Homebirth in a swimming pool? Would you?

[RiverSky]

Would it be completely awful to birth in your own inground heated and lightly chlorinated swimming pool that is about 10 feet from your kitchen? What would be the risks and cons of that? I've watched one waterbirth in person, in a jacuzzi tub, and the baby was barely in the water at all. The midwife quickly removed with a fish net any extra "junk" that got in the water and it wasn't long at all before mama got out and got dressed.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

[Vanessa Jean]

I don't know about the chlorine. But all I know is I would ask your mid wife. If she's comfortable with it, than go for it.

[sweet_tart_vt]

3 of my 6 have been waterbirths, but we've never used a swimming pool. I would be a tad concerned with cholrine and other chemicals in there (algae controllers, ph, shock etc...) possibly affecting the babe. I would check with your MF and see what she thinks.

Happy Birthing!
Blessed Be
~Shelby~

[RiverSky]

I'm not pregnant right now, just thinking about it, and would likely not have a midwife.

Perhaps I should have posted under UC?!?

[Maluhia]

I'd totally do it I'm all about the room.

[Jane]

Most pools aren't really warm enough. Ideal for birthing is supposed to be 97-101 F. Most pools are in the 80's. I've heard some say no harm has been done to babies in more comfy-for-mom-temps, like 90+, but I'd be concerned about stimulating the gasping reflex below 95 or so.
Personally, I wouldn't want to cycle that much water out or have to do the shock you do after poo in the pool. I'm lazy and cheap. I have a 3500 gallon pool and the amount of water I can go through trying to fix things is crazy.
But chlorine in the pool wouldn't be concerning to me. If it was concerning to you, you could add some dechlorinator (for ponds) to the water and then re-chlor afterwards.

[RiverSky]

Our pool is 15,000 gallons big. Yes, we generally heat it to 87 degrees, but I could keep it at 90 for a week or so if I was close to labor (like if I felt labor would be within a week or two). I also have an attached spa which I could heat up in 15-20 minutes to 99-100 degrees. So I could labor in the 89 degree water and hop into the hot water whenever I wanted. After I turn off the spa, then it flows as if it's part of the pool (it waterfalls into the pool when the spa heat is turned off)

To shock the pool after the birth, I would just pour in the appropriate amount of liquid chlorine (which is what we do weekly anyway) to kill anything left over. We do use algaecide occasionally (maybe monthly), rarely do we have to adjust PH, but we have chlorine stabilizer tablets constantly.

After birth, I could just leave the pool filter running for a couple of days, and keep everyone out for a few more, after a couple of chlorine shocks, I'd feel good about the pool being contaminant free and safe to swim in again.

With a smaller pool, it seems to be harder to maintain the proper balance (ph, chlorine levels, etc.) but we have our water tested weekly at the pool store and seem to do pretty well keeping it balanced.

Thank you so much for your perspective and the info, Apricot.

Maluhia!

Thanks Vanessa and Sweet Tart!

[frenchkissed]

You could probably do it-- sounds like you have an ideal set-up, really. You don't have to use all those chemicals in your pool. My parents have one and while they do use a bit of liquid chlorine (they pour 2 cups of bleach directly into their large pool each night), all they use apart from that is baking soda and... I think Borax? ...to keep it balanced. It's much less of a roller-coaster effect on the pH, and way cheaper, too. You can still take it to the store for testing to make sure it's clean but it really works and is healthier!

[mommyfied]

No, I wouldn't. I don't think it would be comfortable and I wouldn't want my baby in that water. I think it leaves behind a gross smell.

[Jane]

I think it sounds awesome! I'd make sure I had lots of towels and blankets on hand for the dry off but it sounds nice.

[RiverSky]

Originally Posted by mommyfied

No, I wouldn't. I don't think it would be comfortable and I wouldn't want my baby in that water. I think it leaves behind a gross smell.

Interesting points. Though I actually (oddly) like the smell of chlorine, yeah, I wouldn't want my newborn smelling of chlorine myself, but hopefully it would be very faint. Perhaps a quick warm rinse of tap water might remove it? I also wouldn't want my sweet newborn feeling itchy from pool water or anything. Do you think that might work?

I do think I'd be perfectly comfortable in the pool. I would have inflatable tubes to help me relax and float if I wanted, a bench and a set of steps to relax on, in theory, and other floaty type stuff (like noodles) to try to accommodate however I am feeling. I do think it might be annoying to move between pool and spa while in extreme labor, but I'd make sure
to have a doula (perhaps?) and my husband there with me, perhaps even a
friend or something, to help.

Hmmm....


The thing with using a smaller birth pool is that it just seems to shallow to me. I would want to be able to really be fully submerged, I think, with the help of a pool noodle or the pool wall or something, for when I'm out of it and focused on labor. These are just thoughts though, and I thank everyone for this wonderful input!!!

[hillymum]

Is it a walk in pool? If not then no I wouldn't. It's hard enough to walk normally when in full on labor, but to have to haul ones huge body out of the pool in between contractions, no thanks!

I would however like to spend a week or so in your pool! Got any pictures?

[RiverSky]

Originally Posted by frenchkissed

You could probably do it-- sounds like you have an ideal set-up, really. You don't have to use all those chemicals in your pool. My parents have one and while they do use a bit of liquid chlorine (they pour 2 cups of bleach directly into their large pool each night), all they use apart from that is baking soda and... I think Borax? ...to keep it balanced. It's much less of a roller-coaster effect on the pH, and way cheaper, too. You can still take it to the store for testing to make sure it's clean but it really works and is healthier!

Good ideas.

We use 1 1/2 gallons of liquid chlorine (pool stuff) once a week, and not often anything else. Baking soda is for lowering the PH, I believe, but our PH has never been low in 6 years of owning this house (and pool), though we've had to raise it a few times (with a bit of diluted muriatic acid, sounds yucky, I know). We live in Florida and with extreme amounts of rain (and dead no-see-ums from the rain) in the summer, it can wreak a big of havoc on the balance of the pool, hence the acid and the occasional algaecide. They recommend algaecide weekly, day after the shock, but we do it less often. We have tried to go without entirely, but those times our pool has gone green or yellow afterward, or we've gotten black algae, all of which suck, so we make sure to use algaecide occasionally and it helps. Pool maintenance if kind of weird and yucky, but, I tell you, we love having a pool.

[RiverSky]

Originally Posted by hillymum

Is it a walk in pool? If not then no I wouldn't. It's hard enough to walk normally when in full on labor, but to have to haul ones huge body out of the pool in between contractions, no thanks!

I would however like to spend a week or so in your pool! Got any pictures?

There are 3 wide concrete steps to get in, or you can go to the bench area where there is one small step, or you can use the rail and two steps to get onto the seat of the spa. Not perfect, definitely, but I hope it would be doable. I do have a big strong husband, and I imagine he could help steady me and guide me in.

I often spend 3-5 hours in the pool during the spring/summer/fall (live in Florida) so hopefully, hopefully, I would still be in the mood while in labor. LOL.

Mainly, I want to make sure that doing so wouldn't be harmful to my potential future baby. I can't help but wonder if I would get to the time and
totally regret planning to birth in the pool!

[RiverSky]

Originally Posted by hillymum

I would however like to spend a week or so in your pool! Got any pictures?

Okay, took me a while to try to find pictures that don't show any children clearly. Can't find any on this computer of ~just~ the pool, but hopefully these are vague enough as to not be identifying.

http://tinypic.com/r/9pxk4m/6

http://tinypic.com/r/262p8qx/6

I think those pictures show the handrail for the spa, the little step onto the bench, and you can sort of see the wide steps into the pool.

[mommyfied]

I thought of something else... I don't like to open my eyes under water in the pool... wouldn't the chlorine burn babies eyes if he/she opens them under water? I think I can recall seeing water births where baby is peacefully floating to the surface with its eyes open.

It sounds like you are a water person so a water birth sounds like a good plan. I'm not, really, but I think if I were I might consider getting in the pool during labor and moving to a tub or birthing pool for the birth. Our pool is only open in the summer months so I'm excited about being able to swim in those last weeks but that's about it! My labors are fast, though, and I didn't even have time to get in my tub last time. I have a big jetted tub in the master bath.

[aileen]

Originally Posted by RiverSky

Our pool is 15,000 gallons big. Yes, we generally heat it to 87 degrees, but I could keep it at 90 for a week or so if I was close to labor (like if I felt labor would be within a week or two). I also have an attached spa which I could heat up in 15-20 minutes to 99-100 degrees. So I could labor in the 89 degree water and hop into the hot water whenever I wanted. After I turn off the spa, then it flows as if it's part of the pool (it waterfalls into the pool when the spa heat is turned off)

i'm not pregnant, but i was wondering if i ever am again, can i have a riversky's housebirth instead of a homebirth?
i dreamed about the birthcamp at the black sea...

[Lollicup]

No way. A baby would be shocked coming from a warm womb for 9 months, and into a cold pool with chemicals! Plus, you'd have the afterbirth stuff in the pool afterwards. Nope, not a good idea.

[calpurnia]

Honestly, no way. I would be really concerned about the chlorine.

[Kidzaplenty]

Well, a couple of my children are allergic to clorine. I would think that that could affect the baby as well (if your baby was allergic).

I would not just because of the temp and chemicals. Although it sounds like a lovely idea.