Home water birthers -birth tub weight Q

[Amber Lion]

Is my Dh the only one concerned about the weight load on the floor joists from the birth tub?

My Dh is a contractor and he's leary about setting up the birth pool. He's going to crawl under our house to check it out before he'll let me. Our midwives had blank faces when he asked about it, they said no one had ever mentioned anything about it and everyone just set up the birth pools with no problems. My Dh says that's asking for it to crash through a floor one day, considering the weight involved in 50+ gallons.

Is it just my Dh being a paranoid contractor or did anyone else research their house's floor before filling their birth tub? Our house is old and I'm gonna be so pissed if he decides he doesn't feel comfortable filling up my birth tub! I think I'm in the fill it and hope camp.

[janasmama]

nak

He's being silly. we have a raised foundation 1950's house and just did it no prob.

[Bella Catalina]

Can't be much heavier than a bed and a box spring and a mattress, right?

[farmerjess]

We were paranoid about this We are living in an older house on stilts with uneven floors. We looked it up and found an answer that made sense to us, I think it was on the barbara harper website. They said that the weight of the water in the aquadoula which is 150 gallons is about equal to that of 3-4 football players (I don't remember exactly but I think it was 3 or 4 times 275 lbs)... So, if you had a party and 4 really big guys were standing in a circle talking in your house, would you feel inclined to ask them to spread out a little or go outside? That made us feel better.

[Amber Lion]

Thanks ladies! I'm gonna tell Dh... I especially like the football player reference! He may still go under the house, but I'm getting my birth tub!!

[Skrimpy]

LOL... we had some friends over one night and were talking about the pool and DH's buddy asked about our pool. I piped up and said that he, his two (big!) teenage sons, and DH should just go stand in the corner where the pool would go if he was so worried about it.

I think it will be just fine, but I have heard of hubbys going under the house, reinforcing the floor, etc. If it makes him feel better, I would let him do it

[PassionateWriter]

DP was concerned but i looked into it and was told it was the equivalent of about 10 ppl standing in the room (we are putting it in one of the bedrooms). if our home isnt solid enough for 10 ppl to be in a room, we have larger problems! lol!

[myrmom]

I was worried about it myself....we have a la bassine pool and filled the weight is just under 1000 pounds....add my weight and the weight of my midwife and dh and doula all standing around and we figure 1700 lbs so I was freaking out about it since we live on the second floor of a duplex....but like my dad said if you have had more then 10 people standing close together in your house your fine.....so i'm fine...lol

[applecider]

Not in your ddc, but just wanted to say that you're not alone! DP is an electrician and works around construction. He said he wants to go under the house and reinforce the joists! We do live in a house built in 1910 so I sort of understand, but it is kind of funny. I'll definitely mention the football player reference!