Birthtub/pool or Bathtub?

[wombat]

I'm debating about hiring a birthtub for my HB. Do I really need one? I'd like to avoid another expense. I like the idea of laboring in water but I'm not fussed about getting out of the water to deliver (at least now that is). Waterbirth or not is not terribly important to me.

First birth was in a hospital with a tub and I never used it, didn't want to.

I have a 3/4 size bathtub in a small bathroom. I'm wondering if I can just make do with that.

I'm rather embarrassed to admit, another reason I'm hesitating about the birthtub is the mess - I'm picturing soggy carpet and cleaning up before and after. Of course DH would do the clean up but I want him focusing on our 2 year old. Also am concerned how to keep my 2 yo out of it.

Any opinions?

[teachinmaof3]

Personally, I'd get a kiddie pool. We used this one: http://qualityinflatables.com/58480.html I've had one home waterbirth (getting ready for our second any day now) and know I wouldn't be comfy in the tub b/c the water doesn't cover my belly like being in the pool does.

We put down our sleeping bag (which wasn't really necessary since the bottom of the pool is inflatable too) then a plastic painting drop cloth (around $1). No mess at all. The plastic extended WAY beyond the pool so our carpet never got wet.

My girls were 4 and 2 at my third birth. The 2yo wasn't in the room w/ me much. The 4yo was but she wasn't a bother. All she really did w/ the water was take a washcloth and "clean" the sides. LOL!! I had also talked to them about it just being for Mommy and they wouldn't be swimming.

[etoilech]

Soggy carpet? In the bathroom? Why wouldn't you have a chance to dry off?

Good question though about the birth tub vs bath tub. Looking forward to answers on this.

[lilsishomemade]

I would get the kiddy pool, myself. I just get so big that sitting in the bathtub doesn't really cover me much. You want the water to help "support" you. But, you may also be a lot smaller than I!! Good luck and I hope you have a good birth!

ETA: have you considered having a friend or someone over to help with your 2 yr old? Are you planning a UC?

[2+twins]

I'd vote for a birth tub b/c of it's depth and room to move around (which I needed). Personally I love the Spa-In-A-Box which can actually heat and maintain heat of the water (which could be important if you have a long labor). It has a cover which actually locks down (to keep your toddler out). I also used the hard sides to lean on a LOT. Clean-up wasn't a big deal for us. Just put a bath mat (or towel) down in front of the spot you'll step out of the tub. We didn't have water splash out or anything. Oh, we did have a camping tarp under it just in case. We used a fish net to scoop out any solids then used a submersible pump to drain the water into the toilet (which self-regulates the water level so you don't have to worry about flushing it or anything). You may be able to find someone near you who rents them. But if that option is too expensive or whatever, I'd opt for a fishy pool like the one recommended already or this one .

[Mom2baldie]

I see that everyone else is voting for a kiddie pool, but just wanted to say that I did birth in my bathtub and it worked out fine. I have a garden tub (oval shaped) and am a fairly small person, so there was plenty of room to move around in and if my DH had wanted to join me there would still have been enough room.

The only thing that bothered me a bit was that I couldn't really get the water as deep as I wanted and I think there would've been more pain relief if I had of been able to.

It worked out fine either way though and I don't have any regrets about not renting a pool.

[wendy1221]

Dh and I agree the rental AquaDoula was more than worth it. We've already decided that if we have any more kids, we'll be renting one again.

[MamaTaraX]

We're renting an AuqaDoula froma friend. If we had a big, deep garden-type tub, I'djust use that, but we don't. I don't like the idea of using a kiddie pool for some reason, but dont' think there's anythign wrong withthat either if that's the way you want to go. Maybe by the time i have another we'll have a massive tub. I couldn't do it in the standard tub we have noe, though we're hoping to have a deeper one by the time this baby comes, but that's certainly no gaunantee and we're still renting the tub

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm due at home 1/06)

[ZeldasMom]

I guess I am pretty much a land lubber when it comes to birth! :LOL

1st birth: just used the regular bathtub for 15-30 minute stretches here and there as a comfort measure. Was happy with this.

2nd birth: had planned to use my midwife's tub as a comfort measure in late labor (or earlier if I had back labor) and have a water birth if that's where I felt like pushing. From the onset of active labor to DD's birth was only an hour and 45 minutes, so there wasn't time to set up the tub. I did get in the shower for a few contractions, holding the spray over my belly and slapping my hand against the tiles. I didn't like not being able to walk/move during contractions (I had the birth ball in there with me in case I wanted to sit), so I didn't stay in there long.

If I have another baby: I might rent a birth tub or buy a fishy pool rather than relying on my midwife's tub so there would be more time to get it set up. I think it also would be nice to relax in it toward the end of the pregnancy when I wasn't in labor. I just have a regular bath tub, so it doesn't offer the option to immerse your whole body/be weightless. I don't envision myself being a huge tub user because I find being in a hot tub for a long period draining when I'm not laboring. It would be nice to have that one extra option of something to try to cope at the end when things are intense though.

The reason I *might* rent/buy a tub (rather than doing it for sure) is because there are other things I have spent $$$ on to prepare for birth in the past that have been helpful to me (prenatal yoga, weekly prenatal massages at the end of the pregnancy, good vitamins/supplements), so paying for those things would be a higher priority.

[flapjack]

I've always wanted to get out of the bathtub during labour, never felt the need to stay in it. A lump of plasticene (spelling? Haven't bought it in a while) or blu-tac will clog the overflow nicely so you can get an extra couple of inches of water in.

[2+twins]

Just wanted to add that I have a deep garden jacuzzi tub and I still don't feel it's deep enough or roomy enough for my comfort during labor, although I admittedly didn't try it (since I had a rental tub).

[wombat]

Great, this is really informative. Lots of things I hadn't thought of.

I hadn't even thought of whether my bathtub was deep enough to float in or cover my belly. I'm gonna have to have a bath tonight to check it out.

Gee those Aquadoulas and SpaInaBox setups look very tempting. Now if I got it set up in time, use it and it helps, I figure it's worth getting into more debt over. But if I didn't use it, I'll be kicking myself over the expense.

With the kiddie pools, how did you keep the water warm? Baby is due around Halloween so it might get a bit cool by then.

etoilech: I'd have to set up a rental birthtub in another room, wouldn't fit in my bathroom.

Actually another drawback is I think I'd have to set it up in my basement due to the weight. I live in a 3 story townhome and I don't particularly trust the construction to support the weight of a full pool. So bedroom/planned birthing room will be on 3rd level and pool would have to be in basement so that's 2 flights of stairs I'd have to get up. Although I could at least keep my 2 yo away from it then. I don't plan on my dd being there the whole time, hopefully a friend will care for her part of the time. Depends how long the birth takes. Last time I was in labor 24 hrs before c/s.

I wouldn't normally be against birthing in my bathtub but this will be a HBAC after 1 c/s so I really want my MW and her asst. to be able to monitor me and my bathroom is just too small for 3 people.

[alegna]

We used a kiddie pool. No mess at all. None. I wanted to be able to really float and that just wasn't possible in our tubs. If I had a HUGE tub, that might have worked.

-Angela

[veggiekicks]

I used an AquaDoula for laboring (when it was time for pushing, I felt like getting out to have a little more 'umph'). I will be renting one for my next birth (if we're blessed with another one). The roomy, deep tub was perfect for moving around--I found that I wanted to be reclined between contractions and more hands & knees-ish during contractions--being in the tub made turning a breeze! Since rental tubs have built in heaters, the water stayed warm for the entire 18 hours I was in labor (I wasn't in the tub 18 hrs. straight, got in and out a few times).

A side note: I didn't get in the tub until my labor was relatively advanced, mostly because the thought of getting into warm water sounded too hot to me. Once I got in, I wished I'd gotten in sooner--it felt SO wonderful, and the warm water was awesome!

Good luck with your birth, whatever you choose!

[Gunter]

I have a garden tub but it's not easily accessible for MW or DH to support me. I think that I will like a deep aqua doula that DH can get in with me or sit beside. So, we plan to rent one of those and put it in another room next to our bedroom.

[alegna]

On weight- if you'd be comfortable with a waterbed you should be fine with a kiddie pool. Any resonably newish construction should be okay.

-Angela

[2+twins]

Originally Posted by alegna

On weight- if you'd be comfortable with a waterbed you should be fine with a kiddie pool. Any resonably newish construction should be okay.

-Angela

: plus placing the tub in the corner of a room offers more support, if that's a concern. We rented a tub for my first birth when we lived on the 3rd floor of an apt. building (new construction). The way it breaks down is roughly 80 lbs. per square foot with a full tub (for a Spa-In-A-Box - should be the same for an AquaDoula). So would you be able to safely have about 10 150 poundish friends stand within a 5 foot circle for any length of time or would that be too much weight for your floor? The weight of the pool full is 1480 lbs.

[wombat]

Oh this is wonderful, I even get construction advice! Yes, I think my 3rd floor could stand 10 150lb people. Thanks for that advice!

And my belly is too big for the tub, I tried it. I gotta laugh how I didn't even think of that til everyone mentioned it.

So I've called a local MW who rents out AquaDoulas and am going to find out the exact cost and then decide. It seems more doable than I first thought. I like the idea of it having a water heater as I don't think our hot water system could cope with constantly refilling a pool that didn't have one.

I'm 33w now. My birthkit was delivered the other day. I'm starting to get excited about this now with all these preparations.

[Yemaya1]

I used my fishy pool and bath tub. Stayed in the bath tub longer actually. The cat poked holes in the fishy pools.