Water birth anyone?

[moonshoes]

I'm wondering if anyone is having a waterbirth, particularly at home. I said no to the idea, but now that the date is getting closer (I'm 32 weeks), I'm thinking maybe it would be a good idea. I'm just not sure about the setup, in terms of where it would fit and the logistics of filling it up, et cetera.

Thoughts? BTDT?

[gillibean]

All three of mine have been home waterbirths. The water was wonderful. With my first, I wasn't really sure about the water but once I got in it was such a relief that I didn't want out till I had the baby.

With my third (and this one too) we were in an area with no midwives. I chose to UC because I wanted the water more than I wanted a medical professional, the hospital here doesn't have/use tubs.

[emnic77]

Yep, planning one here for our third, at home. You will find TONS of information regarding logistics of the tub set up, and different pool options, over at the homebirth forum.

[anarchamom]

home water birth

I had my baby at home just a few weeks ago. I wasn't attached to having a water birth, but I did want to pool to be available for relief. If the baby was born in the pool or not, I didn't care much. The pool was amazing for relief. My labor was 24 hours and I got in and out of the pool many, many times and it had to be refilled with hot water several times as well. I live in a very small space and I didn't feel like the pool took up too much room. We filled the tub from our washing machine faucet which took a regular garden hose without any special adapters. It was only a little bit of trouble, and absolutely worth it. I would have had a much more difficult time laboring without it. My baby was born in the water, and I'm pleased with the way it all turned out.

If you think a warm pool of water sounds nice, and getting a pool isn't too much trouble for you or your midwife I would recommend getting one even if you don't want to deliver the baby in the pool.

good luck

[LianneM]

Both of mine were born at home in water. It was wonderful - can't imagine doing it any other way We just used a fishy pool and hooked a hose up to the kitchen sink.

[IAMommy]

Planning our second home water birth. It is really wonderful how the water makes you able to change positions so freely. There are many options for birth tubs, from buying one to renting one, or borrowing from your midwife.
We set ours up in the basement family room, so it was near all of the water and drains we could need. That room also has a separate heat control, so we could keep it warm, in addition to the pool being warm.
As a PP mentioned, there is a lot of info in the homebirth forum - I think there might be a sticky.

[claddaghmom]

I planned for a waterbirth but ended up pushing on land. She was hard to get out!

I just picked up a 'fishy pool' on clearance at Target. Paid a few bucks for it so we didn't bother with any netting or liners.

Also picked up a lead-free hose and attachment to go to our faucet.

One issue: we ran out of hot water about 1/3 of the way. So DH actually spent a bunch of time heating pans of water on the oven and replacing the water in the pool. That was soooo time consuming. But I don't know that any type of water heater would be safe in a kiddie pool.

[Kikelet]

DP and I are planning a home water birth, although we're doing it at my parent's house in their jacuzzi. We thought we'd originally have the baby in our 3rd floor apartment, but I just couldn't get comfortable with that because of all the neighbors and the extra cost of buying supplies like the birth pool, hoses, and adapters. Also, we are planning on staying at my parent's house for about 2-3 days post-partum so my family can make meals and take care of me/us while I'm recovering and learning to breastfeed.

I have been drawn to home birth for years, but my interest in water birth came from hearing about so many moms who have said that they'd never want to have it any other way after experiencing that kind of birth. I have no idea what it'll be like for me, but I'm hoping that it helps with the pain and relaxation, as well as softening my perineum to prevent tearing. My MW says that she can actually prevent tearing more when you're out of the tub because she has so many tricks, but I have had so many vivid dreams about this baby being born in the water that I want to go for it!!

Just walk around your home and imagine birthing in various places, then choose whatever you feel is right. Hoses can reach pretty far depending on the kind you get, so being right next to a faucet might not be a problem. Also, if you know you're in labor, you can turn up the hot water heater to avoid running out of hot water. That reminds me, I need to have my parents write a post-it on the fridge about the hot water heater...

Hope you come to a confident decision about your birth

[smokeylo]

I just figured, I'd rather have the option and reject it than wish I'd had the tub! I did end up birthing in the tub with my first and I think the water really helped at the end when I was extremely tired. This time I debated having the pool since our place is much smaller now, but in the end I could turn down that option.

I know the logistics SEEM tricky, but really, it's not such a big deal. The pool inflates quickly, so you don't have to have a space cleared for weeks or anything. The first time, we moved our dining room table; the time it will be put in a sort of open space between our kitchen and living room. There are tricks to making sure you have enough hot water (see if you can turn up the temp on your hot water heater) -- we didn't have a problem with that the first time around and hope not to this time, but between DH and doula the water will be taken care of, and boiling water isn't exactly something you have to pay a ton of attention to. You'll probably need a faucet adapter, which you can get at a hardware store, and a new hose. There's a great post in the homebirth forum about water birth setups and equipment that guided me the first time around.

I say do it!

[JennTheMomma]

We're planning on a home waterbirth. We are going to put the pool in the dinning room. We're going to attatch a hose to the sink or water heater and fill it up that way, while having extra large pans on the stove boiling water incase the water gets cold.

[moonshoes]

THanks for the encouragement! I am definitely going to do it. Now I just have to figure out which pool to use and where to put it. I'd love to have it in our living room, but I'm afraid of ruining the carpet. I have this vision of using a kiddie pool and someone leaning on it and 100 gallons of water spilling out!

[mamaonthefarm]

Planning another water birth (at home) here too!

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond.