Hot Tub Waterbirth?

[KatelynsMomma]

Any concerns with doing this? I am due mid-August and am planning on using a hot tub instead of a birth tub. We will obviously disinfect/scrub the tub before and after using. Should I just use bleach? Any concerns about water through the jets, etc? I don't know what I should be asking here but I just want to be sure. My MW thought it sounded fine but didn't point out any concerns. Also, it will be outside. I am thinking mosquito netting of some kind. Any thoughts? TIA!

[Meems]

I don't know... I never thought about it. DD was born in one of the big hot tubs that fit probably atleast 3 people... the water was hot when i got in (too hot the MW said so had me stand for a second while they threw ice in the water until it was the appropriate temp) and they had the jets on until i asked them to turn them off. This is a tub that many people use and we didn't have any trouble whatsoever. Good luck to you!

[KatelynsMomma]

yeah---this is a big hot tub too. i think at least a 4 person. wonder how i will like the jets....miht be good if i have back labor again. thanks!

[HappyMommy2]

the "spa in a box" that we rented from my mw was a portable hot tub with jets. Worked beautifully.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

My step mom planned to give birth in her hot tub (though she labored there and ended up wanting to get out to push). They did something to clean it and obviously didn't put the usual chemicals in the water when they refilled it. It'd be awesome to have that huge of a tub to labor in!

[KatelynsMomma]

I really am looking forward to all of the room and the jets!!!! can i keep the water in it for about a week before it needs to be refilled?

[MommyMidwife]

The rule of thumb is that the water temp should be no higher than 100 degrees F.
Our ladies set the tubs up weeks in advance - if the water starts looking scummy then they drain it and start over OR they use Organic pool cleaner or just a couple of cups of bleach.

[MammaB21]

Oh, no fair. I think it would be awesome to labor in one.

Here is what I would do if I were planning this.

First, the temp thing shouldn't be a problem, as hot tubs have temp readers on them built in and you can pre-set the temp accordinly.

I would clean it before hand, but I would DEFFINATELY NOT use bleach. I would just use baking soda, or some natural organic non sented type cleaner. DD has skin allergies really bad, and because of that, I would be extra causious about that in the future.

The jets would be awesome during labor, and probably help with back labor and relaxation. But I would probably make sure someone turns them off right before baby is born. That would also depend on how strong they were. Also, I can emagine myself getting irritated with them, especially once I started crowning. Also, having the jets on during actual delivery could possibly clog the filter. I am just guessing on that, but I would be conserned about the function of the jets afterword.

Other then that, I would be extatic to get to birth in a hot tub. You get to just swim around in there. hehe. GL.

[KatelynsMomma]

where do you get organic pool cleaner? we use baquacil. this was the most organic we could find. can you use that???

[MammaB21]

Originally Posted by KatelynsMomma

where do you get organic pool cleaner? we use baquacil. this was the most organic we could find. can you use that???

haha, I'm not sure, sorry. I don't even own a hot tub, so I don't know if they would even recomend using baking soda or if that could cause a cloging problem. I would just be causious using bleach or any chemical for that matter. But maybe I am extra paranoid about it. Would you have to use pool cleaner, or could you just use some all purpose cleaner?

[KatelynsMomma]

I guess as long as we rinsed it well, I wouldn't worry about the bleach too much. I know that people put bleach in the birth water to kill any nasties. Unless anyone has an alternative? I just don't want germs.

[MammaB21]

Originally Posted by KatelynsMomma

I guess as long as we rinsed it well, I wouldn't worry about the bleach too much. I know that people put bleach in the birth water to kill any nasties. Unless anyone has an alternative? I just don't want germs.

Maybe someone else who has experience with it can point you in the right direction. I would be more conserned about the bleach then any germs, but that's just me. I can understand wanting it nice and clean. GL.

[KatelynsMomma]

anyone? i am also concerned about sucking up stuff into the jets, etc. any one with experience with this????

[momileigh]

You can just flush out the jets afterward with clean bleach water. And I'm sure that once you're pushing, which is when the water might start to get gunky, someone will turn off the jets.

All my experience is w/ bleach. Bleach to clean the tub, and a bit of bleach in w/ the birth water. No one has ever had a problem w/ this. If I was going to pick either bleach or germs to worry about, I'd be more worried about the germs.

[hippie chick]

okay, this is a really dumb question, but do women birth in hot tubs that are connected to a pool? i am looking at getting a birth pool of sorts, since my bathtub is too small for any decent movement. we do have a hot tub, but it is chlorinated, could i labor in there?
thanks

momileigh- are you in catalina? love two harbors, i worked over on the island for years as a teen and early 20's and have never seen anyone from there on this board.

[momileigh]

Originally Posted by hippie chick

okay, this is a really dumb question, but do women birth in hot tubs that are connected to a pool? i am looking at getting a birth pool of sorts, since my bathtub is too small for any decent movement. we do have a hot tub, but it is chlorinated, could i labor in there?
thanks

momileigh- are you in catalina? love two harbors, i worked over on the island for years as a teen and early 20's and have never seen anyone from there on this board.

1. Connected to a pool? I've never seen it, and frankly I don't think it is a great idea, because the water does often get messy. (poop, blood, and all that good stuff.) Draining a hot tub, cleaning it, and refilling it are all doable tasks for after a birth, but an entire pool? That's a huge undertaking. So I think it would be fine to labor in, but I wouldn't recommend birthing in it. Could you from a health and safety standpoint? Sure, as long as it is either not chlorinated (a saltwater pool) OR it is not too heavily chlorinated. (See test below.)

2. You can certainly labor in your hot tub. We actually chlorinate all birth water by putting a splash of bleach in it. If you want to give birth in the tub, I would do this test: cool the water down to 99 degrees, stick your face under water, and open your eyes. Stay under there for as long as you can hold your breath, w/ your eyes open. Come up. If your eyes are burning, you've got too much chlorine in there to give birth in it. Your baby's face will be in that water for a minute or two. If your tub is too heavily chlorinated, I would just drain half of it out, replace it with tap water, and try it again. If you've got a hot tub it would be a shame not to have the option of birthing in it.

We tend to think you have to be highly particular about birth water, but women have given birth in the polluted and cold Black Sea and their babies were fine... I wouldn't do that, but it gives some perspective.

3. Hmmm, different Two Harbors perhaps? What you're saying doesn't sound familiar. I'm in Two Harbors, Minnesota, 20 miles north of Duluth on the shore of Lake Superior.