Where to set up the tub

[Little Shepherds]

Would it be wrong to set up a birth tub in the garage? I am due in July and it wont be cold and we can clean it up and make it look nice and neat. What do you think?

[OTMomma]

I wouldn't do it- because in labor I wanted to be in my safe cocoon place- and I can't imagine any garage, the best in the world, feeling like that. We set my birth pool up in my bedroom, there wasn't a lot of room, but we rearragned the furniture, and thus I was close to both the bathroom when I needed to go, and to my bed to laydown after the birth. I honestly don't think I would have been willing to use a birth tub in the garage once labor started, because it wouldn't have felt "right" to birth there.

Peace,

[Little Shepherds]

It won't fit in our room at all our bed takes up 95% of the room. We have a basement but I want that to be a place my other children can go to watch TV or play if they don't want to be at the birth.

[elus0814]

We're almost certainly going to be moving our table out of the dining room (it's a small room) and putting the tub in there. It's at the back of the house and can be easily blocked off so the kids don't get in there by putting up a baby gate. We'll put the dining table in the living room area that is now used as a play area and the toys will go to the kids rooms.

I had first wanted to put the tub in the master bedroom because that room has dark curtains, is on the first floor, and has a cozy feel to it. The dining room has a door onto the back porch and another large window as well so it is very bright in the daytime which I think may make me uncomfortable in labor. I plan on having some old blankets, nails, and a hammer handy so we can tack up blankets over the windows should the bright light bother me. Our older kids won't be there so that's not something to worry about, they will likely be at a neighbors house since they are little (the oldest of the three older kids is just 5) and they are sensitive so I think seeing mommy in pain will be upsetting for them.

[matthia]

We have almost NO space in our tiny, tiny little basement suite. I want the living room clear for labouring on land, I want the bedroom clear for recovery (and labouring if I decide I do want my bed), we don't have a dining room, and the nursery is FAR too small. We do however, have a huge, covered deck. I plan on setting our pool up out there. I'm also due in July so even if it's raining, it'll be warm and it's covered so I'm not worried about that. I plan on putting up some curtains, or bedsheets or something on the one side that faces the neighbours. I think it's the best place for us , and clean up will be a breeze!

[Peace+Hope]

i know that beauty and lack of clutter (even a neat garage seems like it would include stacks or shelves or stored stuff) are important to me at all times, so it probably wouldn't work for me.

what's important to you when you visualize your birth? do you see yourself enjoying particular surroundings in your home? does it feel good to visualize yourself in the garage? maybe you could use the garage to store things from another room that might be more comfortable and restful...

[BirthNut]

We are having the same dilemma, with my son (in July) we set up the tub on our porch which worked out nicely, it was right across from the bathroom. This time we live in a mobile home & are not sure about how much weight the floor can hold. The only place we really have room though is the living room, so not much of a choice there.

[Little Shepherds]

So after talking to hubby we are going to turn the front half of the garage into a extra room so it wont look like a place for a car. Going to paint and use tapestry's and make it nice. It is right across from a bathroom so I will have that easy to get to.

Going to be going with the color theme red yellow and orange!

[khaoskat]

We have the same problem. No space.

Our bathroom is too small.
Our bedrooms are all filled with beds and dressers.
The dinning room is carpeted.

We are considering the kitchen floor for ours...we have two doorways in to the room, so you could get around easily if need be.

[leavemealone]

Mine was in our bedroom last time and probably will be this time as well. I also considered the living room, dining room and kitchen. I would have had to rearrange some stuff, but any of those locations would have worked for us. I chose the bedroom so that I could close myself off if I wanted to and my other kids would have their space if needed. My concern about the garage in July would be that, depending on where you live, it could be really hot. If you have good ventilation, it could probably work, but I couldn't see that working for us.

[Bekka]

I birthed 2 babies in my kitchen in a tub in the breakfast nook. We took out the table ("we"= DH) and set up the pool (DH), although I helped between contractions. I am now sitting in that breakfast nook at the table studying for my midwifery program. I love the symbolism!

OH, my family is too large for the breakfast nook. Someday when dh and I are the only ones at home, we'll probably use it as a breakfast nook again...

[Sharlla]

We just did it in the kitchen. we had lots of candles and a red light on so the atmosphere was very nice.

[etsdtm99]

i have been thinking about this a lot.. but when it comes down to it, i want to be in the bedroom, and if we move some furniture out we can make it work.. i have friends who have birthed all of the house .. it would be far more practical to set up the tub in the dining area or living room or the basement but i just.. don't want to be there..