Birth Pool resources and information - Page 3

[GrammyMidwife]

re:birthing tubs

I was able to try out the aqua doula with a couple of moms and found it to be a triffle unwieldy..took a ton of water (we didn't get it filled for one mom) and was hard for one sorta short mom to push as she kept floating to the top! Midwife got very wet as well...Tried La Bassine with last HB and it was wonderful!!Took about an hour to set up and fill, using non urban water supply and trickle feed so as not to run out of hot water. About 1/2 - 2/3 full was sufficiant, we trickled more hot in as needed but it held its temp for over 4 hours in a cool house on a blizzzaedy winter night,and it had nice firm wide sides for mom to lean over, dad to sit on and midwife to be supported (still got wet). I truly cannot wait to use it again. Price is very reasonable..$95 for tub alone or $322 for tub with fill pump, hose, mirror, drain pump, net, thermometer,even plastic tarp!!Not all this stuff is necessary but as this tub will be used, I invested in all the goodies. Hope this info helps. Happy birthing!!

[Eaglevoice]

I have a friend who is going to let me borrow her sevylor. Last time I didn't have to worry about getting one on my own since my mw dropped a horse trough one by at 36 weeks.

[ebony_vbac]

my husband wants to know if we can buy a metal fill and drain pump instead of plastic because he's afraid the inside is going to be stripped trying to screw it into the metal adapter, or should we lok for a plastic adapter instead. also the hose that comes with it is tiny compared to the rv hose we have which one should we use?

[AutumnW]

I ended up getting the rv hose instead of the aquarium and I have a question. where can I find an adapter to hook the rv hose to my kitchen sink? would it be the same as the aquarium adapter or are they different sizes? I'm guessing a hardware store, but I'm not sure. Can anyone tell me where they got theirs? Thanks!

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by mariew

I ended up getting the rv hose instead of the aquarium and I have a question. where can I find an adapter to hook the rv hose to my kitchen sink? would it be the same as the aquarium adapter or are they different sizes? I'm guessing a hardware store, but I'm not sure. Can anyone tell me where they got theirs? Thanks!

The Python drain & fill pump is standard and fits any hose - garden, aquarium, rv. The faucet adapter you can get in either plastic or metal, and they are standard and will also fit any hose. You can get these at Petsmart or an aquarium store, or from the links at the top of this thread.

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by ebony_vbac

my husband wants to know if we can buy a metal fill and drain pump instead of plastic because he's afraid the inside is going to be stripped trying to screw it into the metal adapter, or should we lok for a plastic adapter instead. also the hose that comes with it is tiny compared to the rv hose we have which one should we use?

I've never heard of nor seen a *metal* drain & fill pump.

He needn't worry about stripping a plastic drain & fill pump because the connection itself rotates - it would be nearly impossible to strip your faucet adapter whether it's metal OR plastic. It doesn't matter which you use.

The hose doesn't matter either (aquarium or rv), but it is best to use the shortest length possible to get from the sink to the pool - if 'short' is what you mean by saying 'tiny.'

[ebony_vbac]

to drain the pool you turn the green thing towards where it says drain right? and when you say open and closed what do you mean. is up closed and down open?

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by ebony_vbac

is up closed and down open?

Yes. Look at the picture in the link upthread. It should be hooked up to your faucet exactly as shown in the photo.

When the rotating green valve at the bottom is in the 'closed' (up) position and you turn on the water it will not allow any water to come out of the bottom - all of the water will pass thru the side outlet where your hose is attached and therefore fill the pool.

When you rotate it into the 'open' position and also pull down a bit until it clicks, the water will begin emptying from that bottom outlet and go down your drain. The key is you have to have the valve in the 'closed' position and your cold water TURNED ON FULL BLAST BEFORE ROTATING THE VALVE TO THE 'DRAIN' (down/open) POSITION AND KEEP THE WATER TURNED ON while draining. I know that seems counter-intuitive, but the running water is what provides the pressure to create the suction to draw the water thru the hose and out of the pool.

[TriMom2007]

Birth Pool in a Box?

Hi,

I know the OP cautioned against getting suckered into the expensive birth pool kits, but this birth pool is now available in the US through waterbirth.org and it looks heavenly.

http://www.waterbirth.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=45085

I'm especially interested in it because it is deeper than most kiddie pools and I am 5' 10" and really wished for more water during my last birth (in a birth center jacuzzi tub. Not sure how deep it was.) I'm also very interested in something with soft sides and bottom rather than hard plastic.

Can someone point out to me why this wouldn't be worth the $150? I am pretty sure I could sell it to another homebirthing mama afterwards for at least half price.

Thanks for any tips, advice, info, etc!

Beth

[GinaRae]

Originally Posted by StacyL

However, if your pool has been left inflated for a couple of weeks before birth, it has had a chance to off-gas, and I wouldn't be concerned. You just don't spend enough time in there (certainly not after the babe is born) for it to be a problem.

I'm afraid the kids would be so excited by a pool in the house they will damage it by getting in and out or something. Any thoughts? I wonder if I just opened the pool and let it hang in the garage... maybe that would help.

But then again, you're right. We won't have it in the house and open for very long. It won't be inflated and filled and used until I am actually in labor...

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by TriMom2007

http://www.waterbirth.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=45085

I'm especially interested in it because it is deeper than most kiddie pools and I am 5' 10" and really wished for more water during my last birth (in a birth center jacuzzi tub. Not sure how deep it was.) I'm also very interested in something with soft sides and bottom rather than hard plastic.

Can someone point out to me why this wouldn't be worth the $150? I am pretty sure I could sell it to another homebirthing mama afterwards for at least half price.

That pool was made specifically for HB, which is neat, but the only way I would get that pool was if I felt I really needed a large pool that a second person could get into the water of with me. If that was really important to you, then maybe $150 would be worth it.

Otherwise, the "Mini" one they show for $125 is no different than a La Bassine or a Sevylor Electra, IMO. A La Bassine is only $95, a Sevylor Electra is only $49.

Plus, I find it utterly outrageous that they charge THIRTY DOLLARS for a disposable liner that you truly don't even need. I don't know anyone who has used a liner with an inflatable pool. I've only seen them used for AquaDoulas.

[Ygle]

Originally Posted by StacyL

Otherwise, the "Mini" one they show for $125 is no different than a La Bassine or a Sevylor Electra, IMO. A La Bassine is only $95, a Sevylor Electra is only $49.

Bpiab both regular and mini have internal depth of 26", La Bassine is 23", the Electra has an external depth of 22" (the external depth of La Bassine is 26")... at least according to the websites.

[StacyL]

Check post #2 for info I added on using stock tanks, a.k.a. horse troughs.

[purplepeace]

We set up our Aquadoula last nigh and are giving it a test spin tonight! I really like that you can keep the water in for 3 days and there is a heater! Water pressure is an issue in our old house, so having some time to hold the water between fillings from our 30 gallon water heater will be helpful too!

I'll let you all know how it goes!

[greenthumb3]

Originally Posted by GinaRae

I'm afraid the kids would be so excited by a pool in the house they will damage it by getting in and out or something. Any thoughts? I wonder if I just opened the pool and let it hang in the garage... maybe that would help.

But then again, you're right. We won't have it in the house and open for very long. It won't be inflated and filled and used until I am actually in labor...

You might be surprised how hefty those inflatable pools can be. I bought the star shaped pool from Target and my kids jumped in that thing, with their friends, for two weeks straight, with no problems. I deflated it and will keep it in the garage until a week or two before baby's due date. I plan on doing at least one test run just to see how long it takes to fill/empty, to practice filling and emptying and to see how I like it so I can make necessary adjustments before the actual birth.

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by GinaRae

We won't have it in the house and open for very long. It won't be inflated and filled and used until I am actually in labor...

I would definitely suggest rethinking that plan.

It really pays to do a test run first.

Also, you should keep the pool inflated until you go into labor. Especially since it is not your first birth, you would possibly not have enough time to both inflate a pool and then also fill it with water.

[lyttlewon]

I just wanted to mention one thing about the python drain and fill pump. My DH is an aquarium guy and has worked in the fish industry for over a decade. He said if you have a basement you can take a garden hose and drain a pool the same way. The gravity of the drop into your basement will create the same type of suction and is faster. It doesn't have to be a basement it can just be down your front steps. The extra gravity is faster than the sink draining method. When he drains our fish tanks he uses his bottle syphon with the tail plugged into the end of a garden hose and waters the garden with it. Just an alternative method.

[Shell_Ell]

I have a question... we bought a 25 foot white camper/RV hose at the hardware store. It is drinking water quality. It doesn't say anything about whether or not we can run hot water through it. How do I know that it's safe to use with very hot water? And how do I know whether or not there is PVC in the hose? I plan to show it to my midwife to make sure it's okay to use, but I wanted to ask here first.

Also, we plan to fill it in the basement sink and put the hose up through the laundry chute. Will this create an issue of it filling too slow, or is it okay for it to work "against gravity"?

[StacyL]

RV hoses are drinking-water quality and are fine for hot water - lots of people have used them here.

Running a hose uphill, especially STRAIGHT UP a laundry chute would definitely create a problem with your water pressure/flow. Isn't there a sink on the floor your pool is on??

[meg-momto2]

i'm ordering my tub tomorrow and i just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been. i've been researching it for weeks and finally settled on one i really like. thank you for all the information ladies.