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Childbirth

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Original poster

Landlord against birthing pool at homebirth

102 replies

Suzwana · 29/08/2019 22:23

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.

OP posts:
delilahbucket · 30/08/2019 08:21

I think a lot of people have missed the point of this thread, the op isn't asking for approval for her homebirth or opinions on it. She is asking about the pool.
Given what I know about tiles floors op, don't do it. It is highly likely to cause racking, either through weight or getting wet. You do not want to either be paying for a new tiles floor (which gets into several thousand pounds before you know it), or have it going on while you have a newborn (very messy, very dusty, very noisy).

amandacarnet · 30/08/2019 08:25

Op if you are really worried ask a structural engineer to have a look. Shouldn't cost that much if you get someone local who just needs to pop round.

DerelictWreck · 30/08/2019 08:27

Why on earth did they put tiles over a wooden floor!

What do you want them to put them over? Air?! Pretty normal to lay tiles over floor boards

SophyStantonLacy · 30/08/2019 08:33

I've had two homebirths with two birth pools in Victorian houses. No problems.

Countrylifeornot · 30/08/2019 08:34

Do what you want OP, but don't be surprised if you crack any tiles or cause any damage to be served a notice to quit. I'd be absolutely fucking furious if I were your ll and you damaged expensive tiles after being directly warned of the likelihood. If you want to be dealing with that then on your head be it.

bluebury · 30/08/2019 08:36

When we did the extension on our house the structural engineer made us put in extra structural joists to support our larger than average bath.

The bath was nowhere near the weight of a birthing pool so you're landlord might be right. It's about how small of an area the weight is on and the fact you won't know if it's positioned over a strong or weak area of the joists.

When we mentioned having a birthing pool to our builder he said make sure it's in the down stairs extension which has a concrete floor.

thecapitalsunited · 30/08/2019 08:37

If the tiles would break with the weight of 450kg over a the footprint of a pool wouldn’t they be in major trouble if someone like my 25st (160kg) came to visit. I mean the weight is less but in a much smaller area. But no one ever creates about a load of fat people visiting.

All these landlords who would forbid it better update their contacts because if it isn’t in the contract then it’s tough really. You give your tenants possession of the house for the duration of the contract to use as they wish.

Toneitdown · 30/08/2019 08:38

Not sure why everyone is lecturing on about why OP shouldn't be having a home birth at all. I wouldn't choose to either but it's entirely up to her, and that isn't what this post is about. She's simply asking about the weight of the birthing pool compromising the structural integrity of the floor. Let's stay focused.

OP - do you really think you'll be able to relax and give birth with the little niggling doubt that the floor could give way? I wouldn't be able to get it out of my head. Obviously it's up to you but this would be enough to put me off the idea.

Do you have any knowledgeable friends who could come in and do some sort of assessment? I'm not sure exactly who would deal with this, but maybe some sort of engineer or surveyor? That could put your mind at ease. If not then it might be best to alter your plans.

doleritedinosaur · 30/08/2019 08:47

I’ve had 2 home births & never informed the letting agent or landlord. I mean I told the estate agent after the first home birth.

Obviously as a midwife you know they may have to flood the pool to get you out.

All those posters saying home births are messy/go to hospital ummm why don’t you have a home birth?

I had 2 without pools including a back to back even without gas & air. Could you lie in the bath for as long as possible?

amandacarnet · 30/08/2019 08:48

The more I think about the weight of ordinary items like full fridge freezers and washing machines, the more I think these worries are a load of rubbish. If it can't support a birthing pool, it can't support a washing machine.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 30/08/2019 08:58

This is absolutely not up to the landlord.

If I were you I would just go ahead and in the (extremely unlikely) case the tiles.are damaged, pay to repair it.

Skyejuly · 30/08/2019 09:00

I didnt even ask?!

EdtheBear · 30/08/2019 09:04

Totally different weight in a washing machine to the almost half ton that a filled birth pool would be.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 30/08/2019 09:14

Annoying that a quite interesting conundrum has been hi-jacked by people telling OP she’s mad for having a homebirth. It’s a completely separate issue and her landlord can’t veto this.

Similarly people not understanding the concern isn’t about the birthing pool dramatically falling through the floorboards while she’s crowning. The landlord is worried about the weight over a small area causing the floorboards to flex and damaging the tiled floor.

Neither party is being unreasonable here- landlord hasn’t expressed any opinion about the birth taking place at their property, and OP isn’t unreasonable for wanting access to a pool.

Good luck with the birth op. Hope it all goes well for you!

Joh66 · 30/08/2019 19:44

@amandacarnet do you know how much water weighs?

WalkofShame · 30/08/2019 19:51

Haven’t RTFT but my son in law had a big fish tank - no where near the size of a birthing pool but substantial. He filled it when they moved to their house and the floor flexed so much that the walls and ceiling cracked. He had to empty it straight away and get rid. It had been fine on a concrete floor but wooden floor couldn’t cope.

EdtheBear · 30/08/2019 20:10

For the record 1litre of water weights a kilo.

Shouldcolder · 30/08/2019 21:03

The smallest one I’ve seen is 450 litre capacity.

LolaSmiles · 30/08/2019 21:35

WalkofShame
I have friends who've had to rip their floor up and put concrete pads in for large fish tanks or have had to put their fish tank in an extension with concrete floor because it would have risked damage to other floors.

I always thought it was a lot of effort for some fish,but I have a new respect for their planning now.Smile

Knitclubchatter · 30/08/2019 21:35

62 lbs per cubic foot (high school physics)

EdtheBear · 30/08/2019 23:56

Knitclubchatter you are showing your ageGrin

Why convert it to imperial metric is easy!

A litre is 10cm3 or 1000cubic centimeters, one litre of water is a kilogram, 450lt pool day you dont fill it for the brim say 400lt or 400kg plus op day 70kg therefore 470kg plus mW and DH that's a heck of a weight

EverTheConundrum · 31/08/2019 01:52

@DreamsofSummer What on earth do you think you read?! I'm pointing out that if there are any issues then any flooring-related issues - ie it collapsing - will make it ten times worse for her!

Calm down and get a cup of tea or something?!

I don't need any kind of therapist! Hmm

Jesaminecollins · 31/08/2019 04:32

I still wouldn't want a large birthing pool in one of my houses - sorry OP

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 31/08/2019 05:00

I think they are covering themselves as well, and making it clear they won't be paying for any damage caused by a birthing pool.

(And I fe my homebirth was a lot safer than my hospital birth. It wasn't the home birth I was left alone because I wasn't in proper labour and gave birth with no one else in the room as DH went to find someone when it became obvious the birth was imminent. Homebirth a midwife was with me all the time and only concentrating on me.)

I had to inform people about proposed homebirth as it was on an army base. Nothing was said about damage.

Paige1987 · 31/08/2019 14:06

I had no idea you had inform them if you have a home birth with gas and air canister's! I rent through an estate agent who has no flexibly for anything! I'd be happy to pay the difference on the insurance for a few months extra cover if it's a reasonable amount but I don't see them even agreeing to that! I guess I'd have to choice but to have a hospital birth! I only need gas and air and aren't bothered about a pool so much. I'm quite dissapointed now 😔

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