Did you leave your birth pool inflated?

[Talula Fairie]

So, we inflated the birth pool last night. It still needs a little more air but it's lookin' good (as an aside, HOLY MOLY the La Bassine is way deeper than I thought it would be, which pleased me greatly). Anyhow, I am like paranoid my kids are going to mess with it, though I have taught them to stay away, or that one of my cats will jump on it, or or or or. I'm sure this is just paranoia and the thing is really thick vinyl.

However, if I deflate and store it, we could always re-inflate for the birth. It only took us maybe 45 minutes to inflate the thing with a manual pump. Then again, this is baby #3, and my last labor was only 6 hours...

What did you guys do? Leave it inflated from 37 weeks on?

[paxye]

I inflated it at about 38 weeks and left it inflated...

I did a few "test runs" during the time I was waiting...

We have a really small tub and I had bad SPD, so two times we filled it up and I was able to relax (in my living room, while eating Ice Cream and watching a movie) and take all the tension off my pelvis...

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by paxye

I inflated it at about 38 weeks and left it inflated...

I did a few "test runs" during the time I was waiting...

We have a really small tub and I had bad SPD, so two times we filled it up and I was able to relax (in my living room, while eating Ice Cream and watching a movie) and take all the tension off my pelvis...

I have bad SPD too. Oh man, that sounds like a heavenly idea. And I am totally putting my pool in my living room too, it's the only space that's large enough (our living room is ginormous but the bedrooms are fairly small).

[HappyMommaBear]

I'm almost 38 weeks, and I think we're going to leave it inflated. We didn't plan to, but when DH went to deflate it, he decided it was more of a hassle to get the air out than in, and he didn't want to mess with it!! so, I'm just watching it like a hawk to make sure DS doesn't do something terrible to it... lol

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by HappyMommaBear

I'm almost 38 weeks, and I think we're going to leave it inflated. We didn't plan to, but when DH went to deflate it, he decided it was more of a hassle to get the air out than in, and he didn't want to mess with it!! so, I'm just watching it like a hawk to make sure DS doesn't do something terrible to it... lol

I am doing the same thing! Just thinking about my $110 pool (plus accessories and shipping) getting destroyed makes me kri.

[Gray's Mommy]

We'll inflate around 37 weeks & then put it in the baby's room.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by Gray's Mommy

We'll inflate around 37 weeks & then put it in the baby's room.

Yeah, I don't have such a room. I have a room for my two kids and our bedroom. We'll probably move in a year or two when this babe needs her own room.

[Thandiwe]

I inflated and then stored it in the stairwell to the basement. Perhaps you could 1/2 deflate and store it so it's not as big but also partially filled?? I liked not having to worry about inflating, esp since my birth was really, really fast. We might not have had a water birth if it wasn't pre-inflated.

[XanaduMama]

I inflated mine around 38 weeks and left it inflated in the basement.

[Talula Fairie]

Now I am worried it has already sprung a leak. We put it on it's side against a wall and it's SERIOUSLY lost half it's air on the sides. I hope it's just a valve isn't in right or something.

[Belle]

We had la bassine also. We inflated it at 37ish weeks when I started having prodromal labor. Dd2 was born at 38+3. For all that time we stood it on its side in the corner of the room so Dd1 and the cat wouldn't play with it.

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie

Now I am worried it has already sprung a leak. We put it on it's side against a wall and it's SERIOUSLY lost half it's air on the sides. I hope it's just a valve isn't in right or something.

We did discover a leak in the floor of the pool when it was sitting out. You can get a repair kit for inflatable rafts in a sporting goods store where they sell rafts. It works well for repairing the leak. To nail down exactly were the leak is, reinflate it and spray some windex around where you think the leak is, the windex will bubble where the leak is coming from.

[tellmemore]

I am 38 weeks today and also have the La Bassine (Made in Water) that I borrowed for FREE with a Coleman Quickpump. It inflates in under 4 min!! That huge boston valve (I think it's called) helps it go quickly, especially deflation. So, I did deflate mostly and it's with a bunch of stuff in the dining room that we have not unpacked. I washed it, used a touch of antibacterial dishsoap and water, a rag, then rinsed like mad with the hose but never did the filling, which is what I worry about timewise more. We only left it inflated one night, and it did lose a little air. It would take nothing to pump it a bit more before filling, even by hand. I'm wondering if the boston valve is the reason for the slight deflation, since a camping air mattress with one sorta does the same thing. Ever notice one that is brand new with no leak wakes you up in the morning feeling seasick from losing some air? Maybe just me.

No cats to worry about here. 2 dogs would be no problem. We are battling ants inside and out, and my DH doesn't think we need an exterminator yet. Thinking of just taking that step myself since I have seen them carrying larvae outdoors by the thousands, then some of that going on inside our very old house. Makes me not wanna leave my tub inflated, but maybe I should at this point. My 2 year old would want in and out and throw things in it. That's okay, but then I'd have to clean it again before filling. Easy methods on another thread I think. I heard about those antibacterial wipes being best, but if it's not rinsed I'm paranoid about that. We are not meant to live in such an antibacterial world. THAT grosses me out more than most germs.

Anyone who filled with water, how long did that take? I think my water heater is around 75 gal, gas. Oh, and if it leaks air from the inside where water is, won't that water get in the air chamber?

What is SPD? A pelvic thing? I have a million pelvic issues! Relief needed! And I know water is great for that. My MW encourages me to deliver in water due to varicose veins, or at least hands and knees. Which is how I delivered DS. Got out of water first, but a jet tub was dreamy.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by Belle

We had la bassine also. We inflated it at 37ish weeks when I started having prodromal labor. Dd2 was born at 38+3. For all that time we stood it on its side in the corner of the room so Dd1 and the cat wouldn't play with it. We did discover a leak in the floor of the pool when it was sitting out. You can get a repair kit for inflatable rafts in a sporting goods store where they sell rafts. It works well for repairing the leak. To nail down exactly were the leak is, reinflate it and spray some windex around where you think the leak is, the windex will bubble where the leak is coming from.

There is a massive leak right where the side meets the floor. I don't know that patching it will work (it did come with a patch kit) because you can't glue a patch to that area, it's not a flat surface.

And I come to find out, I was supposed to have blown up the pool within 48 hours of receiving it. I didn't know that! I didn't even open the box until just now so I couldn't have seen it printed on the receipt, and who looks at a website's replacement/return policy unless they are having a problem with what they ordered? GAH!!! If they don't replace this pool, I am out $160 and I have no birth pool, and I can't afford to buy another one.

[Mamatoabunch]

Always left mine inflated from 35 weeks. I set it up high, like on the cosleeper so it is less accessible.

[~Kristina~]

I kept mine inflated.

[Jilian]

Give them a call tomorrow and explain the situation, they should replace it for you free of charge since they sold you a defective pool. Good luck! I'm glad you found out now and not at the birth. If they refuse to replace it and you really need something try a fishy pool, they are fairly inexpensive.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by Jilian

Give them a call tomorrow and explain the situation, they should replace it for you free of charge since they sold you a defective pool. Good luck! I'm glad you found out now and not at the birth. If they refuse to replace it and you really need something try a fishy pool, they are fairly inexpensive.

Yeah. That is likely what I will do if they refuse to replace it. Well, first I will try to glue it somehow (since patching won't work) and then if not, it's fishy pool time. Except, from Amazon, and not yourwaterbirth.com.

[XanaduMama]

The fishy pool is awesome, btw. But hope the La Bassine folks come through for you.

[D'sMama]

My cat poked a hole in our Bassine. We found the hole but didn't want to deal with the patch kit, so we just taped over it with packing tape. : We topped off the air when I went into labor and it was fine. DH made sure to drain it not long after the birth, since it started getting soft again. The benefit of the three rings, though - no worries if you lose one, it'll still stand and hold the water, even if the level has to be a little lower.

If they don't replace it, you could always try some thick, strong packing tape and/or duct tape. A couple layers, cris-crossed, and fill it up again when you go into labor.

[Mamatoabunch]

We had a hole in our first birth pool, a huge kiddie pool. We just added air as needed. I am betting that won't work w/ yours though. I call them asap. Otherwise kiddie pool from Target would be a good option. So sorry mama.