Labour !

I sort of did this but I wasnt in the bath up until the delivery.

I spent time in the bath and it was very nice and soothing and at some point I moved back to the bed until delivery.

IMO, it's a great plan. The midwives were amazing and accommodating. They made it so clear that my word was the law during the whole birth and no one second guessed anything I wanted.

Your chance of tearing is much lower when you give birth in water.

What is it that you're worried about with regards to tears? Because there isn't really anything to do to stop it happening once it's happening, so whether the midwife can see it or not it doesn't make a difference.

But total risk of tears is lower in water births

I did full labour in water, unmedicated and my birth plan was "let my body do its thing".

Let me tell you, the second that water hits your aching body you're not going to want to go anywhere 🫢. I will admit my labour was extremely fast which almost means extremely intense but that water was bliss.

My advice to every FTM, plan what you want but listen to your body when it happens. It'll tell you what it needs and wants.