Do I really need to turn my water heater up?

[sattygirl99]

I've read to open your water heater wide open before your birthing time... My water is already coming out around 140 (I had to use a meat thermometer, I maxed out the aquarium thermometer in like 30 seconds, lol). It's already so hot that we have to turn the hot water side only halfway to take showers and baths and the cold all the way. It's REALLY hot. Wide open is almost 200 degrees and I'm worried about melting my washing machine plastic, ruining my diaper covers and us getting burned.

Isn't 140 degrees enough? Our hot water lasts forever at that... I can take a 45 min shower and still have enough hot water to run 2 back to back hot washes in the washer. It's nuts.

I've got 2 young children who so far, don't play with the faucets but at 200*, someone is gonna get burned... And it just may melt my pool, lol.

What's the actual temp recommended for a hot water heater in anticipation of a water birth? I'm not really concerned about running out, we can always boil on the stove (and have already collected large pots to do so) if needed.

Thanks!

[FillingMyQuiver]

We keep ours at 125* and it was fine for my last birth. We do boil 1 large pot of water on the stove and add that to the pool.

[sattygirl99]

Whew! I was getting a little concerned about having to open it wide open... I can't afford to replace all my diaper covers if I melt them LOL. We turned it up a while back when we had diaper smelly issues and I just can't imagine turning it up even HIGHER. Seems nuts!

I'm already worried about melting the pool... LOL.

[russsk]

I think 140 is probably definitely hot enough. We keep ours at 120, and it goes up to 150. I just turned it up to 140.

You can do a little math, to be sure. You just need to check the temperature of the water coming out cold, and figure out how many gallons your tub and water heater hold.
http://www.onlineconversion.com/mixing_water.htm

[nashvillemidwife]

Originally Posted by sattygirl99

What's the actual temp recommended for a hot water heater in anticipation of a water birth?

That is completely dependent on the size of your tank. It sounds like from your description that you don't have to adjust yours, but the answer to the general question is "need more information".

[grumpybear]

I have had only one waterbirth but in my experience, as I progressed into the pushing stage, I just got warmer and warmer.
My MW never put more water in the tub. She filled it before I got in and that was it. I remember thinking who the heck raised the water temp but no such thing happened. I think all the hard work made me warm.