Waterbirth at home question. - Page 2

[IfMamaAintHappy]

we borrow our midwife's aquadoula tub. When her last client who wants to waterbirth before me has her baby, I get the tub till I have my baby. Not all of her clients do, so it worked last time. It has a heater and a pump. The only thing I dont like is taht its ahrd to bear down unless someone is behind you in the tub!

My midwife said if I feel like baby is coming too fast for her to get there, to get in my bathtub and get myself (tissues down there!) hydrated to reduce the chance of really bad tears... since your body isnt real warmed up when you have a baby in say a half hour to an hour and a half.

My second baby came in 3 1/.2 hrs. I do not assume my third will be that fast or faster. I ws 2 cm and 50% at 37 weeks last pregnancy, and right now I am as tight as fort knox at 37 1/2 weeks, so Im sorta losing my faith that I will have such a fast birth this time! It would sure be nice.

[Mary-Beth]

I had my baby in our bath tub...it isn't as big as the birthcenter tubs but it was big enough...I covered the overfull drain thing so I got an extra inch...

It worked well because I kept switching from feeling hot and adding cool water to feeling cold and wanting hot water added. I just used water, nothing added. I don't know the temp. just what felt good and like I said it changed along the way.

The water helped sooo much! I highly recommed it!

And keep in mind, you could get in the shower while your tub fills if it isn't ready when you need it.

[2+twins]

Haven't read through all the posts - sorry if I'm repeating something. I had a 90 minute birth last time so I really understand your concern about going too fast to get the pool set up (sounds valid to me). Anyway, if it were me (and it is b/c I'm pg too), I'd ditch the inflatable pool idea, rent a Spa-In-A-Box because you can fill it with fresh water as you approach your due date, keep it warm (this tub heats and maintains heat of the water in it), and keep it covered and locked (very important since you said you have kids around). Anyway, you'd want to change the water out every 2 days (pita, yes, but at least you'll have a pre-filled tub ready to go the moment labor hits). This is my plan anyway. I'm fortunate b/c I own a couple of these tubs already (I rent them) so I don't have to worry about the cost involved with a rental. I think it's totally worthwhile and very beneficial - especially for such a quick birth. I think it saved me from tearing badly last time. Anyway, this is just my opinion, but it's what I plan to do this time around.

[Peppamint]

I had the three chamber fishy pool which I think took about 15 minutes to inflate (I bought the recommended air pump). I would have inflated it ahead of time, but we just didn't have anywhere to stash it... and since I would be laboring in the middle of the kitchen floor (sink access and also the only room with enough floor space open) we had to wait until labor began. Thankfully, my labor was 4 hours so I had time. I was home alone (dh on 3rd shift) so I had to inflate the pool myself and start filling with water but once dh got home he took over.

Filling it with water took longer than anything else IIRC. I hope you can work it out!

To the poster who asked about tubs at home... our bathtub is the traditional long narrow enamel on steel bathtub. Not at all comfortable since it's narrow (and I'm 5'2") and does get very deep. Not worth trying to labor in since you can't get comfortable. If I had a garden tub, I'd go for it!