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Aquaborn Eco Birth Pool?

post #1 of 33
8/14/09 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 
I am still going back and forth between the new Aquaborn Eco Birth Pool
at

http://www.waterbirthsolutionsstore....&categoryId=11

or the Birth Pool in a Box. I can't find any photos of the Aquaborn in use or even with the perspective of a person in/near it. Only the stock photos. Has anyone here used one? Has anyone come across better info on them with photos or other resources for getting an idea of what they are like?

Thanks all!
Sarah

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post #2 of 33
8/19/09 at 11:05pm
Thread Starter 
aquaborn anyone??!!
bumping it along...

post #3 of 33
8/20/09 at 1:37am
Well, I'm guessing you can't find any photos of it in use because it's a brand new product. It has to be, bc I did ALL the research one could possibly do right before I gave birth four months ago, and I've never heard of this one.

I just read it and it looks truly awesome. At the time of my birth, I wanted the deepest one I could find, which was Birth Pool in a Box. It was great... But this one is even two inches deeper, and it has a lid to keep the heat in when not in use. Pretty cool

It doesn't appear to have a seat, which was nice to have in the BPIAB, though I hardly used it. The only thing is that it's a bit difficult to get out of the BPIAB because of the height and being 9 mos pregnant and all. I didn't mind because I liked the depth, but it would be even harder with this one, so that's something to think about. Let us know what you decide, and how it goes!
post #4 of 33
8/21/09 at 10:31pm
Thread Starter 
thanks flipsforfun!

the company is supposed to email me some photos of it in use, or at least in relation to a person. the support beams of the bpiab seem maybe sturdier but who knows. so hard to tell.

i will make sure to post photos or at least give the lowdown if we decide to go with the aquaborn!
post #5 of 33
8/21/09 at 11:05pm
I found this thread on it a little while back http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1108881
post #6 of 33
8/28/09 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 
so i finally decided to go with the aquaborn. the company emailed me some photos of the pool in use (ok...the lady is clearly not in labor but it works for proportions!) and i am happy to send them along to anyone who is interested. pm me with your email and i will pass them along.

all in all, it turns out it is only a few inches shy of the internal dimensions of the bpiab but is a bit deeper. also...the vinyl is a bit thicker so i feel like even though they say it is only for one use...i will be able to get more uses out of it. (maybe as a loaner for my doula clients or maybe just as a fun extra special once in a while wintertime family spa in the living room!!)

hopefully after baby is born i will get a chance to come back and write a review since there is so little info out there on these yet!

xo
Sarah
post #7 of 33
8/29/09 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaRue View Post
also...the vinyl is a bit thicker so i feel like even though they say it is only for one use...i will be able to get more uses out of it.
They really say it's only for one use? Is this to cover their butt due to health reasons? or are they saying that they have only designed it for once use (i.e. quality of the materials)? Do you know if BPIAB says the same thing?

One more question, does anyone know the internal height of the Aquaborn? All the dimensions I've found appear to be the exterior dimensions. The BPIAB and La Bassine say 26" internally and I read you can fill to within 3" of the rim (at least with BPIAB) so 23" of water depth.
post #8 of 33
8/29/09 at 11:53am
wow, that looks great, but 170 gallons??? the la bassine is 100. my water tank is 60 - i don't think we could get or keep that tub hot enough, but i sure do like the lid and other features.
post #9 of 33
8/29/09 at 1:53pm
We often get the BPIAB filled with one hot water tank. Here is how we do it. We have the client turn up the hot water heater as high as it will go at the beginning of labor. Then we put a small amount of cold water in the bottom of the tub and fill it until the tank runs out. Then cover the pool. It will usually be full to the top of the bottom ring at that point. We do this as soon as the contractions are regular. Even if the water cools to room temp, which takes about 8 hours or so, you are mixing the new hot water with 70 degree water instead of 50 degree water. But most of the time we are actually cooling off the water with the second filling.

When mom is ready to get in , we add more hot or cool water as necessary. Typically, we don't run out of hot water, but if we do, we just add boiling water from the stove. Once mom gets in, we are adding such small amounts of water to maintain the temp that it is easy to work with the tank's capacity.
post #10 of 33
8/29/09 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
for dimensions and details...check out this link...

http://www.ecobirthpools.co.uk/design.html

i think the "one use only" is for warranty and hygenic purposes. and yes...the bpiab (and other inflatables) all say the same thing. but if you are careful with it and use a liner for subsequent uses...i am sure you can get more than one use out of it. i have talked to doulas and midwives who have the birth pool in a box "personal" (vs professional) and they can get up to 20 uses out of it before it starts to show signs of wear. and the bpiab is a thinner vinyl. so i bet the aquaborn can be reused just fine.

as far as filling...you just have to give yourself time to let the hot water build up a few times. but it is true that a pot of boiling water on the stove can go a long way as far as bringing up the temp. i plan to have a water pump to pump water out afterwards, so what we will do is have it all hooked up so if we need to empty some cooler water to make room for warmer...it will be all ready. not quite as easy as the ones with the built in heaters (like the aquadoula)...but a lot cheaper and hopefully a lot more comfy.

mine shipped today and i am sure i won't be able to resist doing a trial run i'll let you know how it goes
post #11 of 33
8/29/09 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Defenestrator View Post
We often get the BPIAB filled with one hot water tank. Here is how we do it. We have the client turn up the hot water heater as high as it will go at the beginning of labor. Then we put a small amount of cold water in the bottom of the tub and fill it until the tank runs out. Then cover the pool. It will usually be full to the top of the bottom ring at that point. We do this as soon as the contractions are regular. Even if the water cools to room temp, which takes about 8 hours or so, you are mixing the new hot water with 70 degree water instead of 50 degree water. But most of the time we are actually cooling off the water with the second filling.

When mom is ready to get in , we add more hot or cool water as necessary. Typically, we don't run out of hot water, but if we do, we just add boiling water from the stove. Once mom gets in, we are adding such small amounts of water to maintain the temp that it is easy to work with the tank's capacity.
is the BPIAB 170 gallons? i was talking about the tub that is the subject of this thread - the aquaborn. whatever the tub though, those are great suggestions, and i'm going to copy your post into my home birth document i have going thanks!
post #12 of 33
8/31/09 at 10:47am
Thread Starter 
i think the reference is to the bpiab because it is the same gallons as the aquaborn (within a few gallons anyway) and the bpiab is similar with a whole lot more experience since it has been around longer
post #13 of 33
8/31/09 at 5:57pm
Hey Mama! I've been following your threads carefully as I tried to make the exact same decision (BPIAB vs. Aquaborn). I just wanted to let you know I picked the Aquaborn too! I'm due in early November and I'll for sure let everyone know what I think. My mw is really excited to see it in action.

I sure hope we made the right choice!!!
post #14 of 33
9/1/09 at 5:49pm
Thread Starter 
vegasgrl...

that is so funny that you were trying to make the same decision! i also hope we chose well...it is a bit of a gamble since it is new...but the features seem great. are you going to use a liner? i think i am going to skip it (they say you don't need one) but wonder how clean-up will go... but i suppose i won't have to do that part so I should stop worrying about it!!! :-)
post #15 of 33
9/1/09 at 9:35pm
I think I'm going to use the liner; my plan is to put the tub out back next summer for my LO and I don't want to even have to think about the yuck factor. It just seems easier to use the liner. But if I hate the liner, I have no qualms about tossing it!
post #16 of 33
9/2/09 at 1:17am

Aquaborn Eco Birth Pool

My husband and I are owner/operators of Waterbirth Solutions, Inc. We started this business in April but I wanted to share my experience on this thread. Three yrs ago we rented a Gentle Birth Pool (GBP) with a heater and I labored in it for 6 hrs before delivering my daughter squatting on the floor. I had planned on delivering in the water, but labor is a flexible time!

In July, we used the new Aquaborn Eco Birth Pool for the birth of our second baby and it was night and day in comparison of comfort. I was thrilled to have used the GBP before but the Aquaborn floor and walls were much softer. As with most second babies, things moved along more quickly and I delivered in the water after less than two hours. I did not use a liner. My midwives used our drain pump to empty the pool and they had it sanitized and drying within 15 minutes of draining.

My husband had to control the water temp during both births. The GBP waterbed heaters help some, but he was still adding hot water off the stove. He used the same method to increase the temp in the Aquaborn from a comfy 95 (I was hot!) to 99 right before our son entered the world.

As far as toughness, I am not a small woman and I squeezed the walls and hung on every handle with all my might. My midwives were impressed with how sturdy the pool was and the 27" interior depth is wonderful.

The guarantee of "a single use" for all Personal inflatable birth pools is not an indication of quality or sturdiness. I have midwives report regularly that they were able to use a Personal pool for 20 births. The heavier material of a Hospital Grade/Professional pool is guaranteed for "20 uses" and likewise I've heard of midwives getting 40 uses out of the pool.

Regardless of what pool you choose, ensure you have at least 21" of water depth and if possible, choose a sturdy pool, designed for waterbirth.

Our son is 6 wks old now and I will post some "action" photos on our website soon.

Beautiful Birthing - Marla
post #17 of 33
9/4/09 at 10:25am
Thread Starter 
Thanks Marla!

I can't wait till mine gets here! I will be happy to provide you with more action photos once my little one arrives (and assuming we get some decent photos!)

Be well!
Sarah
post #18 of 33
12/8/09 at 7:47pm

Choosing a Pool

I personally love the BPIAB over the Aquaborn Eco Birth Pool. The BPIAB does come in two sizes, the regular size and the mini size and are sold with a liner. (the Aquaborn does not come with a liner). I love the seat in the BPIAB and the handles. The liners are snug and fit perfectly.

Personally, I could not imagine not using a liner in a pool I am giving birth in! EWWWW! I read the Aquaborn website where they say they don't sell them with the liners because most people only use them once. But they don't really explain how to empty and clean the pool if you want to use it more than once, resell it on Ebay or possibly rent it out to someone else to help offset the cost of the pool for your own use.

Cost is another issue, you can now buy the full size eco personal BPIAB with a liner for only $150.00 (plus shipping and handling) here: http://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=4527 . If you have an space issue, and want to buy the mini you can buy it for $170.00 at this store: http://www.yourwaterbirth.com/birth-...ner-p-457.html .

Good luck!!!
post #19 of 33
12/14/09 at 7:21am
Hi There,

I have both pools - I bought the Aquaborn first because of the price and when it arrived the first thing that struck me was the smell! you know the smell of new print ink kind of like the marker pens, Yuck.

It is also Lime green like the socks I used to wear in the 80's.

We blew it up and left it overnight to see if the smell would go. It didn't!

I have been particularly sensitive to smells during my pregnancy so I could just be a little weired but I couldn't stand it.

My midwife told me I should have gone for the pool in a box as it is more restful in colour and dosn't smell - we have now done this and although hubby is not pleased with paying for both pools he does prefer the Birth pool in a box.

That's my comparison and feedback for the aquaborn pool verses the bith pool in a box

Mum 2 nearly 3
post #20 of 33
12/14/09 at 8:22am
My midwife has both the BPIAB and the Aquaborn - but because of my height, we have the Aquaborn here at the house right now. It has been used (with a liner) for two other births in the last several weeks and does not have a smell at all. My midwife did say that when she filled it the second time, it was much better because they aired it up mostly before they put the liner on and it fit much better.

I am hoping to put it to good use this week.
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