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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Home birth no pool stories?

40 replies

Homebirthvirgin · 11/01/2021 21:50

Hi,
I'm looking for positive birth stories of a first time birth, home birth, no pool! Read loads with a pool but I really just don't want one. I don't really like baths and don't like the though of being all wet (I know that sounds stupid!).
I'm doing the positive birth company digital pack and I can't find any stories on there at home without a pool either.
Am I crazy to not want one?!

OP posts:

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 14/01/2021 22:55

3 homebirths here. First without, 2nd with and 3rd without due to poor hot water planning. In the unlikely event I were to have another child I don't think I'd bother with a pool. Waterbirths are amazing but more faff than it is worth for me. Having a nice birthing centre one all ready for me would be different but it would take a heck of a lot to get me birthing anywhere other than home.

Greekisland · 14/01/2021 22:58

I had a home birth in the bath. The bath bit was not intentional but midwife encouraged me to get in and I did not want to get out! So in the bath he was born. Most euphoric day of my life. He was my second and I do seem to have been blessed with speedy, trouble free births. DS1 born 20 mins after arriving at hospital after 2 hours of labour, hence the decision to go for a home birth with DS2.

Hawkmoth · 14/01/2021 23:01

3 homebirths (not first time though). Stood up, couch, couch.

I did think about a pool but it seemed like a faff and I was walking around until pushing anyway so would have been wasted.

inappropriateraspberry · 14/01/2021 23:07

I had planned a home birth without a pool for my second. We had a cheap shower curtain and old towels at the ready! I was overdue and had a sweep - ended up giving birth on the loo in the morning! But it was very quick - the midwife didn't even have a chance to get the gas out of her car!
It was so nice to be able to sit in my own bed with my baby afterwards though - plus tea and toast! Be aware you may still have to go to hospital though. I tore and it was too much to be stitched at home, so my midwife called an ambulance. It arrived so quick I hadn't finished my toast, but they waited and were really lovely. My midwife stuck with me in the ambulance and all through the hospital. Husband followed in the car and we were home the same day.
We also had drama as there was a lot of snow round my due date and the midwives had 4x4s on standby in case I went into labour and they couldn't get through!
If I was having another I'd have a home birth.

Shylo · 14/01/2021 23:07

My best friend had a home birth with no pool having had a water birth at the midwife unit with her first.

I tried a pool with my first and HATED it - wet, slippery, couldn’t get comfortable! Horrendous ! Planned home birth the Second time with no pool although I ended up going to hospital when it came to it

inappropriateraspberry · 14/01/2021 23:09

I always wonder who's left to empty the pool at home? You're busy with a new baby and your other half and someone else has to deal with yucky water in buckets!

lcdododo · 14/01/2021 23:15

@lobsteroll

Go on YouTube and search for Emily Norris home birth. She had one a few years ago and talks about it, even vlogged it I think. She didn't have a pool and had the baby on the couch.

Second this

OddshoesOddsocks · 14/01/2021 23:16

I had a lovely waterbirth with dd1 in hospital, I’d recommend one to anyone BUT I’m with PP on not having one at home. They seem like a lot of expense and faff and we live in a 2 up 2 down, do you blow it up ready a week in advance just in case? It would be chaos to have that in the middle of the lounge just waiting!

So 2 pool-less homebirths here for dds 2 and 3.

Dd2 was supposed to be born downstairs but was born very quickly in bed, beating the midwife and her dad who was downstairs making a coffee thinking I was being dramatic.

Dd3 was born in the lounge whilst I switched between the birthing ball and leaning against the sofa.

We live very rurally too so make sure you ring as soon as possibly when labour starts so it gives them fair warning. I didn’t with dd2 so was completely alone, luckily dd3 took a bit longer so they had a chance to get to us in time!

Towels, puppy pads and cheap shower curtains are a must. eBay are good for the shower curtains.

Also, a good tip I was told is to layer your bed up- puppy pads, bedsheet, shower curtain, puppy pads, second bedsheet. That way you can give birth and take off the top sheet and soiled towels and still have a made up bed underneath!

Good luck!

Shwighty1 · 14/01/2021 23:18

I home birthed both mine and never used a pool, the midwife told me to have a bath when I was in Labour with my first I hated it!! So I definitely didn’t even think about a pool for the 2nd. I birthed both in the lounge against the sofa, but I’m quite active wandering around bouncing about whilst in Labour, can barely sit still!!

Sunshine1235 · 14/01/2021 23:24

I had a home birth without a pool. It was my 3rd birth, the other two were in birth centres but also no pool. I just never fancied it, I got into the bath when I was in labour with my first and it made me feel really panicked. The second time he came so quick they didn’t have time to run the pool and the third time I wanted to be at home and didn’t want the fuss of hiring and pool and emptying it etc. It was fine, I had a fun ball that I leant against, make sure you have plenty of towels and plastic sheets to cover the floor and you’re good to go 👍

Sunshine1235 · 14/01/2021 23:24

Gym ball not fun ball! It wasn’t fun

Maryann1975 · 14/01/2021 23:41

I had two home births. The only time the birth pool got a look in With either birth was the next morning,when Dh topped it up with hot water and the older dc had A splash about in ‘the big bath in the dining room’. After a very long labour in hospital with dc1 (20 hours in hospital but 48 in total), I assumed my subsequent labours would be similar, but they so quick, there was no time to fill the pool full enough. The only thing it did was give Dh a job while I was labouring and I was glad he had something to focus on.

I think it is quite possible to have a home birth with no pool. It’s exactly what happened when my grandmother had my own mother 65 years ago!

NameChange30 · 14/01/2021 23:51

I was gutted that I paid to hire a birthing pool and never even got it out of the damn box! There wasn't time, I didn't realise how far along I was until I felt the urge to push. I did have a bath early on but got out after a while - the problem with baths is that they're not usually big enough to move around and get comfortable, mine certainly isn't. I did stay in the bathroom when I got out of the bath, laboured leaning against it and then ended up on all fours. Bathroom isn't the comfiest but at least it's easy to clean afterwards (not that I was the one doing the cleaning!)

If you do get a pool my advice is to have it all set up and ready to fill as soon as labour starts, then you at least have the option to use it before it's too late.

Original poster

Homebirthvirgin · 18/01/2021 22:47

These are all so great. Thank you so much - I really appreciate it. My instinct is telling me I don't fancy a pool and I'm not keen on the faff, either. On the bed (kneeling) or on a pile of blankets on the floor sounds more up my street. I'll get some cheap plastic curtains in and the tip about double making the bed is great 👍 x

OP posts:

Dey · 01/06/2022 10:40

Hey there, I am in the same spot as you right now, where I will be having a homebirth and can’t be bothered with the pool.
Mind to share how your birth went? 😀

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