Water births - questions!

[SparkleBug]

Quick question for the water birthers: Can you wait to cut the cord or are they insistent to clamp and cut? We'd like to wait for the cord to stop pulsating as it's good for the baby's blood volume and this can take fifteen minutes. I don't mind getting out, I just want to delay the cut for at least ten minutes.

This thread has been so helpful, we've become more and more enthused about a water birth as a way of keeping me comfortable for the duration as my back and hips are struggling with the weight of this big ol' bump!

 

[tinselcat]

Hi SparkleBug, the midwife on my hypnobirthing course said yesterday that midwifery guidelines these days were along the lines of waiting for the cord to stop pulsating but I guess it depends on who you end up with at the hospital - I'd say it's probably worth putting in your birthing preferences. x

 

[Starlight1986]

Im thinking more and more about a water birth for my second.......but id like to get out as soon as its born to be honest. For some reason I don't like the thought of being in there and delivering the placenta?

 

[Marcella46]

I was left that long I had to ask for mine to be cut, we where all just staring at baby for ages! In natural birth they leave you attached for a bit I think xx

 

[hellogoodbye]

I left the cord until it stopped pulsating. It took around five minutes.

You can get out to deliver the placenta if you want, or just stand up in the water and they'll catch it, no mess

 

[AmeliaM27]

I requested delayed cord clamping but as cord was around baby's neck and they had to give him a bit of oxygen they clamped and cut immediately so they could move him immediately to the table that was set up with all their stuff. Otherwise they would have been happy to wait.
The homebirth in a birthing pool was an amazing experience and I hope to have my second at that way as well