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Birth in Bathtub?  

post #1 of 33
11/15/06 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
So I was talking to my mw about what sort of birth pool to get for the birth. She doesn't provide one, unfortunately and there is a local doula who rents them out for an outrageous price. So I was thinking of buying one through one of the great websites I found. She told me that she actually prefers when women birth in the bathtub because it is so much easier for her and the assistants to assist me. She said that most women find birthing in their bathtub great because of all of the things to grab onto and being able to push their feet against the wall. For my last birth my mw (in another state) brought along a huge birthing tub for free, so I never thought twice about it.

Has anyone here birthed in their tub? Did you feel like you had enough room? I'm really tall (6'1'') and I'm concerned I will feel cramped in there... Any advise, suggestions, experiences would be greatly appreciated.
ETA: My bathtub is not a big one. We live in an apartment with an average sized tub.
post #2 of 33
11/15/06 at 3:46pm
I birthed my second in our bathtub.

Granted it was an old bathtub back when they still believed in making them deep

I dont think I could do it in a new bathtub unless it was like a garden tub. Most bath tubs nowdays are too shallow to do any good.
post #3 of 33
11/15/06 at 3:50pm
I may do the bathtub this time, if labor seems to be going as fast as my last, just because its so easy to drain.

Have you seen the fishy pool? That worked really well for us last birth. There are a number of threads around here about logistics for that... we used the Intex round one, and have another in wait for this next baby. Its much more afforadable than renting or buying a big pool but works really well.
post #4 of 33
11/15/06 at 3:50pm
Personally, I don't think I could. We have an average size tub and I'm not even comfortable taking a bath in it - it's very shallow.

I waterbirthed in a hospital birthing center, with warm water up to my neck in a birthing pool. I NEED to be submerged, baby!
post #5 of 33
11/15/06 at 5:08pm
It would have been too small for me. I used a fishy pool (can be bought for $40) for my second birth.
post #6 of 33
11/15/06 at 5:13pm
I birthed in the bathtub due to a fast labour. We had intended to blow up the pool I found it ok, but really shallow. Next time I hope we have time to fill the pool we got.
post #7 of 33
11/15/06 at 5:23pm
My bathtub is way too small.

-Angela
post #8 of 33
11/15/06 at 5:26pm
Only if I had one of those nice sweet deep jacuzzi like bathtubs...

Or a clawfoot...

why the HECK do they insist on making bathtubs no deeper than a flippin mud puddle is beyond me...
post #9 of 33
11/15/06 at 6:57pm
Thread Starter 
I think this is inspiring me to go ahead and get the pool I was thinking of and not count on the bathtub. Thanks for your replies, ladies!
post #10 of 33
11/15/06 at 7:11pm
Also, being in a regular bathtub forces you to either lie down, or be sitting on your tailbone -- neither position is ideal for birth. I suppose you could try and get on your hands and knees, but that's pretty uncomfortable in a regular tub.
post #11 of 33
11/15/06 at 10:19pm
I'm thinking about using my garden tub...it's really deep with 2 sets of steps to sit on...we'll see...I'd rather not have to deal with a pool if I don't HAVE to...
post #12 of 33
11/15/06 at 10:22pm
A garden tub would IMO be ideal to use.
post #13 of 33
11/15/06 at 11:30pm
I have been thinking about this, too.

So my jacuzzi tub should be fine then, right? No need for me to get a pool, right?
post #14 of 33
11/16/06 at 1:59pm
I gave birth in my bathtub, easily, but it is a huge clawfoot and I am 5'3"
post #15 of 33
11/16/06 at 2:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ndunn View Post
I birthed in the bathtub due to a fast labour. We had intended to blow up the pool I found it ok, but really shallow.
Me too! The problems were that it was HARD, difficult to move around in, and I could not submerse.

I'd tell her I want to speak to these women who found the bath tub great. Don't worry about her comfort. My mw wasn't even at my birth; my dh caught the baby.
post #16 of 33
11/16/06 at 3:25pm
"She told me that she actually prefers when women birth in the bathtub because it is so much easier for her and the assistants to assist me."

My Alarm bells are going off. I might be uptight about this, but if I'd ever heard my midwife say something like that it would be reason for me to not use her unless in the same sentence she'd say my comfort comes first.

To the question, I was in the tub before the pool was inflated and found it too hard to get comfy...a big roman tub,too !
post #17 of 33
11/16/06 at 3:29pm
i birthed my second in the tub - regular little shallow thing - only because the running water of the shower felt soothing to me at the time. It was too small to labour in comfortably - but I was glad I birthed the baby in there. The clean up was nothing. still - my mw had to have me change positions as the head crowned - there are only a few positions you can be in in a traditional tub with only one side access. doesn't seem like it would be most convenient for the assistants at all (except for clean up).
post #18 of 33
11/16/06 at 4:25pm

Recommendations for perineal massage

sorry, posted in wrong place! I'm not sure how to delete this?
post #19 of 33
11/16/06 at 5:16pm
we are getting our bathroom redone and installing a really deep freestanding tub, and I am hoping it will be perfect for labor/delivery.
post #20 of 33
11/16/06 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah if I had a big tub, I don't think I'd question it... but it's a small apartment sized one.
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