Don't I need a heated birthing pool?

[Raven67]

Hi, I have seen below lots of people have purchased kiddie pools to give birth in. But, doesn't the water get cold fast? Is it better to rent a "professional" pool with a pump and heater? Or is this overkill. I also have a bathtub that I might use, I could refill if cold. Not sure what I am going to do. But, it just sounds uncomfortable to sit in a kiddie pool of luke-warm water for an extended period of time. I will be birthing in the winter.

[blessedmomof3]

All you have to do is drain and refill. It takes about 5 minutes. You can either use the hose w/ a waterbed kit or a big bucket. Either run hot water from your faucet or keep a BIG pan of water boiling on the stove.

When you are not in the tub, keep a shower curtain or sheet over the pool to keep the heat in. When your labor starts you can fill the pool up 1/4 or 1/2 way then cover it. Then when you are able to get in, fill it up the rest of the way.

We used the bucket. We had the waterbed kit to fill initially but it was my Mom's and is probably 20yrs old..lol. She didn't have any instructions with it so we didn't know how to use it for draining. My dh just filled the bucket, dumped it in the bathtub, ran hot water, filled up the bucket, dumped it in the pool. My mw ck'd the water periodically to make sure the temp was hot enough. We had to refill I think 3 times during the day. It wasn't an inconveinence at all.

Imho, I'd rather spend $25 for a pool that only I've used and keep the water warm myself than spend $250 for something that other people have used and I have to ship back.

[I Love My Boy]

For our waterbirth we got one of those inflatable kiddie pools with the thick walls (about 8" thick I think?). We did a trial run with it to see how long the water stayed warm and the temp didn't drop noticeably for well over an hour. For the real thing I think I was in it for maybe 1.5 hours and it stayed warm the whole time.

Best wishes!

edited to add: As far as comfort goes, these inflatable pools are great! They have padded bottoms and they're quite tall so you can comfortably lean back with your arms over the side. Also, they are sturdy enough for somebody to sit on the edge. Let me know if you want a picture - I think there are websites that sell them. They are clear with fish on them. DS was born in just 2.5 hours. If you think you will have a long labour and want to have warm water for yourself the whole time then a bathtub might be a good idea, or a warm shower, until you are closer to the birth when you can move into the pool.

[indigolilybear]

yup we did the boiling pan of water on the stove too. I was in our inflatable kiddie pool for a long time too and never remember thinking about the temp. of the water so it must have been comfy! )
good luck. They really do work well, especially for the price. I loved mine!

[TiredX2]

I just stayed in our tub, but have talked with people who put a water bed heater below a kiddie pool to keep it hot. Good luck!

Kay

[Alexander]

Keep a hot shower handy.

Dad can bucket out the water every now and then (along with any stray bits)

a

[cottonwood]

I used a rubbermaid water trough twice (once in summer, once in winter), each time for less than two hours (because then the birth happened!), and in that time it stayed comfortably warm. Our water heater was small, and it was simple enough (and very effective) to add boiling water from the stove. I would imagine that if I had wanted to use the tub for a long period of time we would have just bailed out water and added water. (Although the rubbermaid trough does have a spigot attached, we only had one hose. So you could use a hose at bottom to drain, and another to fill. Just be sure all the attachments fit before the big day!)

[miriam]

I used the bathtub.

[pamamidwife]

Here's some good info:

http://www.midwifemama.com/waterbirth_hints.html

[0cean]

I used a great kiddie (seveylor?) pool for my first homebirth, and I loved it.
We had some trouble because we hadnt checked all of the connections, we knew the shower would work but we couldnt get the head off and my dad brought the wrong tool, and I have fast labors so no running to the store. But that was our fault!! We did the boiling water too which is relevent to a kiddie pool use, but if you turn up your hot water thermostat it helps. The warm water with room to move was awesome and I would not like to birth without it.

Now we have moved and are in an apartment that specifically prohibited kiddie pools, and even restricts waterbeds and fish tanks without specific permission and renter insurance.... however nothing was ever said regarding birth pools!! So I am renting the Aqua Doula locally for $150, and only have to drive 30min for pick-up & drop off! The benifits with this so far seem to be (we havent used it yet):
It is deeper so full submersion is possible, where some of my belly stuck out of the kiddie pool,
the heater, we dont have any extra people for water boiling this time,
the firmer walls so I dont have to worry about my kids pushing the sides, trying to climb in, and leaking water,
the liner, so no major clean up before or after,
the pump that pumps out the water in like 10 min,
and of course I dont think they can hold it against me in this new apartment complex!

I really considered using the tub but thought that might be fine for 45 min or so but there is not the mobility possible and I have heard some say it makes them feel closed off and lonley.

So I really loved the kiddie pool, but this time the benifits of the AquaDoula make it worth the extra $ in my judgement!!

[Defenestrator]

I work in a midwifery practice that does a lot of basic waterbirths in homes. Usually our clients use the inflatable fishy pools and fill them up with water at about 105 degrees or so, then cover with a blanket until the tub is used. We consider the best temp to be around 100 or so and most moms like this as well. We use floating acquarium thermometers to gauge temperature, or there is a little ducky bath thermometer that some people buy. I find that the temp holds for about an hour or so. I like to fill the tub about half/two-thirds of the way full so that there is room to add more hot water easily without bailing out the tub. We hook hoses up to the kitchen faucet and just add hot water as necessary. It is really easy that way. If a large amount of hot water is needed, you can heat it on the stove. We can usually make it through the birth without bailing out the tub, but if necessary, you can remove some of the cool water with a large pot, or merely siphon it out with the hose if you have more time. When it comes time to empty the tub, siphoning usually works just fine, or you can get a waterbed pump.

Good luck!

[3_opihi]

I used the bathtub too, it was kind of uncomfortable. Alot of people I know have used the rubbermaid trough with success...