[riomidwife]

I'm planning on picking up one of the Rubbermaid horse troughs (either 100 or 300 gallon) unless someone can convince me that the new Waterbirth International "birth pool in a box" tubs are the most fabulous thing ever.<br><br>
What kind of pool will you be using?

 

[Shelsi]

I'm actually going to be using the star shaped Target pool. I really needed something with an inflatable bottom because we have super hard tile floors. I also am not totally sold on birthing in water so I want the option available but I didn't want to spend a fortune in case I don't use it. Besides this way ds will use it the rest of the summer lol.<br><br><a href="http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-16/qid=1177532750/ref=sr_1_16/602-9832876-2310268?ie=UTF8&asin=B000KHWGJQ" target="_blank">http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000KHWGJQ</a><br><br>
ETA: Have you checked out the water pool sticky at the top of the homebirth forum?

 

[MamaSpruce]

I birthed my first in the horse trough and loved the hard sides for support. Plus I get to tell him he was born in a horse trough! The other loaner option my midwife had was something with heaters and that kind of freaked me out, though I'm sure it is safe. It was really pretty easy to drain a little and add more hot--plus that much water holds its temp for quite awhile.

 

[riomidwife]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Shelsi</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7951149"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">ETA: Have you checked out the water pool sticky at the top of the homebirth forum?</div>
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Yeah I have, thanks! I've attended a lot of water births over the years, and currently most of the moms around here use a fishy pool, but I'm not that into them. I'm tall, and their internal depth for water is less than 20", so that won't cover my belly and chest--and I really want the full immersion effect.<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MamaSpruce</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7951176"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I birthed my first in the horse trough and loved the hard sides for support. It was really pretty easy to drain a little and add more hot--plus that much water holds its temp for quite awhile.</div>
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That's what I'm thinking....At this point I can only imagine what I'll want in labor, and right now I am thinking I'd prefer solid sides for support and less squish. good to know about holding the temperature too, I was wondering about that because I think it's going to go outside.

 

[hippy mum]

I'll have to check that Target one. I'm wanting a pool here just in case we do use it. I don't want to rent a pool from the birth center and have to pay for it even if we don't use it (fill etc but not use), so I'm getting an inflatable pool and hope she doesn't say anything. Have your mw's said anything about using other pools?

 

[an_evans]

I used the fishy pool during my last labor. It wasn't deep enough. In order to keep my belly and back under the water I had to lay back. There was no way I could have pushed him out that way. As soon as I stood up he crowned and one push on the birthing stool he was born.<br><br>
He was 10 pounds 7 ozs and posterior.<br><br>
So I would love to use the aqua doula this time but I don't know if I can justify the money. I am am still looking at my options. I really want this baby to be born in the tub.

 

[meg-momto2]

i can't figure out what i'm going to do. my main concern is lack of space. we're in a one bedroom basement apartment. the only place i would be comfortable having a birthing pool/tub would be in my bathroom which has a fairly large bath tub already. plus we has a jacuzzi in the backyard. it just seems redundant to get a birthing tub but i worry that if i get in the jacuzzi i may not want to get out and that my bath tub might not be deep enough to be comfortable in. i'm torn but i guess i have a little time to figure it out. if i do get a birthing tub is will probably be a deep kiddie pool.

 

[SleepyMamaBear]

we have the La Bassine and a friend borrowed it for her birth in March. she is quite a few inches taller than i am and a big lady like me, only smaller than myself, and her partner is also a bigger guy and they had LOTS of room in it for both of them and for her to turn around and get comfy. so i am really looking forward to that.

 

[luckydog]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>meg-momto2</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7951641"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">i can't figure out what i'm going to do. my main concern is lack of space. we're in a one bedroom basement apartment. the only place i would be comfortable having a birthing pool/tub would be in my bathroom which has a fairly large bath tub already. plus we has a jacuzzi in the backyard. it just seems redundant to get a birthing tub but i worry that if i get in the jacuzzi i may not want to get out and that my bath tub might not be deep enough to be comfortable in. i'm torn but i guess i have a little time to figure it out. if i do get a birthing tub is will probably be a deep kiddie pool.</div>
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Kind of a similar situation here - we have a swimming pool out back. I don't intend to birth in it (neighbors!), but it will be very warm water in AZ in July and would be nice for labor relief.<br><br>
We have a really deep tub in our master bath. Maybe 1-2" shy in depth of what would be ideal, but I think adequate enough for birthing in.<br><br>
Keeping the water warm in a kiddie pool is a real issue when your last two labors were 17 hours long. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue"> I had a portable jacuzzi type tub with my last waterbirth and that could at least regulate temperature. I don't think I even want to hassle with something that cumbersome this time though...

 

[trmpetplaya]

We rented a Rubbermaid horse trough for dd's birth (it was only $25 to rent) and it worked really well. Both dh and I were easily able to fit into it (I don't remember what size it was though... I thought it was a 150 gallon one...) and the sides were so nice and sturdy <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"> My mom just kept adding boiling water when the water got cooler.<br><br>
love and peace. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[mtn.mama]

We just put some money down on a small used hot tub. Its round, 48 inches across and about 30 inches deep. It takes 200 gallons. If the deal falls through, then Honey Pie (dh) will build us a wooden tub. We talked about a horse trough, but HP wasn't into it. He wants a tub we'll continue to use after the birth.

 

[Racecar]

I'm thinking fishy pool.

 

[imgr8ful]

i'm planning on birthing outside in the hot tub but am getting this as a backup for inside...<br><br><a href="http://inhishands.com/html/WaterBirth.html" target="_blank">http://inhishands.com/html/WaterBirth.html</a> - the first one pictured

 

[manitobamama]

Now I'm quite obsessed over finding a rubbermaid horse trough. I'm not having much luck finding one here in Canada. On my way today to ask around at some farm supply stores to see if they can order one in. It looks like a great idea rather than flimsy sides on the pools.<br>
I don't think I'll be telling them at the farm supply store what I want it for<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[MamaSpruce]

Thought I'd share this photo of the trough moments after ds's birth. Wish I had one of how we were at the moment. I was on my knees gripping the side, dh was behind me and caught ds then floated him between my legs and up in front where I pulled him up to the surface.<br><br><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/Madrone/DSC00410.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...e/DSC00410.jpg</a>

 

[luckydog]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MamaSpruce</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7958863"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/Madrone/DSC00410.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...e/DSC00410.jpg</a></div>
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AWESOME waterbirth pic!!

 

[beanbean]

I may go for our bathtub again (last birth was an unplanned UC in the bathtub). It's not a regular size, but it's not a jacuzzi, either. It's deeper and a bit larger than a regular tub.<br><br>
I'm considering this because of a) easy, quick fillup (last labor was FAST) and b) simple cleanup. I honestly wasn't crazy about being in a tub during my first labor -- I'd get too warm, so I'd get out and be too cold. The temp changes exhausted me. I much preferred to sit in the shower. During the last labor I was immediately in transition so there was no "relaxing in the tub" going on!<br><br>
I think I am going to buy a kiddie pool and have it full of water and covered up out on the deck for early labor (if I can keep DS out of it!).<br><br>
I like the horse trough idea, though -- does anyone know how much they cost?

 

[puddinnpeanut]

I'm renting the aqua doula from my doula/midwife. I think it is $200/250. I rented it from her last time for my homebirth turned c-section. It was very spacious and deep. The heater was great because it kept it consistently nice and warm. I labored for 30 hours total but would get in and out the tub a lot.<br>
I'm planning to use it in the hospital this time for labor and hopefully for the birth as well. Although I would love to have a superfast labor and just have the baby at home!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Wishful thinking!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[luckydog]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>luckydog</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7952633"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">We have a really deep tub in our master bath. Maybe 1-2" shy in depth of what would be ideal, but I think adequate enough for birthing in.</div>
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Okay, this makes me <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
I live in a completely different house now than I did 7 years ago when my last DD was born and it has an even wider <i>deeper</i> tub than the one I describe below, but the following is an entry from my last pregnancy journal in January 2000. I was 34 weeks:<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Lately I've been giving thought to using water for pain relief in labor. My original plan was to rely pretty heavily on the deep garden tub we have in our master bathroom. But you know what? The bigger I get, the smaller that tub gets. It's not even comfortable for me to bathe in right now; I don't see it being any better during labor.</td>
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In fact, I've been looking back over various entries in that journal today and it's SO funny - many of the things I've been complaining and/or exclaiming about from week to week in this pregnancy - some of them I thought were unique to <i>this</i> pregnancy?? Nope. It all seems to be EXACTLY the same.<br><br>
I also have some anecdotes about my middle DD who was then 2.5. Oy vey, there is so much I don't remember at all. It seems I have blocked out some of the more stressful incidents of her childhood... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[Panthira]

My midwives recommended the La Bassine tub, and getting it when it goes on sale at <a href="http://www.birthwithsol.com" target="_blank">http://www.birthwithsol.com</a>.