But at the moment it is what i want as i spend loads of my time in the bath its the only time im comfy so im thinking itll "help" with pain during labour xx

I think if we go for what we want it all 'helps'. For you thats the water birth, for me the pain free epidural. People have no right to make us feel bad for any choice we make, or make us question those choices

And what's a bit of poo between mother and daughter

Mar 14th, 2010, 18:44 PM	#1
Pikefoldpixel Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ~Rossendale~ Posts: 1,334	Water Births and Meconium Ok so i were at my MILs today and i were telling her that im having a water birth. And well SIL piped up then and said eww youll be sat in the skanky water and what about Meconium? Well i were just like well im sure i wont be sat in there for ages, her respone "youll be too tired to get out" Im getting so annoyed with her "ive been there and done it" comments Anyway what are the risks of Meconium with water births? I thought it was what came out in their first poo?!? so i cant see there being much risk of it!??

Status: Online

Mar 14th, 2010, 19:06 PM	#2
lynnikins Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chessington, Surrey Posts: 14,443	theres no extra risk regarding meconium and water births although if your waters go and they do see meconium it will cancel your plans of a water birth, waterbirths are much cleaner than normal births anyway imo the water stops stuff sticking to you, i found the water didnt get dirty at all while i was labouring in it and obviously after the birth then there is blood but it doesnt mix with the water so much and most people do get out to deliver the placenta so you dont have to worry so much about that ( i had ds on a bed on my back in the end after my waterbirth went sour due to him not desending properly due to having his arm up )

Status: Online

Mar 14th, 2010, 19:15 PM	#3
madasa Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 2,988	Why would meuconium in the amniotic fluid mean you "can't" birth in water? In any case, they can advise you to not birth in the water and give you the reasons.... but the final decision of where and how you birth is YOURS.

Status: Offline

Mar 14th, 2010, 19:23 PM	#4
lynnikins Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chessington, Surrey Posts: 14,443	because most hospitals will see meconium and think the baby is in distress and needs to be born fast, and the risk of infection apparently is greater and as much as its true that the final choice of how and where you give birth is yours then if its their pool then they can make you get out or refuse to let you get in it

Status: Online

Mar 14th, 2010, 19:38 PM	#5
madasa Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 2,988	I see. In my situation, it would be my pool. Not sure about hospital policy... it may vary from hospital to hospital? It's worth mentioning that if a baby is full term or overdue, then meuconium is not necessarily a sign of distress, although it's nearly always taken that way. Often, it's just a sign the gut is mature. For any mum (or any midwife for that matter!!) to decide how best to proceed,, surely the WHOLE person (mother and baby) need to be assessed, not just one aspect (whether the waters are clear)....? I hate blanket policies and box ticking. One reason I'm staying at home if possible; in hospital you are a "patient" under doctors orders.... in your own home, you have much more control and more say in what goes on.

Status: Offline

Mar 15th, 2010, 05:04 AM	#6
Pikefoldpixel Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ~Rossendale~ Posts: 1,334	Thanks guys xx Her "been there and done it" comments are just really getting to me now (we are the same age aswell )

Status: Online

Mar 15th, 2010, 07:02 AM	#8
Pikefoldpixel Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ~Rossendale~ Posts: 1,334	Thanks Looby, ive not really spoke about it in length yet to MW i just asked it if was possible for me to have one. Obvs if theres any reason why i cant for babys sake then i wont think twice about it. But at the moment it is what i want as i spend loads of my time in the bath its the only time im comfy so im thinking itll "help" with pain during labour xx

Status: Online

Mar 15th, 2010, 07:07 AM	#9
lynnikins Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chessington, Surrey Posts: 14,443	lol i need a bath with a padded bottom lol caus sitting anywhere hurts but i do intend on a water birth if i dont go so far over they refuse

Status: Online

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