Anyone NOT get a pool for their HB?

[sept04mama]

I am wondering more and more if I even want a pool set up. I have a very deep jetted tub in my bathroom that I think would do the trick. I need to ask my MW more about this, but I THINK even if I gave birth IN the tub, she could still see/access what is going on enough.

This is my 1st HB. My second birth (natural, hospital) I labored in a deep jetted tub much like mine and it was great- only it pretty much stopped my labor every time I would get in. I ended up doing transition/early pushing while standing and then sat on the bed for the actual birth.

So with that history (and I know each birth is unique- you never know) I feel it may be a bit of a pain to go to all the effort of setting up a pool/buying supplies when I can very easily fill my tub and hop in/out whenever I feel like it.

Anyone just done a tub? Regret it? Anyone gotten a pool and NOT ended up using it?

Thanks in advance for your responses, I'm glad I have you ladies as a resource, as I don't know any HBers IRL.

[ZoeyZoo]

If I had a big deep tub I wouldn't have gotten a pool. You really just need somewhere in a comfortable size that will cover your belly. Would have worked just fine IMO.

FWIW I had a pool (I only have one of those tiny tub/shower combos) and I hated it and got out about 10 minutes later. Our pump to empty the pool broke so DH was stuck emptying it by bucket for many hours afterward. We found them a pain to fill/empty.

I know I'll be a minority but I preferred the shower. I'm not a bath person though so that probably played a part in where I felt comfortable.

[Beauchamp]

We have a deep, oval shaped, garden tub. My MW says it's perfectly fine. She didn't mention anything about not being able to see or have access. It doesn't have the soft sides of a birth tub, but I don't feel like going to all that trouble when I have my own home tub right here. If I only had a standard/smaller size tub, I might reconsider getting the fishy pool.

[katiesk]

i did not get a pool. i have a lame tiny bathtub, but it worked ok...mostly i stood in the shower. if i had a nice tub i would defnitely not bother with a pool

[sept04mama]

Thanks guys!

I feel better about just using my tub. Especially since I know that I prefer labor standing up.

[francesmama]

I'm not going to get one.

I was in the hospital for my first and didn't really like the tub so for this homebirth I'm not going to bother to rent one. I'm content to make do with the shower and hometub and if all goes as it did last time, it will be fast, so less need for a tub I think.

[rochellep3]

I got a pool with my 2nd, and then used our jacuzzi tub with #3 and #4. Really, I like the pool a lot better. Not having the soft bottom was an absolute deal breaker for me. I could NOT get comfy in the jacuzzi tub, despite having bought mats just for the purpose. I sure did like using my hand sprayer though. That almost made up for the hard bottom of the tub.

[TzippityDoulah]

I wouldn't even consider getting a pool if I have a nice big tub!

[channelofpeace]

We recently moved into a house with a big tub, so we aren't getting a pool for the birth. My tub is fabulous :

[zak]

I didn't have a rental tub for my HB.

I decided against it because with my first birth (at a FSBC), I got into their birth tub and puked and puked, so I had a really bad association with tubs and birth. :haha

I did however use a shower both times and looooved it.

I think I might try for a water birth again next time (if I'm so blessed with another child). My pushing phase at my HB was very intense (I basically tossed HypnoBabies out the window and FREAKED out). I think being in water might have made it better.

Good luck to you and your homebirth!!

[CanBoo]

I have a fairly deep tub too, so not using a pool either. MWs thought it'd be fine. They attend births in regular tubs all the time. I am not sure either if I will use it, so I do not want to bother setting up a pool. Baby coming any day. I am subbing, and will trying to remember to come and give you an update here after the birth :-)

[mumofboyz]

I gave birth in our tub. It is one with whirlpool jets and deeper than regular bathtub. It was perfect.

I did have the mid-wife come to the house and inspect it ahead of time. I wanted to make sure it was something she could work with. If she felt like it was not going to work for us, I would have rented the pool.

[GoldmanBaby09]

I'm planning on birthing in our larger tub in the master bathroom. It isn't jetted, but is about the same size as a jetted tub. Personally, I would rather be in that tub, where I can fully attest to it's cleanliness, than a rental many other people have used. Plus it's close to the toilet, just in case

[durafemina]

I think I'd personally pick the blow-up pool over my own bath (no matter how nice it was) simply because the bottom of a bath is hard to sit/kneel on for a long time. Then again - you might personally find that laying a couple towels on the bottom, edge, etc does the trick for you. Maybe try it out (have a reaaaaaally long bath ) beforehand.

[threadbey]

I didn't rent a pool and had just a tiny standard bath. I used the shower, which was great while the hot water lasted. I've never seen this mentioned before in relation to tubs and labor at home, but my water broke at the very beginning of labor and I was gbs+. I'm not sure my midwives would have wanted me in a tub anyway because of that. I'm not sure I would have, either.

ETA: I've heard jetted tubs can harbor nasty stuff in the jets, so you might want to do a cleaning ahead of time and afterwards (I'm sure there are instructions online or with your tub - I think it involves running the jets with a bleach solution).

[moderngal]

I birthed in my tub. It's a big corner jetted one, too. It was perfect.

[mommy2two babes]

I didn't have one for my last HB. I actually accidentally gave birth in my regular sized bathtub. My Mw told me to get in to take the edge off the contractions because I was pushing with them before she thought I was ready. Apparently I was ready because he was crowning as soon as I got in. I wouldn't call it a water birth though because my MW decided to drain the tub as I was pushing: It was more like giving birth on my back on a ceramic floor.
This time I have a big soaker tub I would like to use.

[Logan]

I hated the pool last time, they take up a lot of room, are really hard to fill/empty and get warm enough and mine was awful to clean too. Im just using our tub this time. Its regular shape but deep, so should be fine. I wish I had a huge one like you though It only has to be able to submerge your whole belly to be sufficient.

[Baby_Cakes]

I didn't have a waterbirth for DD, but next time I will. I think your tub will suffice just fine!

[hikingmommy]

I had my homebirth 7 weeks ago. I had no desire for a pool. I really wanted a waterbirth last time (ended up w/ an intervention-filled hospital experience ending w/ a c-section.) This time I just knew it wasn't right. I tried getting in the tub once at my MW's suggestion and hated it. I felt totally out of control. I needed to be on land. I'm glad I didn't rent a tub; it would have been a waste of money!