Plus-sized mamas... La Bassine, Aquadoula, Fishy Pool?

[prettypixels]

Well, my MW likes the Aquadoula but I have concerns about the liner being uncomfortable for me... I will be renting that if I were to get it.

I have the hexagonal fishy pool here but have concerns about the heat and being able to fill it up easily as it's so big.

La Bassine looks really neat... but that sure is a tiny woman in there! (Well, she looks tiny to ME with my big butt )
http://www.yourwaterbirth.com/labassine.shtml

What's deep enough without being too deep... big enough without being too big... comfy all the way around...?

If it makes a diff... I am 5'6" and currently 250+ (having gained 30 lbs with this baby!).

Why is it so hard to choose? : I think Sunday I'll have my husband blow up the fishy pool so I can get in and see what I think of that, but I'd love to hear other mamas experiences. I know lots of people love the fishy pool and I was lucky to find one! (Homebirthin' mamas must be buying them out!) If I wind up not using it maybe I'll get it to another MDC mama who needs it.

[Peony]

I'm not plus sized but I used the aquadoula for dd2's birth, it is HUGE. I did think about the liner being annoying, but it wasn't to me. You are supposed to be able to smooth it out when you start filling it up, DH forgot but in the end I could care less. I'm 5'5 and I got the extra booster cushion thing, I really liked that. Without it my butt didn't reach the bottom of the tub when I was lying back against the side, it really is a deep pool. HTH

[LizaBear]

I'm 5'5" and about 190 lbs now - I'll be using the "fishy" pool, same as I did last time around. I found the fit just fine, and it was very comfy for me.

This is just minutes after my DD was born.

[paxye]

Well.. I am a plus size mama and bought the La Bassine...

I just tried it out for the first time a two nights ago for a test run... the size is perfect... I filled it up about a bit more than half way and it covered my tummy... and left a lot more space for adding water...
You float a bit but not too much.... enough however that the inflated bottom makes it so that there are No pressure points at all and all of the positions are comfy...
Also, the side are REALLY stable and you can put your weight on them without them going down....

I am really happy about my choice..

OH... and the La Bassine is the pool that takes the least water... it took about 20-25 min to fill up with one hot water tank full (and we didn't put our water temp up) it also retained heat very well and just one pot full of hot water raised the temp by 1 degree C and it didn't lose heat before I got out...

btw... I am a bit shorter that you and about the same weight...

[Arwyn]

La Bassine is my current preference (5'10, in the vicinity of 280-300 lbs, first kid), but I worry about my cat, who has already single pawedly popped my second birth ball (the first having been destroyed by my German Shepard when he was a puppy), and, of course, the dog.

I really wish there were a showroom somewhere I could go try 'em out!

[StacyL]

All of these pools (the fishy, the Sevylor, the La Bassine) are the same diameter (60-65") and the same depth (22-24") and have inflatable floors (comfy), so I think you will do just fine in any of those. The bottom line is each of them will cover you up to your boobs in the water. It really is just a matter of what you are willing to spend - about $25, $50, and $95, respectively. The only upside I would think to spending $95 on a La Bassine if money is not an issue is that it has interior handles. That could be nice. But otherwise, the others will all serve you very well, regardless of your weight.

BTW, have you seen that Russian waterbirth video? It's very beautiful, but those women are birthing in a rather small rectangluar clear, lexan tub.

[prettypixels]

Ladies, thank you for your input!!!

LizaBear what a beautiful photo....!!!!!

Paxye, I read somewhere that you loved your La Bassine, it's what made me look at it again... I couldn't remember if you were a bigger mama or not, so thank you so much for posting! The La Bassine website should really show some mamas of different sizes in it... I just think it's hard to tell based on that one very slender woman, how a variety of bodies will fit in there.

Arwyn, I wish I had advice about the cat/dog... I don't think my dog will hurt the pool, he will definitely investigate a little bit though. Luckily he doesn't like to get into the pools we get outside for summer, either, so I don't think he'll bother it too much!

Stacy, I haven't seen that video, I keep meaning to, but...!
I love your quote

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

Stacy, I haven't seen that video, I keep meaning to, but...!
I love your quote

Thanks.

I borrowed that video from my MW while pg. That video is so neat, but it is sort of like some unattainable beautiful birth in my mind. It's darn near poetic. My second birth was really great, but not like that video! But it's nice to have that contrast to view if you have ever polluted your mind by watching that show Birth Day on the Discovery Health Channel!