Birth pool, how to retain the heat?

[Bumperlicious]

I have a birth pool in a box which has been given to me (for free, which I am very grateful for!). I was just wondering how to keep the water warm.

The pool I have doesn't come with a cover. I've had a look on the website and there are 2 options, an insulated heat retention cover for £20, which presumably you could also use while you were in the pool, or for £10 a fitted cover which works just by sealing the pool, with no special insulation.

Are there any DIY tips for keeping the pool warm? I had a pretty quick 1st labour (5 hours) so am not anticipating a massively drawn out affair. How difficult is it going to be to keep it warm? Given the amount that I have spent in the past few days on essentials like mattress pads, a hose connector, sheets, new bottles for my breast pump, a moses basket mattress, I am loath to spend too much more money.

Some people do make their own covers with bubble wrap.

I don't think it's a real issue though, especially when you're anticipating a quick labour. As you shouldn't really get in till you're 5cm, there's not all that much time for it to cool down.

It is often recommended that you have a few buckets handy - one to keep on taking out some water so you can top up with warm.

I work as a m/w and on labour ward we have a pool in a box inflatable pool with disposable liners. Its such a massive volumne of water that it doesn't lose heat quickly, we just check the temp hourly and if its getting a bit cool we take a bucket of water out and top up with some hot water. Its not often we need to do this and after your last labour been so quick I wouldn't worry too much.

Never heard of covers and we don't have one at the hospital pool.

Great, you've just saved us some money :)

Totally agree - the heat stays in really well - you can always cover it with a double sheet if you fill it up way too early, but a quick top up with hot water will sort it out.

At a labour I was at (homebirth) recently, the pool was filled 4 hours before she got in and only dropped from 37 to 35 degrees - a few buckets of boiling water before she got in again and it was back up to temp.

I am expecting my baby on October 11th 2021 and me and my partner decided to do water birth at home but we have no experience of it. Can I get some advices what to prepare and stuff?
😊 🙏