Cleaning my whirlpool tub for labor?

[MistyP]

Can anyone give me some good advice on cleaning and disinfecting (or having DH!) our whirlpool garden tub? I know I will labor in it some and possibly deliver there. I just want to know it is very clean before hand and REALLY wonder about cleaning it afterwards, especially if I deliver in the water.

Any tips? Bleach water solution (how much bleach?)

Thanks!

Misty

[ABand3]

I would not use bleach - I would worry more about harsh bleach residue in the water than my own germs. I used my tub every day in the last couple weeks before birth, and after each use would spray it with my usual vinegear/water solution and wipe it out. I also ran the jets for 15 minutes with clean water and vinegear a couple times. I birthed in the tub but didn't use the jets.

The midwife cleaned the tub for us afterwards. If you are birthing with a midwife at home, I'm sure she'll clean everything up for you.

[eco_mama]

I just used my seventh generation all purpose cleaner to clean mine. I wouldn't worry about it so much. Just use something all natural, enviro-friendly.

[Ellien C]

I talked to my doc about laboring in water in the hospital and she was really against it because her colleague had cultured all kinds of nasty stuff from the tubs in the hospital. and I was like how could my cruddy, slimy tub (DH and I work full-time - the housekeeping is minimal at best) NOT be cleaner than the hospitals. My doc pointed out that I already had immunity to whatever was growing in my own bathtub!

So - I think cleaning may not be such a big deal before birth. You're already resistant to whatever might be there. Plus - bleach is kinda nasty - very strong chemical, quite the irritant.

[MistyP]

I use natural cleaning products from Melaleuca. I don't think I would want to run the stuff I use for cleaning the tub and shower through the jets because it soaps up. I do have a disinfectant solution, but it has melaleuca oil in it and I don't know what it would do to the jets.

How much water to vinegar do you use?