Fishy pool details questions

[gabbyraja]

I'm leaning toward the Ocean Reef pool, 24" deep. It's at some places for as little as $37, which is right in my price range! However, what I really want is a bpiab. That's what I had at my last birth. Couldn't care less about some things, like the inflatable pillow at one end (spent the whole time on my knees), or the handles (they were all in weird places that didn't really help me). However, I loved the strong inflated (read: Cushy) sides that I hung over the entire time, and the inflatable bottom since I was on my knees. I also loved the size. Plenty of room for me and the kids (kids sat at one end to catch when baby was born) and for me to spread 'em nice and wide to squat and push.

Now, I think the fishy pool will be plenty big, so no questions there, but will it have the other 2 things I loved? The cushiony but firm inflatable sides and the inflatable bottom? Seems like if the bottom is hard I could do something about it (have I read that people put blankets underneath and that helped? What else?), but nothing I could do if it won't support my weight hanging over the sides.

Any help/advice from those having btdt would be greatly appreciated.

[liberal_chick]

My fishy pool was inflated enough that the sides had no problem supporting my weight (they gave a little, but were no where near collapsing or anything) and the bottom of mine (I had the hexagon) was inflatable, so that was nice and comfy.

[tallulahma]

My fishy pool was super comfortable.

I hung over the side the whole time and it held my weight (215) just fine.

The bottom was also inflated and cushy.


Loved the fishy pool. I even found it on clearance so it was like $10!

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by tallulahma

Loved the fishy pool. I even found it on clearance so it was like $10!

Man, I've so been trying to find it on clearance, but it's NOWHERE in my city. I never even saw it for sale at all this summer in a B&M store.

However, in looking at the resources thread for birth pools again, I did find this link http://www.yourwaterbirth.com/other-pools-c-1_39.html They explain the pools a little better, from a waterbirther's POV, so they do say the bottom inflates (YAY!). They also have the round pool, and nobody has that anymore. For $15 less and even less on shipping, I'm wondering if the extra 1" in depth is a big deal? I was originally going for the hexagon, but... It holds about half the water, which means my water heater could keep up better... But the bpiab wasn't a big deal, we just boiled water on the stove. AH! Decisions, decisions.

[gabbyraja]

BTW, I'm 5'8" and weigh around 240 with about 9 weeks to go. (I don't gain but a few more pounds at this point. Stomach is too squashed and weather is too hot to want much but fruit)

[Carson]

I had the "Aquarium Pool" and was more than happy with it. FWIW, the depth is probably deeper than listed. I think it's just right combo of depth and sheer size. We just set ours up outside to swim in and I noticed there's a 'fill line' and you can definitely fill more than that.

The sides were fine for me, but I was irritated with the bottom. It's kind of these little bumps that inflate, not the whole base. Even though it was inflatable, I wish we had put it on foam mats (it's on them now) or something underneath. Other than that it was perfect.