Birthing stool for a water birth???

[MammaB21]

Kind of a spin off of the other thread about birthing stools. I didn't want to derail that thread with my questions, so I'm starting a new one.

I'm planning a homebirth and I will be getting a pool for sure. I had a water birth with my DD at a birthing center and I want to give it another try. I birthed her in the water, but was only in the tub for 10 min. This time, I'm looking forward to laboring there as well. Thinking back to her birth, I'm really dreaming about a magic birth stool that is comfy and can sit in my pool without popping it (Think inner tube with legs....lol).

Once DD started descending, I couldn't stand ANY pressure on my bottom. Nothing felt 'right' until I squatted on the floor. I also spent some time on the toilet, and that felt better as well. Once I got in the tub, I used a squatting position to birth her. It is exactly what my body wanted to do, but my legs weren't too happy about it. They were tired and soar and shaky. So this time, it would be great to be in the squatting position, free of any bottom pressure, but without putting so much strain on my legs.

I haven't really found any stools that look like they would work. Anybody know of any, or even have any creative ideas to throw my way?

ETA: I like the birth pools that have the little seat built into the side, and that is close to what I'm looking for. However, they seem to be more money than I'd like to spend. I'd almost rather rig something up myself and spare my finances.

[sunflowergrrl]

OK, so if I'm picturing this right, you want to squat but don't want all of your weight on your legs? Maybe DP should get in the pool with you and hold you up under your arms to take some weight off of your legs when you squat? Or maybe you can bring a birthing stool in the pool but pad the bottom of it with bubble wrap and duct tape.

I know this isn't exactly squatting, but I brought a beach ball in the tub with me and leaned over it, like a kneeling over/ squatting position. Basically like a birth ball, but much smaller so it would fit in the tub.

[mrshoobydoober]

PVC Pipe.

The midwife I work with had a client years ago whose dh made a chair/stool out of pvc. From the description it the chair floated until Mama sat on it.

[Defenestrator]

Almost all of the women in my practice give birth kneeling in the water, hanging off of their partners or leaning over the side of the pool.

[buckeye_bebe]

Scrub yard sales, if you have a jig saw. I've seen some homemade hacks out of cut up wooden dining chairs. Just saw off the back rails and cut out a U, instant stool. Cut off legs to your liking, sand, birth. A friend of mine who did just that...also put in two cinder blocks on top of a folded up beach towel so her knees were up closer to her chest. That way she didn't have to squat so low (her tub was hard to get out of) and it worked. I've also heard of people squatting over the cinder blocks or bricks on the toilet too. Good luck.

[MammaB21]

Thanks for the replies and suggestion everyone.

PVC pipe....interesting. That is not a bad idea.

DP could (and probably will) get in the tub with me to help support, but he will probably get tired too. I had support similar to that in my last birth and still felt like most of my weight was on my legs. It wasn't too big of a deal last time because pushing was really quick. But this time I'm looking to be in that position for a long time. I'd love to be squatting during transition. But I need to be able to fully relax at that time, kwim?

As for leaning forward, I'm sure I'll do it, but I'd like all the options I can get. My last labor was 24 hours. I'm sure this one will go quicker, but you never know. Also, not crazy about the idea of actually birthing in that position.

I have a long time to figure it all out, but brainstorming is very useful. I'm getting some ideas. Maybe I'm the first to think of this crazy idea...lol. Perhaps I should invent something

[almadianna]

Originally Posted by MammaB21

Thanks for the replies and suggestion everyone.

PVC pipe....interesting. That is not a bad idea.

DP could (and probably will) get in the tub with me to help support, but he will probably get tired too. I had support similar to that in my last birth and still felt like most of my weight was on my legs. It wasn't too big of a deal last time because pushing was really quick. But this time I'm looking to be in that position for a long time. I'd love to be squatting during transition. But I need to be able to fully relax at that time, kwim?

As for leaning forward, I'm sure I'll do it, but I'd like all the options I can get. My last labor was 24 hours. I'm sure this one will go quicker, but you never know. Also, not crazy about the idea of actually birthing in that position.

I have a long time to figure it all out, but brainstorming is very useful. I'm getting some ideas. Maybe I'm the first to think of this crazy idea...lol. Perhaps I should invent something

I wasnt really hip on birthing in that position either, but when I was in the tub my body MADE me get in that position. It really was relief and just the easiest one to push in. My labors have both been very long, I hoped my second would be shorter but . I guess I was not that lucky, but I hope you are!!

[SilverFish]

what about a bunch of those inflatable water rings somehow taped together? like a stack of donuts almost? you'd have to try out how many to stack and if they're even sturdy enough... but they're pretty cheap. you wouldn't be able to push on them, but it might make a nice little open bottomed stool to take some of your weight while you're labouring. you could even weight the bottom one so it doesn't float away from you if you get up?

[Amita]

Water Birth Stool

This stool's new -[www.kayabirth.com]. I've heard good things about it, but haven't used it myself.

[Mrs.aLifeofReilly]

I ended up leaning over the side of the pool on my knees, but what you bring up was a thought of mine also. We screwed two hooks into a ceiling beam above the pool and attached a really long woven wrap like a hammock that I could put under my arms and dangle from. Never did get used during the birth (but my 2yo really loved using it as a swing).