Birth pool or will the bath do?

[Klambert30]

Hi, I'm currently fighting for a home birth after c section. I know that people have said water helps support you and your scar after c section but do you think I need to hire/buy a birth pool or does a bath that can be topped up with hot water and have the holes blocked do the same job? What about if I was only planning to use the pool/bath for relaxation and pain relief but actually had the baby out of it?

i think a birth pool is better as gives you more freedom to move and adopt different positions, unless you have mahoosive bath !! you may also want to stay in the water once you are there, so don;t limit your options

water birth is good for VBAC , for the reasons you have mentioned !

have you looked at the VBAC/HBAC yahoo group?

i have been thinking about this for the last few weeks, after looking at the dimensions for la bassine birthpool i have decided to go for one of those, they recommend a water level of 46 - 51 cm, my bath is only 38cm to the very top so water would have to be less than that. it doesnt quite cover the top of my bump so if i want to be in an awkward position it could be too shallow for pain relief to be effective.

mw also said if you stay in for the birth it has to be deep enough for baby to be born totally underwater because if part of the baby hits the air before they are out they can gasp and take in water (something to do with temp change). i had a hospital water birth last time and i seriously doubt i will want to get out to give birth, its so much more comfortable and relaxed

i have also started struggling to move around well in the bath (3 weeks to go, am massive) so i think i will be more comfortable in the pool

I have a large bath, but found a hired birth pool to be fantastic for labour, although I didn't really like actually giving birth in it.

The water helped relax me, and helped me lmove into a comfortable position between and during contractions, but I didn't find it a pain reliver as such.

I also think a birthing pool is better. It will allow you to be almost completely submerged so the water can really carry your weight and you'll be able to find yourself a comfy postition, e.g. on all 4's or knees. In a normal bath you seem to be a bit restricted to just sitting up or leaning back.

You get much closer to floating in a pool than you ever will in a bath - and ime it's the weightlessness of it that makes the difference.

The birthing pool I hired was far better then the one in the local hospital

Pool is definitely better than a bath for the reasons already posted.

If you're looking to buy a pool I have one which I will be selling (Made in Water). I bought it from someone on here who didn't get to use it, and then I didn't get to use it either.....let me know if you're interested

the nct sell birth pools at quite reasonable rates.I think they may also hire them out.

Would definitely recommend a pool - i really needed to move around in mine a lot and ended up giving birth kneeling upright leaning against the side which was a great position that i couldn't have managed in the bath (coz it wouldn't have been high enough)! Also its great to be able to "float" on your back between contractions and you do get a nice feeling of being enclosed and safe. I had a "Birth Pool in a Box" and they are reasonably priced - think about £70 but if you get all the useful extras about £120 i think. All the best!