Waterbirth at home question.

[burke-a-bee]

I am considering a water birth at home and have some basic questions. I think I might use the kiddy pool route.
For those of you who had a water birth at home, what preperation did you take? Did you inflate or build the pool in advance and how far? Did you have to heat the water? Did you add anything to the water?
I have three children 6 and under and am worried about having this large pool in my house as a playground for my kids to play on for a week before I deliver.
Thanks for your help.

[Artisan]

I think a lot of the women here inflate the pool ahead of time to make sure it's functional, and then take it down, filling it again in early labor. Most just use hot tap water. You might try posting this on the homebirth board too. :)

[alegna]

I inflated the pool ahead of time, then when I was ready for it they just set it up and hooked the hose to where the washer gets hot water and filled it up (putting in some cold water first so that the hot wouldn't be too hot for the plastic)

-Angela

[burke-a-bee]

How long did it take to set up?

[Czen:)]

I am almost 38 weeks and we have had the pool inflated and cleaned for almost 2 weeks. We do need to top it up again. The night we did our practice run we filled it and let the kids have a play in it in the living room. They loved it but now they know its being saved for the day the baby comes out. I have it up on its side and pushed behind some furniture so it is out of sight and out of mind.

After we put the kids to bed the practice night we also gave the pool a good cleaning at that time. We just use tap water to fill it.

Czen

[alegna]

Probably took about half an hour to set up- I was in laborland at the time ;)

-Angela

[mom2threenurslings]

I just gave birth at home in the water on Saturday ( birth story (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=344528) ) and used an inflatable pool (the "fishy pool").

We inflated the pool when we got it (I was about 39 weeks) and kept it inflated in a bedroom that the kids don't frequently go into. (I have a 6.5 yr old, a 5 yr old and a 3 yr old as well as my new babe.) We used a Python to fill/drain the tub (don't have the link handy - just google "python no-spill") - it attaches to the sink and fills/drains with the flip of a switch. We also ended up boiling some water to add to warm it up as I was in the pool longer than expected as my labor was quite intense.

[burke-a-bee]

I'm just curious because my last birth was 35 minutes but I'd love to have a waterbirth. Not sure how to go about it. Thanks.

[alegna]

Wow! That's fast! Did you have any warning? If you go from first twinge to baby in 35 minutes you might not manage the waterbirth.

-Angela

[burke-a-bee]

I was already 5cm for a week and hadn't felt a thing so I took castor oil. We were all prepared for the labor. This time around I would love to have a waterbith. I'm just tring to figue out the details.

[mcsarahb]

Hi-

I used my midwives' livestock watering tub - large, high sides, hard plastic. No blowing up needed. We put in pillows, covered it with a sheet and some plastic at 38 weeks. It stayed in the garage until labor day. It took about 30 minutes to fill, using a garden hose and adaptor for the kitchen sink.

Got in while it was filling at about 4 pm, delivered in the water at 6 pm. :thumb

Sarah

[mamasoulsista]

I'm just curious because my last birth was 35 minutes but I'd love to have a waterbirth. Not sure how to go about it. Thanks.


I'm due tomorrow...We bought an electric pump. The pool we have has 3 chambers and it took 15 minutes to inflate.

[catballou24]

we used the same thing as sarah and are using another livestock tank again with this one. i hadn't thought of the pillows though!! great idea..:)

[celestialdreamer]

I just gave birth at home in the water on Saturday ( birth story (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=344528) ) and used an inflatable pool (the "fishy pool").

Awww! Congratulations mama! I hope you have a wonderful babymoon.

I have a quick question on this subject- is it ok to use a birthing pool (like the fishy pool that everyone talks about on here) on a second floor? Our house is a split level with the main part being upstairs and the downstairs is not a good place for me to have the tub. I have a LONG time before I need to worry about it but the slight worry about it has been in the back of my head. We have a large master bedroom with enough room to set up a tub, and it has a private bathroom connected to it with a double stall shower. So I really want to have a tub in the room too. Thats how I'm envisioning the birth place for this baby :love

Good luck to those who are due soon!

[charmander]

We rented a labor tub. The company came over, filled it up and left. After the baby was born, they came back the next morning, drained it, and took it away. It was very very convenient! I think it was $250, but it was covered by my insurance. Are there any companies that rent labor tubs in your area?

[MamaTaraX]

Thanks for sharing your story Amanda! I posted so in your due date club too...that's an awesome testimant to birth :)

As for the pool: I hadn't given muhc thought to the fact that I'm going to have an indoor playground of sorts in my house for a while pre-birth ;) I'd considered how I'd be able to relax at the end of the day but hadn't thought about how my kjids would want to play in it LOL I will have my tub about three weeks before I am due (I usually go early). I forget what I was told about leaving water in it, I think they said to replace it every three days, but I'm not using a fishy pool so that might make a difference. I'm looking forward to using it for relaxation before the birth actually. If only I could convince my ILs to let me set it up at their house for a couple of days in front of rhtier fireplace ;) The friends we are renting fromcome and set up our tub and take it away after the birth as well, I forgot aout that nice part :)

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

[ashleep]

Hi-

I used my midwives' livestock watering tub - large, high sides, hard plastic. No blowing up needed. We put in pillows, covered it with a sheet and some plastic at 38 weeks. It stayed in the garage until labor day. It took about 30 minutes to fill, using a garden hose and adaptor for the kitchen sink.

Got in while it was filling at about 4 pm, delivered in the water at 6 pm. :thumb

Sarah

:yeah: pilows/plastic is a good idea. :thumb that tub rocks: deep, hard sides to lean/push against.

(nak)

[Black Orchid]

Curious why you can't use a regular bath tub? We have a jacuzzi almost exactly like the one at the birth center I'm considering... why would it be okay to use a regluar tub there, but not at home?

[burke-a-bee]

We don't have a garage or any spare room to keep the tub in so I'm afraid of leaving it assembled until the birth. I have very curious and active kids who could not let a tub go un-noticed or untouched.My tub is standard with sliding doors so that option is out.
During my whole birth last time I was wandering around looking for a comfy place to push. I went from not being in labor to transition with the first contraction. So I am really hoping to enjoy all the benefits of a waterbirth. I guess I have plenty of time to come up with a solution.

[MamaTaraX]

Curious why you can't use a regular bath tub? We have a jacuzzi almost exactly like the one at the birth center I'm considering... why would it be okay to use a regluar tub there, but not at home?

You can, if you have one :)

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

[IfMamaAintHappy]

we borrow our midwife's aquadoula tub. When her last client who wants to waterbirth before me has her baby, I get the tub till I have my baby. Not all of her clients do, so it worked last time. It has a heater and a pump. The only thing I dont like is taht its ahrd to bear down unless someone is behind you in the tub!

My midwife said if I feel like baby is coming too fast for her to get there, to get in my bathtub and get myself (tissues down there!) hydrated to reduce the chance of really bad tears... since your body isnt real warmed up when you have a baby in say a half hour to an hour and a half.

My second baby came in 3 1/.2 hrs. I do not assume my third will be that fast or faster. I ws 2 cm and 50% at 37 weeks last pregnancy, and right now I am as tight as fort knox at 37 1/2 weeks, so Im sorta losing my faith that I will have such a fast birth this time! It would sure be nice.

[Mary-Beth]

I had my baby in our bath tub...it isn't as big as the birthcenter tubs but it was big enough...I covered the overfull drain thing so I got an extra inch...

It worked well because I kept switching from feeling hot and adding cool water to feeling cold and wanting hot water added. I just used water, nothing added. I don't know the temp. just what felt good and like I said it changed along the way.

The water helped sooo much! I highly recommed it!

And keep in mind, you could get in the shower while your tub fills if it isn't ready when you need it.

[2+twins]

Haven't read through all the posts - sorry if I'm repeating something. I had a 90 minute birth last time so I really understand your concern about going too fast to get the pool set up (sounds valid to me). Anyway, if it were me (and it is b/c I'm pg too), I'd ditch the inflatable pool idea, rent a Spa-In-A-Box (http://www.waterbirth.org/spa/content/view/63/84/) because you can fill it with fresh water as you approach your due date, keep it warm (this tub heats and maintains heat of the water in it), and keep it covered and locked (very important since you said you have kids around). Anyway, you'd want to change the water out every 2 days (pita, yes, but at least you'll have a pre-filled tub ready to go the moment labor hits). This is my plan anyway. I'm fortunate b/c I own a couple of these tubs already (I rent them) so I don't have to worry about the cost involved with a rental. I think it's totally worthwhile and very beneficial - especially for such a quick birth. I think it saved me from tearing badly last time. Anyway, this is just my opinion, but it's what I plan to do this time around.

[busybusymomma]

I had the three chamber fishy pool which I think took about 15 minutes to inflate (I bought the recommended air pump). I would have inflated it ahead of time, but we just didn't have anywhere to stash it... and since I would be laboring in the middle of the kitchen floor (sink access and also the only room with enough floor space open) we had to wait until labor began. Thankfully, my labor was 4 hours so I had time. I was home alone (dh on 3rd shift) so I had to inflate the pool myself and start filling with water but once dh got home he took over.

Filling it with water took longer than anything else IIRC. I hope you can work it out!

To the poster who asked about tubs at home... our bathtub is the traditional long narrow enamel on steel bathtub. Not at all comfortable since it's narrow (and I'm 5'2") and does get very deep. Not worth trying to labor in since you can't get comfortable. If I had a garden tub, I'd go for it!