Landlord against birthing pool at homebirth

[Suzwana]

Hi everyone!

I am planning a homebirth and as per midwives instructions I have informed my letting agency/landlord that there will be gas cylinders (entonox and oxygen) at the property near my due date. My midwife said just to do this so they can update any insurance policies in regards to fire safety.

So they replied and said they hoped I was not renting a birthing pool. I told them I was - and they sent me a massive email stating that the floors on the ground floor in the kitchen/dining room (where I am planning the waterbirth) would not likely bare the weight.

The pool when full is approx 430kg and I have been told this is the same as approx 8-10 adults standing in the kitchen.

They are sure that the wooden floorboards under the tiled flooring will likely flex and cause the tiles to crack.

I am worrying as I want to go ahead as my partner and others feel this is ridiculous - but I don't want to be worrying about this during labour if I go ahead with the pool hire.

Any thoughts and advice would help! Are they just being fussy or are their concerns legitimate?

Thank you.

of course not, but there's enough actual facts like the above without having to make up scare-mongering nonsense.

Without knowing the layout of the house, the type of flooring, where the joists are positioned, details of the landlord’s building insurance policy and the specific points of concern that the OP stated the letting agent has outlined in a long and detailed email, what qualifies you to say that anyone here has been scaremongering?

The landlord is concerned enough about the risk to say no. I’m sure they don’t give two hoots about what type of birth OP has, he/she just doesn’t want their grouting to be fucked.

I think birthpools should only go on the ground floor really

I'll be honest: regardless of the weight of the thing, if I owned a flat I wouldn't really want someone putting a whacking great paddling pool full of water in it either, whether they were planning to give birth in it or not. Generally speaking, large quantities of water in flats are very much best confined to the bath.

Could you have the pool in a different room (one without tiles)? I had a water birth at home for my second, and I highly recommend it. I thought about having the pool upstairs, but I was worried about the weight. I didn't even consider the kitchen and had the pool in our sitting room which was carpeted at the time.

Bottom line is it's the landlord's property so it's their call. Don't damage that relationship if it's a good one, they're hard to find. Pps have made very good points about weight distribution, floorboards and the volume of water.

Are you prepared to compromise, OP?

Home Births can be very messy, not surprised your Landlord said no.

I'm more surprised a landlord has any say whatsoever. Tenants are expected to behave the way a home-owner would. Any many home owners choose a home birth.

This is your first baby isn’t it?

Do you really want to be bothered about thinking “god I hope I don’t wreck the house with a ginormous weight and then loads of placenta and poo soup” whilst you’re in labour?

@Drabarni "You're a midwife insisting on a home birth 
Surely you know you can't always have what you want.
So many people I know who wanted home birth and were sent to hospital.
Have you ever had a baby?"

Ucch what a cringeworthy, patronising post, have you ever had human interaction? I'm sure she's delivered more babies than you have. Can't believe OP is getting criticised for planning a home birth from some people, or being told it's not worth "the fuss", it would be ignorant enough to be posting it to anyone else anyway, but a midwife? Jesus Christ.

If i was the landlord i wouldnt allow you to put a pool inside my house.
Birthing pool or not, if it bursts the damage would be massive

the landlord can say no pets, no painting, no knocking out walls, they can also say no pools in the lounge or kitchen

An ex colleague of mine had to get an engineer/surveyor out to assess the floor of their flat before they were allowed to have a home birthing pool. It was their insurance who requested it.

Why on earth would you take the risk? What if there's complications with the birth (God forbid of course 🤞🏻) and you have Paramedics out - even more people in that small area of floor space. I know that sounds odd as your flooring will be the least of your concerns if that happens, but what I'm getting at is if there's any issues with the flooring it could actually make the whole experience harder for you.

When I had my daughter, after pushing well & making great progress she suddenly turned at the last minute and stopped breathing. We had less than 3 minutes to get her out...... I had to lie in a specific position whilst they prepped me for a full Spinal Block and Forceps. If this happened at home, in a birthing pool (not to mention with the floor flexing like a hammock) well................. I won't say it. What I will say though, is that absolutely nothing was done by me or anyone to cause her to turn suddenly like that. It was just something she did. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Yes, lots of home births, thousands even, go ahead without a hitch every single day. I bet it's a lovely experience. However many don't....
I thought about having one and my goodness I'm glad I didn't. The only reason I had her in hospital was because I'd had a glimpse of the new fancy Maternity Ward that had just been revamped and I was star struck as it looked so lovely & relaxing.

I'm not trying to scare you, just wanted to give you my experience....

EverTheConundrum, it very much does sound like you are trying to acare her. Why would you share a story like that with someone who is pregnant? Do you think she was entirely unaware of any risks until you swooped in to save the day? The midwoves do discuss any risks when assessing for a home birth and OP is a modwofe herself. I'm sorry you had such a scary experience but share it with a therapist if you have to talk about it, not with someone who is preparing for a joyous occasion! If you had been a victim of domestic violence would you try to tell it to every stranger you saw in a wedding dress?

Sorry I agree with your landlord - why don't you give birth in hospital? I personally think it is so dangerous to have a baby at home because things can go wrong very quickly. A friend of mine was giving birth when her babies shoulders got stuck and the baby became distressed. Luckily she was in hospital and doctors rushed to her aid and delivered the baby with forceps - he had to spend 2 days in special care but thankfully he is ok now. I am not trying to alarm you but there was no indication that my friend was having a big baby and we were all shocked when we found out he was over 10lbs.

I will just add that I am a landlord and I would allow any of tennants to have a birthing pool in any of my houses - sorry OP but a lot of landlords will agree with me.

wouldn't allow

If OP wants a home birth, she wants a home birth. Wouldnt be my choice, but she isnt me. It's her choice. I do think it's a valid point that as someone who has been a mid wife, she should be fully aware that people dont always get what they want, in labour. Time, how many other people are in labour, complications etc all impact peoples birth plans.

However the birthing pool is entirely different.

OP, let's say, you do cause damage. Do you have the cash, possibly up to several thousands, just available to pay the land lord? It's ok saying 'we will pay for damage'.

Do you actually have the finanaces to do that?

Oh dear I had a home birth in a rented property - didn’t know you needed to inform the LL! No birthing pool though as didn’t fancy one - was a lovely birth though (as was my first even if that was unplanned!)

Good luck

So the landlord hasn't told you not to proceed you just to need to be responsible for the damages, which you 100% are happy with.....so what is the issue ?

I think they're covering their arses, which as a landlord I would do. There's written proof that they have outlined the risks, if you proceed (dismissing the risks) and damage is caused, you should be liable for every penny, probably worth checking what your tenancy insurance covers. He isn't saying the floor will fall through is he, just that it might damage the tiles, which it might. Does the pool come with anything to prevent flooding if it leaks?

I probably just wouldn't have told the landlord. But you have now. And they've said no. It's their property. That said, what does it say in your contract? I can't imagine there's a specific birthing pool clause.

Can you get the smaller birth pool? Less weight to worry about then.

I am appalled at all those telling the OP she should not have a home birth. She is a midwife and I am sure is better able to come to this decision than any random person on the internet.

If I were you I would try to calculate how much pressure would be on per square foot. It's not just the weight of an object that would crack the tiles, it's how distributed. If you could work this out and then work out the pressure from another appliance that is smaller such as your freezer you could argue there would be less weight/pressure in the floor per square meter? Just an idea? Hope you get the result you are hoping for xx

And people think nothing of having fridge freezers full of food in a kitchen. Weight to area this will be heavier than a birthing pool.

I had a pool in an upstairs flat, wooden floors.
We put it beside the wall.
No problems at all, it was magic.
I got in quite late and it was amazing pain relief.
Good luck and enjoy your birth ( also a midwife;) )

Sharing stories of home birth risks on this thread is odd... OP is an ex-midwife!