La Bassine Birthing Pools, Awesome or Rip Off?

[eternamariposa]

So you wise ladies out there, I was wondering if anyone has used a La Bassine Birthing pool and/or the fishy pool that seems pretty common and how you think they compare since there is a substantial price difference. I found the La Bassine pool at http://www.yourwaterbirth.com/la-bas...liner-p-4.html. They look really comfortable, well insulated, and like dh would totally fit in with me, but this is our first homebirth and I don't have a lot of basis of comparison to go on as far as value is concerned. Any thoughts?

[wbg]

I used la bassine and LOVED it! It was my only water birth so I am sorry I can not give you a more objective view! But I would defs use one again. I rented it from my MW.

[eternamariposa]

Good to know! They look so perfect to me, but I feel like I should check out my options to make sure first. I am not so much worried about whether or not something else would work as much as wanting to make sure that what I would spend on the La Bassine one would be worth it.

[Collinsky]

I can't say if you would like it or not, of course! I've used mine for my last two births and I love it. I got it at a bit of a savings - from an online friend who had purchased it for her homebirth, but then her birth plans changed to hospital and she didn't need it anymore. She sold it to me NIP for about $20 less than the regular price.

As I said, I love it and plan to use it for my upcoming birth as well. It is definitely roomy enough; the bottom is cushy, and the sides are supportive for leaning and when climbing in and out. I also really like that because of the oval shape, it doesn't take as many gallons of water to fill as a comparably sized fishy pool. I never used the handles that are inside, but I assume that some women find them useful. I'm not one to change position a lot in labor; a woman who likes to really move around may find them invaluable when changing position.

The drawback to the La Bassine (besides the much higher price) is the same as for any standard inflatable pool -- keeping the water warm. I don't feel that was much of a problem at all, but another person may find it inconvenient, I suppose. All we did was if I felt that the water was starting to be less warm, Dh would top it off with hot water and it would be perfect again. (A floating thermometer can also be helpful, and your partner or birth attendant can just keep track of the temp and add hot water as needed to keep it in the right temp zone for comfort and safety.) In my pre-waterbirth research, I was told that there are ways to have a heater in the water to regulate the temp, but it's not an issue for me so I don't bother.

That said, I've heard of many, many women who have bought the fishy pools and had wonderful waterbirths with no complaints. The only complaint I've ever heard, actually, is that during labor, one woman found the colorful fishy pattern on the sides of her birthing pool to be distracting and annoying -- not really a huge dealbreaker.

I think that my point is that IMO, the tub you get isn't going to make or break your birth experience. A waterbirth is awesome, no matter what the tub, as long as it has the correct depth.

[Collinsky]

Originally Posted by eternamariposa

Good to know! They look so perfect to me, but I feel like I should check out my options to make sure first. I am not so much worried about whether or not something else would work as much as wanting to make sure that what I would spend on the La Bassine one would be worth it.

Ah --If purchasing it isn't a huge financial hardship on your family, I don't think you will regret it at all!! Mine was well worth every penny, and I'd have paid full price for it in a heartbeat.

[wbg]

Originally Posted by eternamariposa

Good to know! They look so perfect to me, but I feel like I should check out my options to make sure first. I am not so much worried about whether or not something else would work as much as wanting to make sure that what I would spend on the La Bassine one would be worth it.

I loved the space and the comfort factor. My big kids loved it. It was a hit!

[nashvillemidwife]

I love La Bassine. I had to order my first one from the U.K. before anyone sold them in the U.S. I think I've bought a total of 6 over the years. I've attended water births in just about every kind of tub you can imagine and these are my favorite.

[eternamariposa]

So far, La Bassine is doing pretty well. Thanks for the tip about the thermometer in the pool. I expected to have to be topping off every so often, but with a thermometer there dh and my midwife can monitor that for me without me having to say much. I remember being very inside myself when I was laboring with my first baby, so I don't know if I would want to deal with having to keep telling someone if I wanted it warmed up. Great suggestion and replies!

[Belle]

I used La Bassine. It worked out great. I am a taller mama (5'11") and it was plenty deep enough for me. It was easy for my dh to set up and with a cover on it kept the temp really well. We had a false alarm the night before Dd2 was born and we had filled it up and put the cover on it. In the early am the water was still warm to the touch and only needed a couple teakettles full of water to bring it back up to a comfortable temperature for me.

[savvybabygrace]

I also used it for my home waterbirth this past June - we used a fill/drain pump that attached to the hose and faucet that drained it and filled it again with hot water - worked PERFECTLY. I really loved this pool!!!

I'm actually looking to get rid of my pool, un-used liners, hose and pump - PM if you'd be interested.

[Peace+Hope]

just wanted to say that my midwives have some kind of an exchange system for pumping out cold and pumping in hot water to keep the tub at a good temperature.

she said she could bring all of that stuff to use w/ the la bassine i got cheap from someone who wasn't able to use it (still in the box).

[mrscompgeek]

I just used a La Bassine to labor in for my daughters birth 2 weeks ago. I didnt birth in it, had to get out to push cause babys heartrate kept dropping. But its a great pool! I loved it. Plenty deep, but Im only 5'3 but we only filled it about 1/2 way so Im sure a taller mom could fill it more and be fine. I didnt use the handles either but then again I didnt push in the pool.

[UmmAbduRahman]

La Bassine: Buy or rent?

I've been considering the Fishy Pool vs. La Bassine question myself while parousing the net today and I think I've settled on La Bassine.

My question now is: should I buy one or rent it from my midwife? I don't know how much she charges for it and of course I'd have to get a liner but I was thinking about using a liner with it if I got it anyway, just to be easier to clean.

This is my third baby but we don't know how many more God has in store for us so if I buy I'd likely use it again.

What do you think?

[wbg]

Originally Posted by UmmAbduRahman

I've been considering the Fishy Pool vs. La Bassine question myself while parousing the net today and I think I've settled on La Bassine.

My question now is: should I buy one or rent it from my midwife? I don't know how much she charges for it and of course I'd have to get a liner but I was thinking about using a liner with it if I got it anyway, just to be easier to clean.

This is my third baby but we don't know how many more God has in store for us so if I buy I'd likely use it again.

What do you think?

Depends on the finances I guess. And personal circumstance. For me it was not only out of my budget, but we move a lot so I try not to accrue too much stuff, which coincidently helps with the budget!

If there are more babies in your future and you can afford it, I would invest in it! It seems more personal without the need for liners etc. Although I understand about the cleaning. My liner leaked big time, so we had to clean ours out super well as it was a rental from our MW. And by we, I mean poor DH!! But it really was not bad at all. And I am not one of those lovely gracious birthing ladies that I envy in videos, who pop out their baby with a delicate push and three specs of vernix ! I am a noisy girl who delivers beautiful babies surrounded by all the yucky birth junk that comes with it!!

[Tattooed Hand]

What kind of stuff should we get with it? One hose or two? How do we empty it? I feel so clueless.

[RPS67]

I've done a bit of checking and it seems like the La Bassine is really popular. I'm torn about what to do though -- I can either buy one or I can borrow one from my midwife. The problem is that if other moms borrow before me, there may not be one for me to use, and I wouldn't know until it's too late to order one (I think).

This is our last child, so I will not be using the tub again. Is it possible to use it and then sell it?

[paxye]

DS#3 was born in the La Bassine and I loved it! It was the perfect size, perfect depth, kept the water warm and was easy on my small water heater....
Since he was born I have lent it out twice to friends and two other babies have been born in it, and I will be using it again in Jan for my next UC.

Originally Posted by Tattooed Hand

What kind of stuff should we get with it? One hose or two? How do we empty it? I feel so clueless.

I bought this to fill and empty it. It is made for aquariums so it has a food grade/no leech hose and it worked perfectly.

http://www.amazon.com/Python-No-Spil.../dp/B000255NXC

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by RPS67

I've done a bit of checking and it seems like the La Bassine is really popular. I'm torn about what to do though -- I can either buy one or I can borrow one from my midwife. The problem is that if other moms borrow before me, there may not be one for me to use, and I wouldn't know until it's too late to order one (I think).

This is our last child, so I will not be using the tub again. Is it possible to use it and then sell it?

I might buy it from you, depending on when you're due...........

[RPS67]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

I might buy it from you, depending on when you're due...........

Hey, that would be awesome! I'm due the end of January.

Is there a chance you're in PA?

Ed: Sorry, I had to go check out your other posts to see if I could tell if you are or not. My family is actually in Lebanon County!

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by RPS67

Hey, that would be awesome! I'm due the end of January.

Is there a chance you're in PA?

Ed: Sorry, I had to go check out your other posts to see if I could tell if you are or not. My family is actually in Lebanon County!

How cool is that? I'm just south of Lancaster city. PM me after your birth - I'm not due until April.