"Hard" birth tub vs. inflatable?

[MariaSangria]

We just found out today that the birth tub our midwives use is a hard plastic Tupperware (or Rubbermaid?) "stock tank," rather than the inflatable tub I had envisioned.

Somehow the hard plastic tub sounds much less comfortable than an inflatable one, but I really have no idea. I've never sat in either kind, and I've never experienced labor and birth! My other concern was having DP be able to get in the tub with me ... it sounds like the hard tub is smaller than I had thought.

If we want the inflatable tub we'll have to buy it ourselves.

Any pros or cons of either type?

[OTMomma]

I would ask your midwife if the tub will be big enough for your dh to get in with you- my dh got in with me for our son's birth- and I really liked that. If that isn't an issue- I don't think the type of tub makes that much difference, I've used 2 different types of tubs with my last 2 births, one inflatable one not, I don't think that mattered much to me during the birth. The water itself was what helped. With my son's birth I loved the water, with my dd2's birth, it wasn't as helpful and I ended up birthing in air, but the tub features mattered little to me while in labor.

Have a blessed birth!

[gabeyho]

With my second my midwife also had one of the stock tanks. I found it to be tolerable, but not as comfortable as an inflatable. Keep in mind there are no handles to hold onto for different positions, nothing soft to lean and push against, and it wasn't as deep and buyant as an inflatable can be. I wish it would have been deeper. Also, the water seemed to lose it's heat fairly quickly, compared to the inflatables which everyone seems to agree stays hot for quite some time. I don't know which one your mw has, but the one mine had didn't really have room for my dh, except for him to sit on the side of it, if that is important to you. Hope that helps!

[Maggi315]

I personally used the big aquadoula, which is a hard tub, and I loved it, it was much bigger than my inflatable la bassine. If you think it's going to be too hard, buy some cheapie inflatable pillows, extra towels to roll up, stuff like that....

[pampered_mom]

I've only ever had one waterbirth - it was with my dd and it was in a stock tank. I *loved* it. It was quite deep - actually the first time I've ever sat in anything where the water came up higher than my mid-chest (and it's not like I'm all that tall at 5'7"). I would think it was very possible that dh could have sat in there with me, but tbh I wasn't the least bit interested in that.

My mw suggested placing things like a blanket or a cushion in the bottom of the stock tank first, followed by the light color sheet and then the plastic sheeting. I found it quite comfortable (we just had a blanket). We must have had the water quite hot b/c dh filled it up around 6 or 7am and when I got into it around 10am it was still blasted hot. Almost too hot really (dh had to add in cold water).

When it came time to push I chose to sit on my knees and lean against the side of the tub. I found the hard side very reassuring.

I'm actually a little bit apprehensive because my mw has since switched to a LaBassine. I'm not really very sure about the infatable aspect and part of me wishes she still used the stock tanks.

[Veritaserum]

I've used an AquaDoula (hard sides) and inflatables. I prefer inflatables because I love kneeling and leaning on the side of the tub. This was impossible to do comfortably with the hard sides on the AquaDoula. : Also, the AquaDoula was too big. I had to have dh get in with me in order to feel grounded. I've used inflatables with three water births and the AquaDoula with one. All four home births were in homes with deep jetted tubs, but I didn't want to use them because they were hard.

[gillibean]

I've used both the stock tub and the la bassine tub. I found them both fine. One thing we did with teh stock tub is put foam in the bottom of it and line it with a plastic sheet. The foam made it nice and cushiony on the bottom. The stock tank also had these indent-type things on the bottom middle. I found them to be really good to put my feet on while pushing.

From what I can remember the hard tub was just as big as the inflatable one.

[xelakann]

We have a hard sided tub that our midwives have loaned us. I haven't used it birth (I'm due in the next week or so). We pimped it out with foam and pillows... then placed a sheet over it... the sealed it up with duct tape and thick plastic.

I was have birth tub envy when one of my friend bought an inflatable tub, but after the many reviews of this type of tub (3 friends have given birth in the exact same tub--same midwives) I'm excited for the tub.

http://novmamas.com/forum/download/file.php?id=89

[flower01]

Our DD was born in our bathtub! Definitely hard, but i didn't notice...the water was so soothing. My midwife said that a majority of her clients birth in their own bathtub. Not necessarily planned, but they just end up there because it's so comfortable.

[NYCCanuck]

What was the size of your inflatable pool? Mine just arrived and I'm worried its too small (60" x 22" it says on the box) but I really like the idea of something soft. I read somewhere you need to be immersed in at least 20" of water for any real relief.
Thanks!

[melamama]

I had 3 births in aquadoulas, and 1 in an inflatable (BPIAB). I ordered the BPIAB because my mw only lends out those big black stock tanks. I really liked the inflatable. It was much more comfortable than the aquadoula--in terms of leaning on the sides, as well as having sturdy handles in the sides.
Also the inflatable had an inflatable floor that was really nice on my knees.

[LiLStar]

my midwives have the rubbermaids and it worked great! I ended up getting out for most of pushing, but it was nice for labor. I put a couple body pillows at the bottom under the liner and duct taped another to the edge to lean on. The weight of the water compressed the pillows down super tight so it really felt more like super dense foam. It was the perfect combination of soft and firm at the bottom.

[Mamatoabunch]

I have had 8 waterbirths. First in inflatable, next in hard tub. Hated the hardness of the tub. I much preferred the inflable, so the rest were born in intex inflables. I also prefer the smaller size 60x22.

[dannic]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

I prefer inflatables because I love kneeling and leaning on the side of the tub.

Yup. Loved my inflatable!!!

[Peony]

I've done the hard sided and inflatable, HATED the hard sided tubs. The inflatable was so much better on the knees, and the side when I wanted to lay on my sides, and especially when pushing. Pushing in a hard sided tub was so uncomfortable.

[sora]

Hi,

Isn't the PVC inflated tub toxic? I would love to do a water birth but I'm worried that it is not safe to soak in PVC birthing pool. My midwife has a "Made in Water" pool. It is made of very strong PVC.

[Tizzy]

Rubbermaid tubs are made from Structural Foam, not PVC.

[crunchy_mama]

I have loved using inflatable tubs/pools- used a 60x22 both times. It is so nice to be able to lean on the side and be able to get on hands and knees and it not hurt your knees.