Has anybody not been able to have their water birth because the pool was being used?

[TheRealMissP]

Short question...

I get that childbirth is unpredictable and I'm happy to give birth however I need to at the time, be that through a section or in a position that I never imagined using. Ideal is a water birth (not done it before but I would love to try).

My question?

Has anybody not been able to have their water birth because the pool was being used? There's only one pool at the hospital which is a large unit and I'm considering changing hospital simply as there's one near me that has 4 pools...

Yes.
I desperately wanted a water birth but turned up at my very quiet MLU and was told both baths were in use!
I swore a lot and panicked a bit, then realised as I was 10cm I had no choice. So I had a word with myself and got on with it.

Slightly different but along the same lines:

With first baby, ended up being unexpectedly induced at 39 weeks, was told I could not use pool because I needed wires on me to monitor baby.

Second pregnancy: I discussed with a midwife my desire to have a water birth; they said they would want to monitor again as I was a VBAC, but that they now had two wireless units at the hospital, so I'd be able to have my water birth while being monitored. I was worried the wireless units might be in use but midwife said that was very unlikely and basically guaranteed I'd be able to have a water birth.

When the day came, I arrived at the hospital in labour and found I was to be cared for by the midwife from above. I asked about getting into the pool... and the midwife had to tell me that both wireless units were broken.

Not quite the same but I did have a pool in my room which I wanted to use. It didn't fill up in time! DS2 and I popped in afterwards and I had my tea and toast in it.

The pool room was free but they did not have enough staff.

I had a bit the opposite... the labour ward was full and shut, so they moved me to the 'birth sanctuary' and tried to get me into the pool. Point blank refused as I wanted an epidural! Got one in the end, it was a long wait but my labour was three days...

I gave birth at am mlu with only 1 pool for a large unit and although i had resigned myself to the fact it probably wouldn't be available, it came free.
When I arrived at 5cms, it was in use, however a few hours later, the lady has delivered, and the midwife, knowing I really wanted it, got it cleaned up and ready for when I was 8cms. Huge relief. Loved it.
I have now moved to an area where the mlu has a pool in almost every room and is generally very quiet as it in mlu only... Hopefully for dc2, I can stay mlu rather than being transferred by ambo to the hospital at any point!

Yes, at least for a while (it was being cleaned from the previous occupant) which is why I'm planning a homebirth this time so I know I'll have a pool!