We had a waterbirth, and it was great, the best part was how it felt first getting in, and sensation of floating while your body is laboring, LOVED that, plus that she was clean when she came out of the water, I took that for granted till I was watching a birth and I thought to myself, wow, I liked that the blood and all was off of her.  I've got some neat pictures I can share if you like 

I had a waterbirth with my youngest!  It was fantastic!  I loved it in comparison to a land birth.  I also like that it reduces perineal damage.  Personally I had no tearing at all. 

Are you planning a homebirth or are you going to try to find a hospital that will do a waterbirth?

 Talk to you soon,

Sally

www.BlessedExpectations.org

I had a waterbirth with my second.  The labor was longer than my first but when I got in the tub, everything sped up and I was only in for about 30 minutes!  I was more relaxed so things progressed quickly.  It was also natural so the warm water helped ease the pain.  I always wondered what happened after the birth.  For me, a nice clean bed was right next to the tub so after birth, they helped me out, wrapped me in towels and tucked me in bed.  :-)  I was warm, then came my baby!  They set baby on me immediately to nurse and meet me.  It was amazing!  I did this in a hospital with a midwife and nurse.  They were so caring.  Not at all like my first.  The doc wanted to do an episiotomy against my birth plan and even there on the table when I said NO! he said I'd deliver the baby in 3 pushes quicker if he did.  How infuriating to negotiate at that time.   So, for #2, it was midwife, waterbirth and a completetly different, happier experience!

I used hydrotherapy for most of all of my labors. I was not able to have a waterbirth, though, as I chose hospital births and it is against their policies (phoey, I know).

 I have attended a few women in waterbirths, though, and it is a beautiful event. You can buy Noa Was Born (a beautiful waterbirth DVD) from Wise Woman Childbirth online for about $10.

Good for you though and I can't wait to hear your beautiful waterbirth story!