Laboring in a hot tub?

[bjorker]

I'm thinking way ahead here, since I'm not even pregnant (yet). I can't figure out if I would like a waterbirth or laboring in a tub/pool, or not. A big part of me is soothed by water, but I also have issues with water and wetness, to make a long story short. So I'm not really sold on taking much time and effort to set up a pool to labor and/or birth in, when it may be completely pointless.

Anyway, we have a hot tub on our back deck that *I* never use (though DP enjoys it, and it does stay on, full, and maintenanced). I am wondering if it's practical to labor in one, with the temp turned down around body temperature. DP uses bromine in it, though I'm assuming it would need to be drained and scrubbed, and filled back up with no bromine while I'm in labor. Has anyone ever done this? Is there any reason not to? My google skills aren't finding much, other than it should be turned down around body temperature. I'd probably even like it cooler than that.

We rent the house, this hot tub is not new to us, and I have a hard time imagining all traces of bromine could be scrubbed out of the tub. I don't know how concerning those points might be.

Would it be too far of a stretch to birth in it as well? I don't even know that I'd want to, but... that's just it. I don't know!

[Mama_2_Boy]

You can labor and birth in the tub. As you mentioned, the temp would have to be adjusted to be close to body and chemical free. I can not see any reason why you wouldn't be able to get all the bromine out once it's drained and well cleaned. You can get a cleaning service in to do that as well.

[XanaduMama]

I would definitely go for it.

As for the temp, though: it has to be close to body temp not only for the pain-relieving effects, but also for baby's safety. Change in temp at birth is what stimulates the first breath, so you don't want the water to be so cool that baby takes a breath underwater. Any experienced MW would know about all this, though.

[Youngfrankenstein]

A midwife we interviewed said one of her clients labored and delivered in a hot tub. I asked about the chlorine and she said it was no big deal. The baby gets picked up out of the water right away anyway so there wasn't much exposure.

[bjorker]

Thanks!!! That's interesting. I think bromine is supposed to be "better" than chlorine but I still think I would be much more comfortable with nothing in the water, and just filling it up when labor starts so the water isn't yucky.

I figured a MW would be able to tell me more, but I apparently can't wait until I'm pregnant and actually have a MW to make these plans in my head.

[marie1080]

Originally Posted by Youngfrankenstein

A midwife we interviewed said one of her clients labored and delivered in a hot tub. I asked about the chlorine and she said it was no big deal. The baby gets picked up out of the water right away anyway so there wasn't much exposure.

Our MW said the same thing. I won't actually be delivering in the hottub though since November in my area is too cold

Plus, if you have city water there is chlorine in it anyway...