Best Birth Pool? « Back to Group Discussions

[Chapsie]

Hey ladies,

starting to think about procuring supplies for a homebirth and had a question for any water birth veterans out there:

What birth pool is best?  

Thanks for any input!!!

[nearlyelated]

Our midwives supply birth tubs and the one they use is La Bassine.  It seemed good last time, and I've requested it again for this birth.  I don't have any experience with other pools to comment on.

[buko]

There's a sticky for birth pools...

Here:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/589333/birth-pool-resources-and-information

Hopefully not too out of date. 

I REALLY went back and forth, but am pretty sure I am going to go with the Birth Pool in a Box.  I think either that or a La Bassine will work well for most people, although there are now a couple of other choices, along with things like the Aqua Doula or a trough (but I REALLY envision draping myself over the side, so I wanted a more padded edge).

[GranolaMama09]

I did not have a homebirth but I have two friends that did.  I asked them and one of them said this was the best most beloved and well used article of her pregnancy.  Hope it helps!!!

[firespiritmelody]

I used the fishy-pool with both of my water births and it was perfect. I'm short and the LaBassine is just way to big for me - I need to feel grounded and be able to plant my feet in the opposite side and I couldn't do that with the bigger pools. Plus, we've been limited on space so the smaller pool worked better for us. If you're a taller mama, the fishy-pool will likely be too small.

[babytoes]

This is very interesting. My midwives have two pools that we can rent for $100, but the fishy pool is $45 and we may even use it again during the summer. I am almost thinking of buying this one instead of renting from our midwives. We also have a small area to put it in, and I have been concerned with weather or not a regular birthing pool would fit. I would be devastated if I couldn't have a pool to get into during birth. It was a god sent with DS3 and I can only imagine I will want that again.

[firespiritmelody]

Originally Posted by babytoes 

This is very interesting. My midwives have two pools that we can rent for $100, but the fishy pool is $45 and we may even use it again during the summer. I am almost thinking of buying this one instead of renting from our midwives. We also have a small area to put it in, and I have been concerned with weather or not a regular birthing pool would fit. I would be devastated if I couldn't have a pool to get into during birth. It was a god sent with DS3 and I can only imagine I will want that again.

I have the sweetest picture of my July baby "swimming" in her birth pool at a year old. It's one of my FAVORITE pictures

When I told our new mw that I had used the fishy pool with both previous births and loved it, she was a little surprised and like, "oh... um, ok" so she clearly prefers the other pools. There are a lot of things with this birth that are going to be different that I'm nervous about (like using a new mw) so part of it for me is also needing to use the fishy pool as a way of connecting with my previous mw that I'm grieving more and more as this pregnancy pregresses (She passed away last year)

[Chapsie]

Well, I found two local sources that rent the La Bassine birth pool with all the accessories (tarp, pumps,liners, covers, hoses, thermometer, etc) for $100.  That sounds like the easiest way to go about it.  I think the ocean reef aquarium might wind up being slightly cheaper (it's $45 and then I'd have to buy all the accessories to go with it) but a little less convenient to order everything.  

I'm not sure yet what I'll do.   Thanks for all the input!  :)

[Z3Wildfire]

The La Bassine was GREAT for my last birth (and it's actually deeper than the Aqua Doula).  A friend used the Aqua Doula because of the heater but she said it wasn't worth it to have the heater, her husband was still adding hot water anyway.  The other nice thing about the La Bassine is that it has only 118 gallons compared to 172 of birth pool in a box so it's easier to keep hot.  My husband hardly had to add new water to it and it covered up to my chest easily.  It has handles for re-positioning and the bottom was padded.  The sides were plenty strong to sit on too.

[buko]

Now I don't know again, LOL. I just keep going back and forth between BPIAB and LB... I'm sure I won't be UNhappy with either, just can't decide which one I'd be happier with.

[babytoes]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 

Well, I found two local sources that rent the La Bassine birth pool with all the accessories (tarp, pumps,liners, covers, hoses, thermometer, etc) for $100.  That sounds like the easiest way to go about it.  I think the ocean reef aquarium might wind up being slightly cheaper (it's $45 and then I'd have to buy all the accessories to go with it) but a little less convenient to order everything.  

I'm not sure yet what I'll do.   Thanks for all the input!  :)

I didn't think about all the accessories I would need to buy. Maybe it would be easier to just rent from the midwives. They will also take it down and pack it all up after the birth, so that is one less thing for DP to worry about getting done when I know he's just going to want to hang out with baby and I.

I think I am strongly leaning in that direction.

[babytoes]

Originally Posted by Z3Wildfire 

The La Bassine was GREAT for my last birth (and it's actually deeper than the Aqua Doula).  A friend used the Aqua Doula because of the heater but she said it wasn't worth it to have the heater, her husband was still adding hot water anyway.  The other nice thing about the La Bassine is that it has only 118 gallons compared to 172 of birth pool in a box so it's easier to keep hot.  My husband hardly had to add new water to it and it covered up to my chest easily.  It has handles for re-positioning and the bottom was padded.  The sides were plenty strong to sit on too.

You could sit on the sides? Wow , that is really impressive! I love the thought of handles too, there was handles on the hot tub I used at the birthing center were DS2 and DS3 were born, and I remember using them to reposition and to lean back... 

[happylemon]

My midwife has stock tanks that she loans to her clients. I think they are around 100 gallons, but I am not exactly sure. We lined it with blankets, bought a liner and used a hose to fill it with hot water form the tap. It was pretty deep, which I liked, and the right length for me to get leverage if i wanted to put my feet somewhere. I think the only things we bought were the liner and a fish net.

[Chapsie]

Well I asked my midwife if she had a favorite birth pool and she said the La Bassine was her favorite. She said it was sturdy to lean on and she could look through the walls with her flashlight to see what was going on.

She mentioned that a client used a fishy pool once and when she leaned on the side to stand quickly during a contraction, water spilled out everywhere! All over their carpeted living room.

I think in going to rent the la Bassine from that local doula. Thanks for everyone's input!

[Sara79]

I am going to use the Aqua Doula...I've been at a couple births that it was the one used and it seems to be the one in my area that is most used.