Did anybody actually get to use the whirlpool during labor?

[sep509bride]

Just curious if anybody has any experience with using a whirlpool during labor. This was a big deal on the hospital tour when I was pregnant with DD1, but in actuality we were stuck in a tiny triage room for 6 hours and walking the hallways until I agreed to let them break my water and we could therefore be admitted. Except once your water breaks, you can't go in the whirlpool tub, isn't that right?

With DD2 due in a few months, I'm starting to think about what I want to do differently with labor and delivery this time around, and that has me thinking - does anybody actually get to use the whirlpool, or is that just a ploy to get unsuspecting pregnant women to choose this hospital?

[TheEleventhHour]

I didn't have this option at my hospital but I totally would have used one! I do believe they won't let you in the water after your water breaks due to infection concerns. However, I labored a lot in the shower and the warm water on my back felt amazing so I would imagine a whirlpool would be even better! My water didn't break on its own but my midwife didn't break it until I was just about to push.

[sep509bride]

Thanks for sharing, ladies. I've been seeing the midwives this time around instead of the doctors (same group has both) so I'm curious to see how this might change the labor and delivery experience. So far I don't see any difference in the OB appointments (which makes DH think we should just stick to doctors), but they say they spend more time with you in L&D, so I'm curious to finish things out with them to see if there is in fact a difference.

[TheEleventhHour]

My OB/GYN office is an OB, a MW, and a NP. The hospital my doctor delivers at uses midwives 24/7 and only call the OBs in if there is an emergency or need for a c-section. I saw my OB every other prenatal visit and my MW or the NP during the others. The office visits were the same no matter who I saw because it was pretty basic/standard stuff as I wasn't high risk or anything.

I had a MW in L&D and she was amazing. I had a relatively fast labor (6 hours) and transition sucked so much. My MW stayed with me for the last 2 hours. She didn't really need to because she wasn't doing anything for me a nurse couldn't do but she was so supportive and helpful! I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely want a MW in L&D if we have any more (and would even consider home birth with a MW too)!

And obviously not saying you couldn't have a similar experience with a doctor but just wanted to share my MW experience

[tarheelmom]

My water broke at home and they let me use the whirlpool tub after I was at the hospital (I was 4cm when I arrived).

Unfortunately, it was not the relaxing experience I had hoped for since I was alternating sweats and chills and couldn't get my vision to focus on my book. I gave up after 20 minutes.

[bennikki]

My water broke at home and I used the whirlpool off and on through the night with my first on the suggestion of my nurse. With my second, I was too far along to really get relaxed in the tub, and once they finally got my IV (I was group B positive), the baby was here 1 hour later.