Birthing pool - do I get one and how?

Mine had a heater and thermostat in it to keep the water at the right temperature. I don't know how long I was in it during labour, but it was quite a lot of hours, so I was glad that dp didn't have to keep topping it up with hot water.

Unless you stay in water for very long periods of water.... the temp is not an issue (I mean it doesn't get cold). This is ONE of the reasons why pools are better than baths as they are made of a material whick keeps them warm ! Of course past 2 or 3 hours you may need to add some hot water.

Mine was paddling pool/life raft stuff too. DP inflated it while I was in labour.

I was in fact only in it for 8 minutes, but since I got in at 8cm, dilated to 10cm, pushed three times and gave birth in the water, I think it was VERY well worth it.

There are always ads galore for birthing pool hire in the back of the Pregnancy magazines. I;m sure your midwife would know the best and closest supllier, ask her.

I hired the cheapest, most basic inflatable type, like a deep yellow paddling pool. They are made of the same material as life rafts which has good insulating properties, so don't lose heat too much. The midwives kept a thermometer in the water, and supervised temperature control and my dp and birth partner topped up with a kettle full of water when necessary. It was good and deep, the sides were firm enough for me to lean forward over, and as these are the smallest pools, the suppliers told us that if our floorboards would support the weight of 8 people standing together on the floor, we'd have no problem with the pool. I didn't give birth in the pool, but I did spend several hours in it and would thoroughly recommend it for labour.

And I've always wondered ... with the home variety ... how do you keep the water the right temperature? Have terrible visions of being in labour sitting the equivalent of a cold bath!

Do the ones that you hire for homebirths actually look like the ones you see in videos etc, i.e. more 'jacuzzi' or 'spa pool' than 'skip', which is what the ones in the hospital were...

Got mine from the other place pupuce recommends the name of which escapes me...birthworks, that was it.

beetroot, active birth centre sent one down to me (wiltshire) no problem.... when I'd finished, just phoned them ujp and they collected it the next day. v easy

thats happened to me Pimpernel on the SN thread my reply showed up before lous reply, it was really weird

What happened there?! I didn't type that fast, honest!

I hired one from Birthworks in Bristol - would that be close enough?

Thanks for your comments, pupuce - really useful info.
The inflatables are so much cheaper - it is good to know that they might be a reasonable option worth considering as is the non thermostat ones. I had a three and a half day 1st labour so am not sure what will happen this time. I am hopeful it will be shorter but think it could be wishful thinking that it would be only hours long.
I have slowly been building up dh to the idea of having our own indoor "hot tub" for four weeks as a way to "help" him feel that it is a really good idea before I frighten him with the potential cost. I am only 15 weeks so still have time to consider options. We could afford one of the ones with all the features but it would be tight and we would need to save up for it. It would be good if this expense could be limited a little by going for a more basic model.

Hey, what do you know - apparently Splashdown has quite a few left, and the woman I spoke to said the inflatable is actually perfectly OK for me (she asked how tall I was, and when I said five foot nothing, she said no problem) so I've booked it; Cha, anyone else, if you want a peek in the first week of July as long as I'm not actually in it at that point...

the relief!

Will check them out tomorrow, if not will go for ABC (done the sums, really shouldn't be too bad, pupuce). DP stressing out about whole thing, which is the main hassle...

Yes - it's here

Does splashdown have a website? If so does anyone know it?

Motherinferior - you may not be BUT i'd say if you want to avoid stressing about it... i'd do it sooner rather than later !

ooops: I'm definitely too late then with Splashdown - got 6 or so weeks to go now. Incidentally, the inflatable is apparently suitable for women who had 'short labours before' - not first timers or those who laboured for ages...

Pupuce - opps - thanks for warning me. I was 6 months yesterday so better get my skates on !

Hi Stripymouse

Just a quick thoughts to add...
I think inflatable is fine but I haven';t tried it - I hear it is quite nice as it is softer. I presume that if it was not suitable they would not be available.
Early booking is preferable (I'd say before you are 6 months) as the best ones/cheapest get booked early.
I did not have a thermostat in mine... if this is your 2nd vaginal delivery I'd say the chance of you being in it for the labour for more than 2 hours are remote. Most 2nd time labours are fairly fast, water will accelerate your labour too so most women who go in opast 5cm (as the famous rule is!) deliver within 1h30 ! It all depends on your hot water supply, if it is endless than it doesn't matter I think.