need pool recommendation for 5'9 tall woman

[huggerwocky]

...aka me

I looked at some on-line but was doubtful about the depth. What worked for you with this height? I think I'd like an inflatable floor one.

[aisraeltax]

im that tall also but just used the birthing pool at the birth center. it was big enough but how i wish it had been bigger!
good luck on your quest and have a great birth!

[Jude-a-buddies-mom]

I am also your height and I used this fishy pool with no problems. They do have a larger size too.
www.birthwithsol.com/birthpool.html

[Earthylady]

I'm 5'7' and used the larger fishy pool. I wanted the water to completely cover my stomach while relaxing back...and also I wanted it to come up on my back while being on all fours. It did neither. So, I was really disappointed about that. However, it still well in the sense that I labored in it for 5 hours...the water stayed warm and dh occupied himself dealing with it while my sister did the mothering thing for me, and there was plenty of room if I had chosen to have DH and even dd in it with me, and it only took 30 minutes to blow up and not too terribly long to fill up with water. However, I will look for a deeper pool next time. Maybe 30" would work. I was really disappointed...but happy that I had it vs. nothing. KWIM?

If you click on the link in my siggy for HBAC, you can view the pics. We filled it up as far as we could and even got water in the floor at one point...however there was only about 6" in it when I first got in.

Mandy

[Emmeline II]

I bought this one http://www.qualityinflatables.com/56493.html ( haven't used it yet) is 25 inches deep, and is the deepest I've found. The aqua doula is 24 inches deep, and the spa-in-a-box is also 24 inches deep. I bought a hose and sink adapter here http://yourwaterbirth.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=23 I found the rest of what I needed at walmart.

[Arwyn]

Am I the only one who thinks 24 inches is too damn shallow? Or is it just my height (same as you huggerwocky) and my fat ass??

Seriously, I want a pool with at least 30" sides, so it can actually be filled with at least 26" of water! 36" would be even better.

Why doesn't anyone make THOSE?!

The point is, we should be free to move around in the pool and adopt upright positions without having our stomachs (and I'd prefer not breasts either) out of the water. I have to be sitting down (slouched!) in order to be covered in a 22/24" pool ('cause you know the water level has to be at least a couple inches lower than that).

Alright pool manufacturers, I'm not pregnant yet, so you have at least nine months to get this made and delivered!

[JennaLeigh26]

I am 5'9" and really liked the Aquadoula I was on all fours and it still covered my back very well.

[coco4cloth]

I had the large fishy pool but I'm short but I didn't want the water covering my whole body, in fact I didn't fill the pool up the whole way. I get very hot during labor so it was nice to have my arms a chest out of the water.

[cottonwood]

I think the whole point of not having something more than 24" high is so the midwife can get in there to do stuff, you know? I doubt, for that reason, that there would be much of a market for deeper birth tubs. I totally agree with you though, I wanted something at least 30" deep and was very frustrated that I couldn't find anything.

I used a rubbermaid trough, I think it was only 24", but as the sides are rigid you can fill that right up to the top pretty much. I'm only average height, but I was able to have my belly covered while kneeling, and my entire body covered while reclining back. The one I had was dark, and again, midwives don't like that because it makes it hard to see how much blood is in the water (although personally I think there are better ways to gauge normality of third stage, but that's another thread) but I LOVED it because it made me feel less exposed and accessible. One drawback: it's not cushy like a fishy pool, so it's not really good for laboring in one position for a long time.

Also, re: heating, I had the water pretty much room temperature, it wasn't the heat that I wanted the water for (I get soooo hot in labor, I don't understand why anyone would want a hot tub!) but the buoyancy. It just feels nice.

[huggerwocky]

I'm 5'7' and used the larger fishy pool. I wanted the water to completely cover my stomach while relaxing back...and also I wanted it to come up on my back while being on all fours. It did neither. So, I was really disappointed about that. However, it still well in the sense that I labored in it for 5 hours...the water stayed warm and dh occupied himself dealing with it while my sister did the mothering thing for me, and there was plenty of room if I had chosen to have DH and even dd in it with me, and it only took 30 minutes to blow up and not too terribly long to fill up with water. However, I will look for a deeper pool next time. Maybe 30" would work. I was really disappointed...but happy that I had it vs. nothing. KWIM?

If you click on the link in my siggy for HBAC, you can view the pics. We filled it up as far as we could and even got water in the floor at one point...however there was only about 6" in it when I first got in.

Mandy

What is the larger fishy pool?

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by i'mmykid'$mom

I bought this one http://www.qualityinflatables.com/56493.html ( haven't used it yet) is 25 inches deep, and is the deepest I've found. The aqua doula is 24 inches deep, and the spa-in-a-box is also 24 inches deep. I bought a hose and sink adapter here http://yourwaterbirth.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=23 I found the rest of what I needed at walmart.

25 inches sounds fantastic

I bet my daughter will love it ( she gets to use it through summer before the birth : )

I have a hose and tarp so I just need the sink adapter I suppose....and 1 bucket for emptying and renewing water will do?

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by JennaLeigh26

I am 5'9" and really liked the Aquadoula I was on all fours and it still covered my back very well.

That totally is out of our budget right now

And wouldn't soft sides be better for hanging on the rim like a wet blanket without hurting yourself?

[Arwyn]

Those pics are so great! You're beautiful!

That, though, is why I really really want a deeper pool. I probably would have said to hell with the floor, fill it up more, but it still wouldn't have been deep enough...

We need bouyancy! (Am I spelling that right? ) That means we need all of our bellies and at least 80% of our body mass underwater! Why can't the pool manufacturers figure that out?

I do see the point about the midwives, but honestly with a deeper pool that just means mom can stand up more while still being underwater, keeping the yoni/baby within view just fine. Anyway, really, how much needs to be done at a waterbirth? Basically nothing! Midwives can just learn to deal with it - they're there to help the mom be more comfortable, not the other way 'round. (And I'm speaking as an aspiring midwife - I still want a 30+" birth pool!)

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by Arwyn

Seriously, I want a pool with at least 30" sides, so it can actually be filled with at least 26" of water! 36" would be even better.

Why doesn't anyone make THOSE?!

Here's a thought: It is hard to get over the sides while in labor. I had to get OUT of the pool while ds' head was out to birth the rest of his body due to shoulder dystocia - no small feat! But, I am 5'5" and really it is definitely deep enough to give you what you need during labor.

[Arwyn]

Originally Posted by StacyL

Here's a thought: It is hard to get over the sides while in labor. I had to get OUT of the pool while ds' head was out to birth the rest of his body due to shoulder dystocia - no small feat! But, I am 5'5" and really it is definitely deep enough to give you what you need during labor.

Details shmetails. I want my deep tub!

[Earthylady]

Originally Posted by huggerwocky

What is the larger fishy pool?

The larger fishy pool is the one that's 26" deep. It wasn't as deep as I had hoped it would be. I'm with the rest that would have liked at least a 30" pool.

Arwyn...THANK YOU! I'm so glad you liked the pictures....you are so sweet. Thanks for letting me know you looked at them.

[Isaac'sMa]

What about la bassine? It's 25" and you can buy it for $95- a bit less than the AquaDoula and it's yours, not a rental. I saw some other women suggest it on these boards a little while ago...Looks comfy, if a bit small...I'm also 5'9"! :

http://www.yourwaterbirth.com/labassine.shtml

[pigpokey]

For anyone who can front the money (you could always try to buy used and then resell) the Voyager Portable Spa has been GREAT. I spent so much time in it when pregnant and then of course, when labor starts it's already ready to go. The VPS has 36" sides, is 6' across, is put together with interlocking panels so that it has no trouble going through doorways or being transported (you might need a few trips in a station wagon but it's doable) and my kids, since I still have mine going strong, are excellent little baby swimmers & practice many underwater maneuvers.

[AngelBee]

:

[Arwyn]

Oh my... why is no one renting the voyager??? I NEED THAT!!!