When planning the birth of our first child, my wife and I knew we wanted a calm and natural experience, but there was an added factor that shaped our decision: her intense fear of needles. Even the thought of injections would make her faint or feel nauseous, which ruled out epidurals or intravenous pain relief. This fear motivated us to explore hypnobirthing and water birth as a way to manage labour effectively without medication.

Our experience was so positive that we originally planned to follow the same path for our second child. However, the plan changed during labour, and we regret not advocating more strongly for the water birth approach again. Here’s why water birth, combined with hypnobirthing, worked so well for us—and why it remains our preferred option.

1. Avoiding the Need for Needles

For my wife, her severe reaction to needles wasn’t just a minor inconvenience—it was a significant challenge. To manage her fear, she took diazepam before every necessary injection throughout her pregnancy.

When it came to labour, hypnobirthing techniques became her primary tool for managing pain and staying calm. These methods, combined with the warm water of the birthing pool, allowed her to have a drug-free delivery without compromising on comfort or safety.

2. Effective Pain Management Without Medication

The warm water in the birthing pool was a natural form of pain relief. It helped reduce the intensity of contractions by supporting her body and easing tension. The buoyancy of the water allowed her to move more freely, finding positions that felt comfortable and natural.

Again hypnobirthing played a key role here too. By focusing on controlled breathing and visualisation techniques, my wife was able to manage the pain effectively without feeling overwhelmed. This combination of water birth and hypnobirthing created a sense of calm and control throughout the process.

3. A Relaxing Environment for Both of Us

Unlike the clinical atmosphere of a hospital bed, the birthing pool provided a more tranquil setting. The warm water and dimmed lighting alongside our playlist helped my wife stay calm and focused on her breathing.

As her partner, I found it easier to support her in this setting too. I was able to stay close and provide reassurance without feeling out of place or intrusive. The whole experience felt much more personal and less stressful than I had anticipated. I was so relaxed at times that I wondered why other people were in the room and then I remembered these were the nurses and were quite important. 🙂

4. A Gentle Start for Our Baby

One of the main reasons we chose waterbirth was the evidence suggesting it can make the transition from womb to world easier for the baby. Being born into warm water seemed to provide a smoother, less stressful experience.

Our baby was calm and alert when she emerged, which was reassuring for us as first-time parents. The midwife also commented on how smoothly the delivery had gone, which when reflecting on the process really reinforced our confidence in this approach.

5. Empowering and Positive Experience

The combination of waterbirth and hypnobirthing gave my wife a sense of control over her labour. She was able to listen to her body and adjust her movements and breathing as needed.

For both of us, it was empowering to rely on natural techniques rather than medical interventions which brought additional challenges as already mentioned. The preparation we’d done together through hypnobirthing classes made us feel ready and in control, even during the more intense moments.

What Happened During Our Second Birth

For our second daughter, we intended to follow the same approach, but things didn’t go as planned. The labour was much longer this time which we believe was partly due to decisions made by medical professionals. (This is a discussion for another time). The midwife then expressed concerns that they wouldn’t be able to monitor my wife effectively in the water and as such if we chose to continue with the water birth this could be detrimental to our child.

In the moment, we felt scared and pressured to follow their advice and so my wife laboured without the pool. My wife found this sudden change to her birthing plan very upsetting and we feel this then further contributed to the extended labour time and the whole process became much more challenging. Looking back, we wish we’d trusted our instincts and advocated for using the birthing pool. We spoke to midwifes a couple of weeks later and they said there was no medical reason why we shouldn’t of been allowed to birth using the birthing pool.

Would We Choose Water birth Again?

Absolutely. Despite the challenges we faced the second time, our first waterbirth experience was overwhelmingly positive. The benefits of natural pain relief, a calming environment, and a gentler transition for the baby were all key factors in making it such a success.

If you’re considering waterbirth, especially if you’re looking for alternatives to medication or managing a fear of needles, we can’t recommend it enough. Pairing it with hypnobirthing techniques can help you feel prepared and confident, no matter how your labour unfolds.

Our advice? Trust your instincts, do your research, and don’t be afraid to advocate for what feels right for you and your baby.