Dumb question about waterbirth - do you need to rent a tub?

[beebs]

I'm considering a homebirth and was wondering if it's really necessary to rent a tub or if you can just relax and/or give birth in the "regular" bathtub?

We have two tubs in our apartment, one is a wide oval but only 13" deep, and the other is narrow and 15" deep. Neither is very deep compared to the rental tubs and the tub at the birthing center.

What would you recommend? Home in a shallow tub, home in a rented birthing tub, or at the birth center in their tub?

Thanks,
Belinda

[MamaJones]

We don't have a bathtub so we rented an inflatable kiddy pool. It worked great and was cheap ($60) and we had plenty of room during labor to move around. I would think that you could use the bathtub, but you might be happier with something more roomy.

[blessedmomof3]

I bought a cheap blow up kiddie pool: http://www.qualityinflatables.com/58480.html and it was perfect!!! I'll use it again if we have another. It was deep enough to cover my belly, has an inflatable bottom w/ little grooves (perfect for digging your heels in to push..lol), sides are VERY sturdy (even w/ me leaning on one side to deliver and mw on the other to catch), room to float on my tummy with my feet up on the other side (I'm 5'4")....etc.

hth

[momto l&a]

For both of my girls I spent a great deal of time in our regular bath tub though with my second I gave birth to her in the tub. Best thing about a tub is just pull the plug to clean!

I am a very slender though tall person and I probably would have been more comfortable in a birth tub or one of those nice garden tubs but the tub we have is a little deeper then most tub now days it was just fine.

[2much2luv]

Wow, that's the pool I used! But it belonged to my midwife. Thanks though. Now I know where to order one.

[earthpapi]

for both our kids we got a birth pool. the first price was 140 the second 75. it was big enough for my wife to sit down in with the midwife and both of them were able to move easily around. it was awesome. we are thinking of buying one since we plan on having at least 2 more kids.

[cottonwood]

I really wanted to be able to submerge myself in water, so we bought a Rubbermaid trough at a farm supply store. About $100.

[candiland]

If you have a big, deep bathtub, that would be fine... however, if you have a small, regular-sized bathtub like my own... the water wouldn't even cover up my humungous belly at the end of my pregnancy! I did spend some time during transition in my tub, but not because I liked it better that way... but because I was immobilized at that point and couldn't have moved if I tried. I would recommend a kiddie pool with a water heater and thermometer, or rent a tub from a local educator, doula or midwife. Good luck!

[birthinglau]

we used a pool just like the inflatables mentioned above. from www.redspools.com, 60 inches wide, and currently on sale for $20 plus shipping costs (about $5).

I liked that it was plenty big to move around in, and had an inflatable bottom to sit on.

-Lau