Suggestions on how to have a home water birth and fast labour please...

[spendalittlelivealot]

My last labour was 53 mins start to finish with baby number 3. Im expecting baby 4 in just over 2 weeks and am planning a home water birth. On the trial run, setting up the pool took just under an hour (filled and ready to use). Obviously if history repeats itself, this is just too long :(
Any suggestions??? xxx

I read somewhere about setting up and filling the pool beforehand -definitely have it set up for a few days - and you can then fill it once you start contracting.

(you can top them up with warm water)

I had DS2 in the bath at home, was great!

im really hoping number 4 comes a bit slower than number 3 did! theres not really that much point in having the pool up empty as the inflation time is only about 5 mins xx

do you have nice neighbours?

could you get a long hose and use your hot water and theirs (from their tap / boiler) to double the rate at which you can fill the pool?

I'm in a similar situation to you - DC3 arrived in about 90 mins. I had him in the bath, but got myself into a very awkward position and I needed physio afterwards. I'm going to run a bath later and try some alternative positions, because being in the water is great. If I beat you to birth (due in just under 4 weeks!) I'll try to remember to let you know how it went...

no chance with the neighbours unfortunately, theyre both older people. I have tried using two taps and because im on a combi boiler, it slows the rate and lowers the temp of the water x
would be interesting to see what happens for both of us motherofsnortpigs xxx

Could you half fill it with cold and then just top it up on the very hottest setting when you need it?

You may have to experiment to get the settings right, but scale down and estimate it using the bath.

I have quick births too. I had the dc3 at home in the birth pool. On the midwifes advice we set the pool up 3 days before due date and filled over half full with water to correct temp. We then put a cover on the pool. Every 3 days we had to empty the pool and re-fill. When I eventually went into labour 40+5 it took 10 mins to top the pool up and get it to the required temp. This worked really for us and also gave DH a job while we were waiting for baby to arrive.

I am expecting number 4 on the 1st August and want to do the same again, although new midwife thinks its not worth getting in the pool for what is likely to be less then 30 minutes

Also my birthing pool is supplied by our community midwifes so it is robust and has a a cover to keep the heat in .

Good luck