How should I set up my HB?

[ilovejeff]

Ok, I'm a planner. EDD is 9/23/09, but I'm already trying to figure out how to set up my house for our HB. Here's the situation:

Living room is downstairs w/ hardwood floors. I can make the most room there and it would be most comfortable for the MW, etc, since the sofa is there. It is cooler than the top floor (may or may not be an issue, depending on the weather.) DH's fish tank is there, it's very soothing, which would be nice. There is a toilet on this floor, but no shower/tub.

Bedroom/bathroom is upstairs. Up a long flight of stairs. It's carpeted and there is less room, but we could move stuff around to make the pool fit, as long as I didn't get a ginormus one. Seating might be an issue, though, not sure where everyone would sit (besides the floor or the bed.) If it happens to be super hot (not likely, but possible) it's the hottest area of the house.

I plan to labor and possibly birth in the tub. Obviously, at some point I will need to get out of the tub, whether before or after the birth.

So the question is this...should I set the pool up in the bedroom, or set it up downstairs and deal with having to go up the stairs at some point?

[ChaoticMum]

Well, having had two successful homebirths, my first instinct is to say go with upstairs because of the proximity to the bathroom - but that could be because with both my homebirths I had the MAJOR urge to empty my bowels soon before delivering - the first 45min before, and the 2nd 50min before - and I can't imagine going DOWN a set of stairs to get to the pool......


As for seating - that likely is the least of the worries as I know my midwives and husband were crouched on the floor beside the pool and I don't believe any of them sat on either the bed or the rocking chair in the room.

It would be the heat that would make me decide to stay downstairs, but that bathroom thing would REALLY sway me for upstairs.


Tamika
Mum to 3, 4th on the way!

[wbg]

My instant response was upstairs. For me having a shower then using he tub, and then falling right into bed was wonderful! We have a big bedroom, but honestly as the pp said, no one was anywhere except on the floor around the pool, and then on my bed with me and bub! Carpet was not an issue as we just put plastic shower curtain under pool. After I birthed, I did not want to deal with stairs at all. Maybe squeeze in a portable fan for the heat.

[ChaoticMum]

oops- missed that there IS a toilet on the main floor but still - I agree with the other response - having the bed in close proximity to the birth and not worrying about stairs is wonderful. It was sooooo awesome to just go from the the spot I birthed my child to the bed and relax!

You may end up choosing to birth ON the bed - it totally depends on you, your body and how things are going.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Upstairs. I'd want immediate access to my tub/shower.

[Burnindinner]

I also vote upstairs, and here is why: My labor was start to finish 8.5 hr (yours will be faster or slower, obviously, as all are different). My house is tiny and all on one level, and I never even SAW the birth pool. I was complete pretty soon after the mw arrived and wasn't moving from my bedroom. I birthed in my bedroom, on the floor. All 7 of my birth attendants were in my tiny bedroom (where there are NO seats!) and they just adjusted. Your comfort is paramount. You need access to a bathroom and a place where you are [psychologically] comfortable. Everyone else can deal!

[ilovejeff]

Thanks! that's pretty much what I was thinking, but other opinions are always good.

[XanaduMama]

Our house was similarly arranged, and I decided to put the pool downstairs. After the birth, I climbed the stairs easily and ran myself a bath...it wasn't a problem at all. Of course, I was lucky to have a pretty easy birth--you can't ever predict, I suppose, how you'll feel afterward. But you could always set up a futon or something downstairs if you don't feel up to climbing the stairs.

After the birth, I definitely didn't feel like being in bed...I hung out on the living room couch with everyone and watched basketball on tv! Again, though: personal preference.

[LittleLu'sMom]

Originally Posted by XanaduMama

Our house was similarly arranged, and I decided to put the pool downstairs. After the birth, I climbed the stairs easily and ran myself a bath...it wasn't a problem at all. Of course, I was lucky to have a pretty easy birth--you can't ever predict, I suppose, how you'll feel afterward. But you could always set up a futon or something downstairs if you don't feel up to climbing the stairs.

After the birth, I definitely didn't feel like being in bed...I hung out on the living room couch with everyone and watched basketball on tv! Again, though: personal preference.

Ditto this. Except, we have NO bathroom downstairs at all. I just always envisioned birthing downstairs in the pool. My labor was SUPER fast (3 hours from being sure I was in labor to baby being born), and I hit the restroom a few times while having contrax. The stairs were manageable and maybe even helped me progress faster? I came downstairs to birth in the pool. Immediately after birthing the placenta in the pool, I was helped onto the couch to warm up and breastfeed. As soon as they knew I wasn't bleeding too much and my BP was ok, my MW's apprentices helped me up to our room, where I could rest and use the bathroom. It was perfect for me.

And, like the poster above, I ended up coming back down to rest on the couch a few hours post-birth, and the stairs were not a problem then either.

[deymm]

I would stay upstairs.

[TzippityDoulah]

I plan to be where ever feels good at the time. likely upstairs since we have a bathroom attached to our room and I tend to liketo cloe the curtains and have it dark. but really... if I felt like being in the dining room I would

[DahliaRW]

I would plan upstairs. But have everything portable so that if it is hot when you go into labor you can just drag it all downstairs.

[RachaelsMommy]

Our house has a similar set-up, except we have a full bath downstairs too. I had originally considered setting up down in the living room b/c it's bigger and cooler, but I think I'm going to do it upstairs. I envision myself wanting privacy, plus it will be nice to be able to get in bed afterward if I feel like it. I just can't imagine being down in the living room while everybody else watches TV. Plus it seems like it would be easier to keep everything contained to one area.

[Freefromitall]

Why not get the tub that will fit upstairs, and maybe play it by ear when you get closer? IE if it's super hot that day/week and the idea of being upstairs makes you cringe, set it up downstairs. If you look at the flight of stairs and go "Oh, heck no! I am not climbing back and forth!" set it up upstairs.

Just my haven't-been-there, thinking-out-loud two cents

[kismetbaby]

I have been wondering the same thing! Similar set-up, toilet but no bath downstairs, but more room. However, I really am leaning towards having the birth tub in the bedroom, even though the bedroom and upstairs in general is small. Mostly b/c I wonder if I will decide at some point I really want to labor/push in bed and not in the pool and I wouldn't be able to or want to go up stairs. And I really don't plan to have this baby on a white (and not very comfy) couch!

I expect it will be VERY crowded with DH and a doula and a MW and her assistant, but I think we'll manage.

[Jilian]

I set up the birth pool in my bedroom. I wanted to be able to hop right into bed after and rest. Plus my bedroom is very tranquil and it is where I feel most comfortable.