Anyone had a home birth with a pool that wasn't on the ground floor?

[MrsHuxtable]

I'd really like a homebirth but am now moving to a 3rd floor flat. I know births don't go to plan a lot of the time, I'm flexible but would like a water birth if possible in any way.

So the only thing stopping me from actually booking a home birth at the moment is that I'm worried about having a pool on the 3rd floor. Pictures of me and the pool crashing through the neighbours ceiling are in my head.

Maybe I should just forget about the home birth and go into hospital for the sake of the pool?

Hmmm, we are renters. And no, there's nothing in the rental agreement. I think whether the flat is rented or owned is besides the point. If the floor can't take the weight, it'll cave either way.

The question is, have people had hired pools that weren't on the ground floor. That sounds horrific what happend to your friend, though as far as I know, it's a very rare thing to happen.

Maybe I could cope without a pool for the benefit of staying home? I'm not sure.

Not scientific but: Can you access the floorboards easily to see where the main supporting struts are which would give you an idea where to position the pool. Next thing is to figure out how big your pool would be. 1litre of water weighs 1kg. Tot up the weight of the water with you in it and add a bit more for people wandering around like DP and midwife. Now divide by 75kg (about a man) and decide if you'd be happy having that many people at a party in that space without worrying about the floor caving in. Or better, throw a party and see for sure!

I did it. (Well I actually transferred to hospital, but that's another story!) I spent several hours in a birth pool, and we have a first floor maisonette.

We used a 'La Bassine' pool, which I think is very similar to the 'Birth Pool in a Box' ones. The websites had details of how much the pool weighs when filled. We contacted our Building Insurance people and checked whether it would invalidate the insurance. They were a bit at first but got back to us and said that they wouldn't consider it an excessive weight, so it was fine- that reassured me enough to go ahead. (And when I looked at the weight, it was about equivalent to 12 adults, or something like that- I wouldn't have thought twice about having that many people over for a party. Although admittedly, they wouldn't have all been standing in one place!).

I found my time in the pool very relaxing, we didn't go through the ceiling or have any problems, so I would say go for it but check with your insurers first.

I had a waterbirth on the first floor of my house - very easy, no mess.

Just buy/rent from a reputable company and have a test 'fill' prior to the big day to check for leaks etc

I would HIGHLY reccomend birth in water, it is more than worth the hassle

I have delivered lots of people in pools not on the ground floor. Our usual advice is to have the pool near a window/corner where the joists are usually stronger. We also say to contact a building engineer to have it officially okayed, hardly anyone actually does this though! But building control at your council may be able to help/advise. How is access to your flat? Is it very narrow stairwells/no lift as this would be more my concern if you needed to be got down on a stretcher quickly. Best of luck!

I had my last homebirth 3 yrs ago in a Birth Pool In A Box in my flat, which is a first floor flat. No problems there. If you have genuine concerns about the structural aspects of your new flat, then I am guessing maybe you should consult the landlord or have a survey conducted on the building? I have to add my flat is one of a few in a converted Victorian mansion and has been around for more than a century, but is still standing strong. But I have known someone whose 3rd storey bathroom flooring caved in after the bath tub overflowed with water... She lived in an old Victorian terrace. So can't say for sure if this wouldn't happen, it depends on the condition of your premises.

I had one on the first floor of a Victorian conversion maisonette. Birth Pool in A Box. Put it in the very corner of the room was the advice I was given by a builder friend.

I did. Pool was one provided by the hospital and pretty large. We inflated it in an upstairs bedroom (so on first floor) and several days before due date, dh filled it and got in and jumped around a bit! It was fine and mws didn't even comment.

Everything I have found to read on birth pools says they are the equivalent of about 10 people standing in that spot - which you wouldn't think about.

Also, if your pool is too heavy, it won't burst through the floor suddenly, you'll get plenty of warning (plaster in the walls will start to crack) and should give your birth partner plenty of time to get emptying it - even if that means pouring buckets of water out of the window! This I learned from Home Birth Diaries :)