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Filling birth pool with spring water??  

post #1 of 8
6/25/06 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
We get our water via a spring on our property. It goes through a filter to get rid of any sediment, but it's not chemically treated in any way. Just straight from the mountains. DH is worried about the chance of there being bacteria or something that would not be good for birthing in. That said, we drink the water straight from the tap with no problems whatsoever. Do you think it will be okay?

Is there anything we could do/add to the water that would ease Mr. WorryWart's mind? (He's not so keen on the whole waterbirth idea, so anything to get him onboard....
post #2 of 8
6/25/06 at 3:41pm
I've heard a cup of salt works.
post #3 of 8
6/26/06 at 3:22pm
Test it, then you'll know.
The one I'd be concerned about is fecal coliform - it's used as an indicator organism and I would look into some type of disinfection if it's positive.

'Other bacteria' is another test (anything besides fecal coliform), but it isn't as critical if it comes in positive.

Proper sampling technique is important, don't get your fingers in the sample and you may get different results before and after your filter - if you get a + after the filter, the filter may be the source!

Regular chlorine bleach is an easily available disinfectant, but of course dosing is important.

HTH to get you started!
post #4 of 8
6/26/06 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
Where can I get these tests? Can I do them myself or will I have to send away for the results? (any day now!) Thanks!
post #5 of 8
6/26/06 at 11:57pm
The midwives who trained me used to heavily salt their pools to kill bacteria. I don't do that myself, but it never seemed to do anything negative.
post #6 of 8
6/27/06 at 2:53am
Quote:
Where can I get these tests? Can I do them myself or will I have to send away for the results?
Sorry, didn't see your ticker! If you want to get into it, look up 'laboratories' in the yellow pages and you should find one that advertizes 'drinking water'.

You pick up from them a sterile bottle, collect a sample. return to the lab wthin a timeframe (prolly 24 hrs) and then wait, shouldn't be much $ and a couple of days. If you live rural, you might not find one close & have to order a bottle & express the sample.

OTOH you are totally right that it should be a bigger deal drinkng it than birthing in it!

I think it's more practical to make sure the filter is clean. Scrub it, bleach it & rinse it out really good.
post #7 of 8
6/27/06 at 5:06am
When I read the title, I pictured someone standing next to the birth pool with cases of bottled water pouring them in one at a time!

Silly me, I should know better! We hunted for a spring on our land for years before we just gave up and drilled a well.
post #8 of 8
6/27/06 at 8:29am
Just out of curiosity for you salt-users, couldn't that possibly sting baby's eyes or a mom's perineum if there is a tear?
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Mothering › Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Homebirth › Filling birth pool with spring water??