What room do you set up your tub and why?

[JorgieGirl]

For our first homebirth we lived in a different house. We set up our BPIAB in the living room, surrounded by couches and armchairs, right by the patio doors. It was great, since the light just streamed through and draining right out into the backyard was awesome.

At this house our patio doors (which I am now drawn to with my visions of birthing) are in the eat-in part of our kitchen. It's quite a large space, tiled and obviously being near the kitchen is convenient. There's just no couches or anywhere relaxing for me to get out onto immediately after exiting the tub (whenever that may be). So, I'm still thinking things over.

Where do you put your tub and why? Has it been different for different births?

[nummies]

It will go in the living room. Much more space in there with a couch, chair, and lots of room to move around. Plus, I want to look at the Christmas tree and fireplace while I am birthing.

[rachel65655]

We have a large open floor plan. The kitchen/dining/living room is only separated by an island. There is an 8 ft area between the outside wall and the kitchen island. The living room with all the furniture is easily accessible from the kitchen/dining. All the bedrooms/bathroom also come directly off this main room.

We have an old fashioned cookstove in the kitchen that will be going. We are going to move the dining room table against a far wall and have the "supplies" on it. The island will be cleared of everything so that food and snacks can be sitting out and waiting. I want to set up the tub near the cookstove so that it will help to keep me and the water warm but not too close that it's too hot. People will also need to be able to move around it comfortably.

That is my ideal situation anyway...we'll see what happens.

[Belle]

We gave birth in a small apartment. We set up the tub where the dining room table normally sits. The dining room table we moved over in front of the TV so the midwives could set their stuff on it. Its not like anybody was going to be watching tv during labor anyway.

[bethanyclaire]

We are currently living in a small ranch style house built in the 50's... so we don't have a lot of space. The Christmas tree takes up most of the living room, so no room there. I don't want it in the bedroom. It is too far from either of the 2 sinks and there is no convenient drainage. I also want to be able to escape to my bed afterwards and don't want to listen to/watch someone drain the pool because I know I'll feel guilty and feel like I should help. Sooo... the pool will be in the kitchen. We have an eat-in kitchen so I'll probably just move the table and chairs to the entryway in the living room and set it up where they usually go.

When I was laboring with my DD we lived in a HUGE farmhouse. We set up the pool in the living room because it was the room I wanted to be in and also had access to a patio door for easy draining. It was a long way from the sink, though, and filling was inconvenient. The super long hose really affected the water pressure. The pool ended up not being even 1/4 of the way full before I had to leave for the hospital (planned hospital birth).

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I plan on setting mine up in the master bedroom because there's a big open space to do so. We had a hospital birth with DD1, but I did most my laboring in our room and felt most comfortable there. I imagine it will be the same this time around. I also liked our room because the curtains keep it nice and dark, which was really relaxing for me.

[Peony]

With DD2's birth, I had set up the birth tub in the playroom because it was the only room other then master bedroom that it could fit in. It didn't work out that well. We only had one other child then and she spent most of the labor in the kitchen coloring but I regretted not having doors where I could escape. I ended up hiding out in the bedroom and then just coming out when the pain was untolerable without water.


FOr DS's birth I put the tub in the master bedroom, it worked out so well. I did not want to be laboring with 2 children tearing through the house, fighting, etc... right by me. DH filled up my tub and then I was left alone in peace, with children peeking in every now and then but I wasn't the focal point of the entire house like I felt last birth. We ended up draining the tub out of the window onto the roof because there wasn't any other way to do it. I didn't hang out in the bedroom after he was born. I got out of the tub and squatted to birth the placenta, sat on the bed to nurse, then I really wanted a shower so I handed baby off, took a shower, and then went downstairs to find food. I'm not really one to climb in bed after birth, although I did come up about an hour later to nap with the toddler and baby.

[ShwarmaQueen]

As close to the bed and shower as possible.

[JennTheMomma]

We'll be setting it up in the dinning room. I'll have all the supplies and snacks on the table which is also in the dinning room. Our floors aren't carpet here so it'll be easier for cleanup. I will be scooting the couch closer to the dinning room entrance as well as a rocking chair. There is also a huge bay window in our dinning room for good lighting (if its not at night).

[pampered_mom]

With dd we set it up in the kitchen and I plan on doing that this time around as well. It's close to the sink so it makes filling the birth tub really easy. Plus, with the patio door in the kitchen/dining room it makes emptying the tub really easy as well.

After having it in the kitchen the first time, tbh, I can't imagine the tub anywhere else. I love my kitchen and have some really nice memories of the way the sunlight came into the room when dd was born.

[mamakaryn08]

We just bought a house that we'll be moving into and renovating in the next few weeks. The tub is going to go in the bedroom, between the bed and the bathroom. It's the biggest room in the house, and it's close to everything I need, except the kitchen, but I will have lots of help to run back and forth to the kitchen.

[celestialdreamer]

We are putting ours in our bedroom. That way I have easy access to the bed, master bathroom and privacy.

[leavemealone]

I had mine set up in a corner of the master bedroom. I birthed in Dec and it's the warmest room in the house. The downstairs is cold even with the heat cranked up. I also had two other kids and I wanted to be able to be alone in labor. It worked out perfectly b/c I labored overnight and was able to shut the door and not disturb the kids. I birthed fairly early in the day (a little past 8:30 am) and a neighbor was able to come over and watch the kids downstairs, get them something to eat, etc. My nine year old did not want to be around the birth and my then two year old is sensitive and doesn't like seeing people in pain so it's best he wasn't around. After the birth, the midwife's apprentice and my doula took down the tub and we moved a queen sized bed into room for me to sleep in with the baby, in addition to the king sized bed that was already in the room.

[ACsMom]

If I end up having one, the living room is really the only place. Our bedroom is too cold in january (two exterior-facing walls, three windows, vaulted ceiling) otherwise I would rather have it there for convenience!

[chi_mama]

I set up in the living room b/c ds1 was asleep. If I'd labored/birthed during the day I was going to set up in the bedroom for extra privacy if needed.

[smeisnotapirate]

Any of you dealing with only one bathroom? I'm seeing a lot of "living room" posts, and I'm totally digging that idea, but our only bathroom is on the 2nd floor - a staircase away from the living room.

[gabeyho]

Originally Posted by ACsMom

If I end up having one, the living room is really the only place. Our bedroom is too cold in january (two exterior-facing walls, three windows, vaulted ceiling) otherwise I would rather have it there for convenience!

That's a thought....my room is much the same, and is what I was planning on for privacy and convenience with the patio doors right there, BUT this is our first winter in this house and I am not sure how the temp will be in my room. Right now I am just HOT not matter what! But of course, that all changes once in labor and directly after delivery.

[JorgieGirl]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

Any of you dealing with only one bathroom? I'm seeing a lot of "living room" posts, and I'm totally digging that idea, but our only bathroom is on the 2nd floor - a staircase away from the living room.

My first birth was in our home with one bathroom on the second floor. I didn't find it a problem at all. I would simply make a trek up the stairs if I had to use the bathroom. And once baby was born, I got comfy on the couch, then eventually went upstairs for a shower and into bed.

[NYMama27]

We are planning on putting ours in our DD's bedroom as it is the only private room in our very small apartment and is very close to the kitchen (convenient for filling). However, I am really nervous about the fact that it is so far from the bathroom in terms of emptying it into the toilet. I asked my husband to go out and buy a longer hose but he hasnt' done it yet and I am due today. I don't think I'll go anytime soon but seriously, I don't need this kind of anxiety right now.

[marie1080]

living room- the only place it would fit