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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

in two minds about birthing pool for home delivery...

20 replies

Enid · 12/04/2006 09:22

I ordered one ages ago from the active birth centre, it has been delayed and made me think again about whether to bother with a pool or not.
cons:

I just can't bear to spend £200 on something I may not use

not all midwives trained to deliver in the pool and apparently one or two don't even like you to labour in it...just my luck to get one of those...

the ones with heater and filter are just too expensive for us

the birthpoolinabox looks fine (£90) but we only have a hot water tank so will it take forever to fill...I have quick labours generally

not allowed to have it in our en-suite bathroom as the access is too narrow for a stretcher (hopefully this won't be needed Wink) so we have to have it in our bedroom which is pretty small...

pros

it might be fab for pain relief....

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oliveoil · 12/04/2006 09:31

Oooooh, didn't know you were going for a home birth.

My second labour was fast and I would have got one leg over the side and had to get out again knowing my luck.

Loads of people on here loved their pool for pain relief though.

When are you finishing work?

milward · 12/04/2006 09:35

I used an ordinary size bath at the hospital - was great - but wanted to get out for the birth. Had option to stay in but didn't want to.

Original poster
Enid · 12/04/2006 09:35

finished on Friday Grin

blissful, feel sooooooooo much less stressed

due on 29th

OP posts:
Original poster
Enid · 12/04/2006 09:36

part of me really can't be bothered to fuss around with a pool

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 12/04/2006 09:36

What happens if you go overdue ? and have to be induced, can you send the pool back ?

oliveoil · 12/04/2006 09:37

oh, I didn't realise you had finished already, get your feet up.

TBH I am too much of a chicken to do home births so have no advice, but both my delivery went a bit pear shaped so am biased.

Are your girls excited?!

Original poster
Enid · 12/04/2006 09:39

LGJ

no you buy the birth pool in a box one

kids can use it as a huge silly paddling pool

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Original poster
Enid · 12/04/2006 09:41

oo

yes dd1 is v excited and is insisting on a job that only she does so I have said we will wait and see what she likes to do once it is born

don't mind homebirth as have only ever had gas and air in the past

can't believe the amount of care you get though compared to hospital births. the midwives have been out here 3 times in the last 10 days to check me and the house!

OP posts:
RosiePosie · 12/04/2006 09:41

I had my second homebirth without a pool just over five weeks ago. I couldn't be bothered with the fuss - that's the only reason really! If we had a bigger house and the money I think I would have hired a heated one that you can set up in advance and use for several weeks, but I really couldn't be faffed with an inflatable one. Yes, both labours hurt, lol, but it's not essential to have a pool for a homebirth, even though it seems the trend at the moment.

Original poster
Enid · 12/04/2006 09:43

I feel exactly the same rosie

but then I have never heard from anyone who has had one that they regret it

OP posts:
oliveoil · 12/04/2006 09:44

Round here ooop north, they push for homebirths now and 3 from my M&B group have done it, said it was fab getting in their own bed etc, one on one care etc.

I had g&a with dd2 but she needed help getting out (ouch!) and dd1 was an emergency section, but I like a bit of drama.

dd1 should be in charge of babygros and vests, my friends eldest liked to fold them again and again and again.....

crumpet · 12/04/2006 09:49

Enid, I got a birth pool from here www.madeinwater.co.uk/pool.html
No idea whether I'll use, it, but I feel happier knowing it is there if I need it. Think it was marginally cheaper than the birthpool in a box, and I found the pool itself more aethetically pleasing!

I'm planning to keep it downstairs rather than in the bedroom/bathroom.

crumpet · 12/04/2006 09:50

aesthetically...

Original poster
Enid · 12/04/2006 10:10

it looks good crumpet

how tall are you though, I am 5' 8" so I wonder whether it will be big enough?

OP posts:
MissChief · 12/04/2006 10:56

enid - i really thought pool was worth it - not just for pain relief but as a centre for yr labour IFYKWIM and a refuge too..I'm tall and the active birth centre recommended that I got the hexagonal pool (I think? dim &* distant memory though only mths ago!) - check anyway, there's one which is much better for longer legs

crumpet · 12/04/2006 11:28

Hm, I'm only 5'3", so it may not be ideal. I got the website from another thread on here, and I think that there was someone who said that she was tall and had no problems. In fact it was probably this thread (sorry not a link but you shoudl be able to find it!).

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1365&threadid=31595

crumpet · 12/04/2006 11:31

Oh, and it arrived within 48 hours of ordering, so you've got a bit more time to think about it!

elliott · 12/04/2006 11:33

enid as I said on your other thread, I didn't go with a pool because, to me, it was introducing a further element of unknown. Plus I know the midwives might not have had much experience with them and that put me off too. I just wanted to get on with the labour like I had with the first. I imagine a pool is great if you have long drawn out painful labours, but both mine were reasonably quick and not really painful until about the last hour or so. I had gas and air at that point and laboured mainly kneeling over the sofa in the living room - and delivered in that position too. hth

HappyDaddy · 12/04/2006 11:54

You can get them delivered to your home, now? WOW

Marne · 12/04/2006 12:01

I used a birthing pool (but not at home), did'nt give birth in it but used it for pain relief when in labour, sat in it for 4 hours and i would say its well worth it. Ended up getting out as it slowed down my labour, dd2 was born 1 hour after i got out.

I would get it just for the pain relief, well worth £200

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