Which birth tub is best?

[PretzelBaker]

Does a baby pool type birth tub kit work or does one need to spend the extra money to get a tub made specifically for birthing?

[pamamidwife]

You want a tub that is going to allow your belly to be submersible.

You don't need to make any changes for birthing.

Here's some info from my website: http://www.midwifemama.com/waterbirth_hints.html

[rubelin]

I just got the hexagonal pool that is shown on Pamela's site (third in the list of alternatives) and it is awesome! The sides are very thick, especially at the corners (inside is round, but walls are hex shaped) and it is deep enough to almost cover my shoulders (I'm 5'8" and have a long torso) I don't plan to birth in it, just labor (and use it for recreation, DS adores it!!) but I think the sides are strong ehough to support me for birthing. It was $20, a worthy investment

[Sherry]

i used an inflatable pool called the aquarium pool. its made by intex or the wet set...cant remember which and is clear walled with little fishes all over it. i think i paid 15.00 for it brand new online. i think they also carry them at target/walmart/kmart type stores for pretty cheap. it really worked great for me...i could lean on the walls, the water came up to my shoulders while sitting, and best of all i had a wonderful waterbirth!

**edited to say that i just checked out the links for the above midwifes site...my pool is the second one listed under alternatives. mine was much cheaper and it included shipping, but i think i purchased it from that same site!

[2+twins]

I've used both the Spa-in-a-Box Labor Pool & the Aquadoula tub. I greatly preferred the Spa-in-a-Box. It has nice firm sides, was comfortable, definitely large enough, has jets (didn't use them in labor though but I did before the birth), easy to set-up & take down. I really didn't care for the AquaDoula at all. It had the same dimensions as the other tub but the sides weren't very firm, the heating elements got in my way (I had to keep moving to a different spot so I wouldn't lean on one). I really didn't like using the liner (it was all bunchy and kind of hard to lay out in the first place). The only benefit to the Aquadoula tub was clean up (because we did use a disposable liner). If I have another birth, I will without doubt use the Spa-in-a-Box unless I can't afford it, in which case I'll just buy a kiddie pool like this . It's the same diameter and only 2" less in depth than the other two. The only downfall IMO is that a kiddie pool does not have a heating element (in case of a long labor).

[cottonwood]

Rubelin (or Pam) what is the inside depth measurement of that hexagonal pool?

[pamamidwife]

It's 24" deep and about 6 feet in diameter. It's very nice and quite roomy for two people!

[flitters]

i'm looking for a birth tub too so i'm just going to tack an additional question onto this thread. i hope that's ok!

at this point we are planning to rent an aqua doula.

we were originally going to buy the hexagonal 25" deep fishy pool but then we realized that our dogs can really easily pop the inflatable pools. (i know they won't be in the pool with me but we would inflate it early and if they just were to step on it once a claw could puncture it).

so, are there any other birth tub recommendations that are non inflatable or is the aqua doula the best one?

[PretzelBaker]

heat?

For those who've used a tub without a heating element in it, was that a problem? I am going to be going with a kiddy pool type set up but my sister is concerned pumping in mroe warm water if the labor goes long could be a real pain.

Oh, and thanks for all the info you've all given!

[mollyeilis]

I haven't used my inflatable pool yet (the 6 foot diameter, 22 inch round one from Intex), but our plan for heat is...

....get it good and warm/hot (starting with warm/cool first so as to not melt it) using drinking water safe hoses we found at walmart in the RV section (thanks to an MDC'er) using water from the washing machine tap, and if I'm not ready for the pool yet we bought one of those reflective "emergency blankets" from Fred Meyer (saw them at HellMart for cheaper yesterday) to put over the pool. I'm hoping that will keep the heat in until I'm ready for it.

Since we'll have the hoses (each hose is 20' long and our distance is longer than that) hooked up and it's the washing machine tap (seems to have much more hot water capability), I think we'll just be able to add more hot water as I might need it, taking colder water out with a bucket.

So that's our plan!

[Lauira]

Thank you for the links! I just ordered a pool! YAY!

Laura

[Overproducktion]

i used an inflatable pool called the aquarium pool. its made by intex or the wet set...cant remember which and is clear walled with little fishes all over it. i think i paid 15.00 for it brand new online. i think they also carry them at target/walmart/kmart type stores for pretty cheap. it really worked great for me...i could lean on the walls, the water came up to my shoulders while sitting, and best of all i had a wonderful waterbirth!

Me too!

[georgia]

Molly, glad you found the hose . Pretzel, we turned up the hotwater heater especially for filling the birth pool. Think we went from 120 to 130 degrees. My labor wasn't all that long (6.5 hrs), so losing heat wasn't too big of an issue. I know some mamas use one of those plastic tarps from the home improvement stores---and/or a thick quilt over top of the pool after filling it and when you're not in it. "Keeping a lid on it" really seems to help trap the heat. You can also find more info about this at gentlebirth.org.

One last word of advice Be sure to do a trial run of your faucet/hose adaptor/hose length BEFORE going into labor. One of my best friends borrowed my waterbed adaptor (also from Hell-Mart!) to fill her pool up. Well, when we went to start filling the pool, the adaptor did not work on a single faucet in her whole house. Her dh ended up duct taping the hose straight onto the shower head pipe, after removing the entire shower head. Lemme tell you what panic is! Birthing mama had no idea----but we were freaking out in another room!

Happy birthing!

[yaboobarb]

anyone ever use the tub?

Hi!
I was wondering if my huge- claw footed -old fashioned bath tub woyld do for labor?
Has anyone ever heard of this/ or done this?
Barb

[mollyeilis]

If I had such a thing, a huge tub (even if not claw-footed), I'd have planned on using it. I think you are very lucky!

[AngieB]

I was talking to my midwife about buying one of the pools you suggested. She was wondering how you should clean it before using it. Would a solution of 1 part bleach 10 parts water work or would it damage the plastic?

[pamamidwife]

I usually have clients air it out beforehand, but I don't worry much about cleaning it out. You could with some bleach if you wanted to, I'm sure.

[mollyeilis]

I'm not cleaning it ahead of time. It's been blown up for about 2 weeks now, in a room with an open window, but no cleaning. I couldn't use bleach anyway since I'm allergic.

[Overproducktion]

I used warm water and vinegar to clean mine out. It worked great.

[georgia]

As far as a claw foot tub---how cool! I wasn't comfy being in a conventional tub during labor, so I was glad I'd opted for an inflatable. It's always great to have options! You might consider having a fishy pool on stand-by (since they're relatively inexpensive). But, other than that, your bath sounds great--nice, tall sides, and deep! Very convenient, and it will make for an elegant setting