Waterbirth? Your tub? Rented tub? Fishy Pool?

[mamazee]

If you are planning/had a waterbirth, what kind of tub did you use? Did you investigate other options?

[eternalw]

My midwife owns three of those black Rubbermaid livestock watering troughs. She loans them out, I love them because the sides are rigid and they are deep.

[LeighPF]

I had my second in an amazing built in birth tub and am planning on a home waterbirth for this third one.

I am looking at the LaBassine and the Mini Pool in the Box.

[CookAMH]

We rented an AquaDoula from our asst. midwife. But, I never made it downstairs and had a waterbirth in our bathtub. Things went too fast. I'll rent it again this time and hope I get to use it a little bit!

[MidwifeErika]

I used a Birth Pool in a Box and it was awesome. Large, comfortable, and the bottom was really well cushioned for my knees. In previous labors I had used a regular bathtub (way too small), a fishy pool (ok, but more shallow than BPIAB), and a hospital tub (still not quite big enough, I was stuck on my back only). I love, love, love BPIAB or pools of similar size :)

[callieollie]

I birthed in a whirlpool tub with dc#2 and the fishy pool with dc#3.  They were both fine.  The thing I liked about the tub was the jets.  Something about the humming noise of that was soothing to me.  With the fishy pool, the soft, cushioned bottom was heavenly. I felt like I was floating on a cloud.  It looked small when I got it and I thought it would be too small but it was just right. And I'm actually glad it was small because I tend to push on my hands and knees involuntarily and with my dc#3, I pushed in 14 seconds so it was super fast and I couldn't process things fast enough to reach down to catch her. So thankfully, the tub was small enough that my midwife could reach the baby from the other side of the tub. Otherwise, she would have had to hop in!  

[Madeline2015]

My 3rd child was born in a BPIAB that I borrowed from my MW.  I liked it but it was BIG and although I'm tall, I had a hard time getting in and out of it and I didn't know that the height could be adjusted until afterward :-/.  My daughter was born in an inflatable birth pool too...the La Bassine maybe??  It was purple, that's all I remember.

[LaotianMama]

I didn't really investigate, but just thought "FREE!" because we could not afford a birth pool and the necessary supplies. We made a final decision for me to labor in our apartment bath tub. :)

Here's a post I wrote about justifying our reason to forgo a birth pool: Why I'm Planning a Home Birth Without a Birth Pool

Good luck! I'm sure you'll find whatever feels right for you and your birthing needs.
 

[A2JC4life]

I've waterbirthed three times, always in our bathtub.  We've been in three different houses, and some of them definitely are more comfy than others, but they've all worked.
 

[Vaquitita]

My first I used an aqua doula, it was ok. My second I used a big black Rubbermaid horse trough and loved it. I preferred the oval shape to the round shape of the aqua doula, I could grasp both sides. I also preferred the rigidity of the sides, you can't really hold on to the sides of the aqua doula to haul yourself in and out. I put towels down under the liner, so it was plenty comfy.

[HeatherB]

I've labored in the fishy pool and birthed twice in the BPIAB. I *love* the BPIAB and am hoping mine holds up for one more birth this summer! (I've loaned it to friends and it's now had 7 babies born in it!) It's got enough room to move and enough depth to be comfy, plus the built-in seat is great for putting my hands on on all-fours, and handles are good to have available. New ones have cupholders!

[A2JC4life]

I just bought this, too, for my next birth.  Obviously I don't know yet how much we'll like it, but I thought I'd put it out here for anyone else who might be interested. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Better-Bath-Deep-Water/dp/B0001YJIGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363199964&sr=8-1&keywords=deep+water+bath
 

[Peony]

I labored in a regular, hard jacuzzi tub, hated it, too hard and difficult to get comfortable. Next time I rented an AquaDoula. Also hated it, too big, too deep for me, I hated the rigid sides, and struggled to get comfortable. Next two babies were born in a fishy pool. Loved it! Soft, cushy bottom, supportive sides.

[gardenmommy]

My MW has a birth pool that we rented.  I have no idea what it is, but it was very comfy and I loved it.  I am planning to use it again for this birth.

[inconditus]

Originally Posted by LaotianMama 

I didn't really investigate, but just thought "FREE!" because we could not afford a birth pool and the necessary supplies. We made a final decision for me to labor in our apartment bath tub.

Here's a post I wrote about justifying our reason to forgo a birth pool: Why I'm Planning a Home Birth Without a Birth Pool

Good luck! I'm sure you'll find whatever feels right for you and your birthing needs.

 

Lol that's my thoughts too. I haven't given birth yet and am still trying to find a Midwife with a sliding scale. If I can find one I am def. doing a homebirth in my bathtub

[cynthiamoon]

How do you fill/Drain these tubs? Do you need to buy special attachments for your sink to fill it and a pump and hose to drain it?

[callieollie]

Originally Posted by cynthiamoon 

How do you fill/Drain these tubs? Do you need to buy special attachments for your sink to fill it and a pump and hose to drain it?

I had read that you can put the hose in the tub and throw the other end out the window and it sort of syphons it out.  I planned to do that with my last homebirth, but couldn't figure out how to get the screen off of the window, lol!  So I called a local friend/doula and borrowed her pump. It worked great!  

[cynthiamoon]

Hmm.... I think our downstairs neighbors might protest that tactic! I'm glad it worked for you

[Aradia88]

With my first two they where c-sections. My third was a fishy pool and my 4th will be a Oasis Birth Pool. I dont have the money for those expensive ones plus the oasis is round, soft and cushy, free of any chemicals and only $65.00

[gardenmommy]

My MW has a pump that drains the water.  With my last birth, we just put the end of the hose out the door (we had a balcony adjacent to the bedroom, and a door to the balcony).  This time, I am not sure where we will drain it.