Another tub / birthing pool question. WWYD?

[Chi-Chi Mama]

I was planning on getting a fishy pool - actually bought the octagon fishy one last week. Then I realized that it wouldn't fit in my bathroom - or it would basically barely squeeze. So even the smaller round fishy pool would be too big.

I live in a 2-story - all bedrooms upstairs and was planning on just staying on the 'master' side. I really would like to have a waterbirth.

So the two options are to set up the fishy pool in a spare bedrooms on the other side of the stairs (I don't think our bedroom is big enough with our bed there) or to use the garden tub in master bathroom. I'm an average-size person I guess - about 5'4 usually about 125 lb but I"m about 155lb right now at 7 mnths. I'm comfortable in the garden tub laying down, but my stomach does not get completely submerged in water (granted, I usually don't fill it up as much as I could, but then again, my stomach will be bigger in 2 months).

Sorry this is long and all over the place. I guess I"m kind of leaning towards the garden tub - no setup required, I'll be in the bathroom close to the shower & our bed. But how important is water covering the belly? And also, it seems it would be a bit tougher for my midwife to check / help.. Not sure if dh would be able to sit behind me for support....

wwyd?? thanks!!!

[wendy1221]

I'd set up the fishy pool in the spare bedroom. :)

[alegna]

Fishy pool in the extra bedroom. I was SO glad that I could float... wouldn't trade it for anything (except maybe a REALLY HUGE pool :LOL)

-Angela

[2+twins]

Another vote for the fishy pool in the spare bedroom. Depth of the water is very important IMO. I also needed the room to move around in the tub during labor. I'm about your size as well and have a garden/jacuzzi tub in our bedroom but I still rented a tub last time.

[ZanZansMommy]

Are you sure the smaller fishy pool won't fit? I just set up mine & it's not too bad--of course I'm not sure how big your bedroom is. From past expereince having your belly covered in water is phenomenal so I'd have to say set up the fishy pool wherever you can get to it.

[Chi-Chi Mama]

sounds like fishy pool it is :LOL

I actually just took the octagon one out this morning and it fits in my bedroom! Barely, but workable. :thumb

DH is going to be nervous - he just put in wood floors, but reading some of the threads here sounds like we should be pretty safe with maybe just a tarp or plastic cover of some sort under the pool?

I tried to blow it up, and the pump is SO loud.. Did I just get a cheap one or are they all so loud?

THANKS MAMAS!

[Rach]

I think most air pumps are loud. All the ones used to blow up air mattresses all were loud. :\

As for protecting the floor, my midwife gave us those cheap plastic table cloth covers, the ones that have the plastic tarp like top, and the thin cloth like underside. I bet you can get them just about anywhere. My mom bought hers at the 99 cent store.
She told us to put them plastic top side down.

Good luck with your birth! :) :thumb We just got our supplies, I'm dying to set them all up!

[sarahloughmiller]

For protecting the floors we put down a plastic drop cloth with a sleeping bag over it. The sleeping bag soaked up the water I splashed out (kind of a lot-dh said it was soaked) and the plastic kept the carpet dry. I moved around a lot and leaned hard on the sides and spilled a lot, but it worked out really well.

[2+twins]

We just used a camping tarp for under the tub. Worked fine.