birth tub

[rainbowmoon]

I have been scoping out the different types online. what did you use or plan to use? how much did you pay if you went with a rental? was it worth it? also were you able to use it before labor (just for relaxing)?

[odenata]

My husband and I are using this one: http://www.birthwithsol.com/birthpool.html

My midwife recommended it and has used it with most her clients b/c it's affordable and she thinks it's actually more comfortable than many that you can rent.

[annakiss]

I'm renting an aquadoula from my midwife for $115.

[sarajane]

Here is the one I purchased:http://www.qualityinflatables.com/58480.html

It came to about $22 with shipping. Pretty good deal. I have seen this pool being sold for $30 so I thought that was a pretty good price. They shipped pretty quick too.

[MyYogaBaby]

We rented from Waterbirth International last time

The tub was about 5 feet across, with a liner and full panel heaters to hold the warmth in. It was very roomy, even when dh was in with me. I could stretch out and comfortably reach either side, but never felt confined. The depth was about chest high when I sat down. I usually was kneeling, so it was just below boob-level.

I think the cost was $200.

We're going with the same type this time, but getting it from midwife.

[ChildoftheMoon]

inflatable kiddie pools are great! I have birthed in them twice. That is what my mw had, she actually bought some extras from the quality inflatables place so she could set them up and leave them at clients houses so they were ready to use. The inflatable bottoms are nice and cushy, and it is very nice to be able to lean on/over the sides in comfort. With dd2 I actually sat in dh's lap and gave birth, so plenty of room for two in the pool. Very affordable!

[odenata]

For those of you who have used the kiddy pools for birth, like my dh and I are planning, was keeping the temperature right an issue? Did you need to add water/siphon off water at any time? Just curious as to how others have handled it.

[ChildoftheMoon]

Did you need to add water/siphon off water at any time? Just curious as to how others have handled it

I was not in for very long (quick labors). But I think what we did would work in the long run. After the initial fill up, we kept big pots of water constantly boiling (or coming to a boil) on the stove. We would scoop a potful out and pour a piping hot potfull in, I think doing this periodically and not letting the water get too cool in between helps to maintain the temp. If you plan to be in and out over a long period of time, laying a layer of plastic over the top when you are out, helps keep the heat in.
Brandi

[TRIBE]

I purchased my pool from birthwithsol.com And they have super fast shipping. My order was posted with a ups tracking just 3 hours after I had paid.
I also bought an RV hose from a link on pamamidwifes site if you need that, they too shipped out within hours of my order being placed.

For keeping the water warm I plan to keep the pool covered in a tarp when I am not in it and keep water nearly boiling on the stove to reheat the pool as I need it.

[jessemoon]

My midwife provided a Rubbermaid livestock trough...it worked really well.

[wallermama]

We're renting a Spa-in-a-box from a local doula for $250. She comes and sets it up too.

Our midwife recommended that one for us over the usual aquadoula she uses for two reasons 1) we have two other kids, and the spa in the box has a locking cover and 2) it has a filter and heater, so can be set up and is ready to go at a moment's notice. Others need the water changed every couple of days if you want to have it filled and ready.

Having had two 4 hour labors, I want it ready to go!

[sarajane]

I've thought about leaving my pool blown up until it is time but am scared to get a hole it in or something! It came with only one patch. It is in the soon to be nursery and we hardly ever go in there but things can still happen, ya never know. Maybe I am being too paranoid but I also can't imagine having to blow it up when the time comes. We have a pump that you have to use your own power to make it work and that can get tiring and it will probably take awhile.

[famousmockngbrd]

Can you just hook a hose up to your hot water tap on your washing machine and use that to keep the water warm?

[our veggie baby]

yes I was going to mention that...or if you are near a faucet, bathroom or sink in kitchen, you can get a converter to hook on there for a hose, that way you can pump either hot or cold water through just like a normal faucet--beats boiling water on the stove!

[sarajane]

Can you just hook a hose up to your hot water tap on your washing machine and use that to keep the water warm?

Yes, my mid-wife asked us to buy a new hose for this exact purpose. BUT she also asked us to have some large pots on hand for boiling water because we could run out of hot water then the hose won't matter much. Mostly the hose is just for easy filling. Otherwise we would be carrying buckets from the tub. I got a 50 foot hose and that will reach from where the washing machine is to where the tub is.

[mandib50]

i had the kiddie pool thing 3 times. we just had the hose hooked up to the tap throughout and when it got too cold we took out water and then just added hot, covered it with a blanket when we weren't using it. it was never a problem for us. my labors weren't short either by any means. and as to the hole thing, my last birth, there was a hole in the tub!! we had no patch kit and of course it would be useless because the tub was already filled so what we did was used some kind of band-aid tape and then put a nice big rock over top i kept the rock.

mandi

[welldone]

Did anyone have trouble with their pool being too heavy for their floors? I may start a new thread about this.

My husband checked with an architect who designed our home plan, and he doesn't think our home is designed to hold the weight of a full pool. He could do an in-depth analysis for $250, but we can't afford that. His recommendation was to skip the pool.

Our home is a 3.5-year-old two story, and I can't believe that my water labor/birth ideas are...well...going down the drain! I keep thinking maybe we shouldn't have checked with an architect, so we could be blissfully ignorant. But then the floor would cave in , and who needs that?

[momsmyjob]

Here's where I got mine!

http://birthwithlove.com/