Birth pools

[Humphrey10]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a birth pool - for use at home, plan to use for pain relief rather than birthing in. And do we really need a birth pool or would a high quality paddling pool do the trick?

Thanks!

I love ours La Bassine by Made in Water Website here

Lovely padded floor, oval shape, very nice to float around in

I think some people use paddling pools but they are seldom deep enough to cover your bump properly, plus if you are kneeling on all fours the padded floor that some (all?) birthing pools have are much more comfortable than a thin paddling pool floor.

Paddling pools also won't be tested to check they can definitely support the full weight of a pregnant woman on the sides.

If you're bothering to get a pool at all, I'd get a proper one. Some people use the bath if they definitely don't want to birth in the water,

I'm thinking of getting a La Bassine, but other makes of inflatable are Birth Pool In a Box (available from NCT and lots of other places) and Aquaborn pools.

We've just bought a Birth Pool in a Box after a friends recommendation.
We had a practice run yesterday - it was fantastic and the inflated floor was definately very comfty to sit/kneel on.
I had a hospital water birth with first bubba and spent a lot of time in the bath at home before going into hosp. It was definately more comfty being in the pool for the later stages though.
Another benefit of a birth pool over a paddling pool would be the inflated sides which are designed to be able to lean on them, or have someone sit on. That wouldn't be possible in a paddling pool.
And, a birth pool would mean if you changed your mind you would have the option of staying in to have bubba in the pool.

I got a whole BPIAB kit from Boots - 'twas brilliant, def worth the money! Enjoy!