Pool setup time

[bleumoose]

I'm not sure we're going to be able to do a trial run of setting up and filling the labor pool before I go into labor, just because of what's on our schedule in the next week or so. I don't expect the baby to be born in the next week, but I'd like a rough idea of the time to expect it to take, just in case. How much time it did it take you? (We're using the Sevylor Electra pool with the python faucet pump and hose.)

Hi, by the way I haven't posted here before, but I've been lurking and picking up lots of good info!

[teachinmaof3]

When I thought I was in labor, we filled it up 1/2 way. Then covered it with a twin comforter to help hold the heat in.

When I got to the point where I knew it was labor and I was ready to be in the water, we filled it up the rest of the way.

By doing it that way, when I was ready it already had some water in it and I didn't have to wait.

[Marvelleaux]

Hi ladies, this a little off topic but I wanted to share something I had learned...

To keep the heat in tubs of water use bubble wrap. You can buy it in rolls at the usual suspects (staples, wal-mart, etc.). The same idea is used to make solar-heating pool covers (except the bubble material is made of UV resistant material). You just cut it and tape it together to fit the size of the pool and then float it right on the surface of the water. You'll be amazed at how long the water stays hot!

[Gray's Mommy]

We have the same pool to use in birthing. We blow up time & filling half way it took about 35 minutes. For a full water filling, we are estimating an hour & 2 hours to drain. I made my Dh do a test run & our DS got to go *swimming* in the living room He thought it was a blast. I got in with my suit also & we played for awhile...the water stayed warm, but I can see where we'll have to add some hot water occasionally to keep the chill from coming on.

[katie9143]

We have the same pool as well and with a black and decker electric air pump it took about an hr to inflate actually (i thought that was a long time personally...and its really loud!) As far as filling, we have a small hot water heater that we have turned up as far as it will go and it will fill the pool about halfway in probably 30 mins (halfway is more than enough water if both me and my fiance get in together). If its just me, I need to wait a little bit for the heater to get partially filled again and then top it off a little.

I didnt find that it held the heat that well at all (even using a quilted plastic table cloth as some had suggested), but with the python pump its really easy to drain some out and then add some more hot back in. When we drained it, it took over an hr - but not quite an hr and a half i dont think.

[StacyL]

See this thread

For my recent birth, it took 20 minutes to inflate the pool with an electric air pump, (you should definitely do this beforehand and leave it inflated) and it took 30 minutes to fill the pool, and 30 minutes to drain it.

Good luck!

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by Marvelleaux

To keep the heat in tubs of water use bubble wrap. You can buy it in rolls at the usual suspects (staples, wal-mart, etc.). The same idea is used to make solar-heating pool covers (except the bubble material is made of UV resistant material). You just cut it and tape it together to fit the size of the pool and then float it right on the surface of the water. You'll be amazed at how long the water stays hot!

Great idea!

[bleumoose]

Thanks so much everyone! Your responses have been really helpful. I love the idea of letting DS swim in the pool, he'd get a huge kick out of that. I'd been thinking we had to wait until my mom was able to watch him for an evening, but maybe we can do the test with him around after all.