Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

Home birth without a pool

35 replies

SickAndTiredAgain · 31/03/2022 21:53

I’m due to give birth in a couple of months and am having another home birth. I had one with DD and had a birthing pool. But this time I’m thinking I can’t be bothered with the faff. But I can’t actually remember how much I liked it or found it helped. DD was my first so I have no comparison and I can’t remember whether getting into the water felt good. I definitely didn’t dislike it, but not sure it was good enough to warrant the cost and the bother. But I’m a bit worried about not having it and thinking “wtf was I thinking, I wish I had a nice pool!” once labour gets going.
Does water make much difference? And if you had a home birth without water, what was your set up? Where did you give birth? I seem to read so many stories of home births with a pool I’m doubting myself slightly.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 31/03/2022 21:59

I had a home birth with my third baby. I didn't have a pool, I reckoned with it being my third it'd be reasonably quick and I wouldn't get value out of it tight

I gave birth in the living room, labouring overnight. It was warm in there with a nice, cosy fire on and plenty of space to move around. I had a long bath when labour first started at around 3am and that was nice, but moved downstairs when we called the midwives.

Anomalocaris · 31/03/2022 22:03

I didn't have a pool. I tried to walk around a bit and then had a bath, then got on my bed and stayed there until my son was born. I can't really remember much as it was all so intense, and not very long, so not sure that's helpful!

adagio · 31/03/2022 22:07

Not a home birth, but I thought the pool in mlu made no difference at all, until I got out!! I got back in sharpish Grin
MLU pool birth for both my DD but I live 5 mins from the hospital so went in as late as poss and was home in my own bed within 3 hours both times. Also pre covid.

JaffavsCookie · 31/03/2022 22:14

I had 2 at home without a pool.
I have precipitous labours and would not have managed to get the pool set up in time.
I gave birth to both in the sitting room, kneeling, leaning on a chair.

Neverreturntoathread · 31/03/2022 22:32

I’ve only had one.

The pooo massively reduced the main, it’s like applying a hot towel to your inner muscles.

Thst said, labour did not progress until I got out of the pool

Barrawarra · 31/03/2022 22:35

I had two home birth attempts, first time I had to transfer in but delivered at home second time. Both times the pool was set up and it was a pure faff, and for various reasons I never got in it either time!! It’s in the attic, currently planning another and I doubt I’ll try to use it next time.

Tatapie · 31/03/2022 22:45

I had my first at home, no pool, wax either pacing or sitting on a builders bucket! Gave birth in the bedroom, kneeling leaning on bed. Second birth was in a maternity unit , pretty much the same , think I stood / squatted with a midwife either side of me to give birth. I could not have lay in a pool but both were short intense labours at first.

DockOTheBay · 31/03/2022 22:47

I didn't have a pool. No space to put it and I have quick labour so wouldn't have had time for it to fill up before he was born anyway!

Loulou1712 · 01/04/2022 07:30

I had a hospital pool birth with my second, I don't think it helped with the pain but I did like the weightless feeling and enjoyed my 'safe space' I felt it kept everyone away from me - I think being at home you'll get that safe space feeling without the pool so it won't be as needed x

FourOclock · 01/04/2022 07:34

First home birth I didn't have a pool, tried using the bath but it was so bloody uncomfortable. Spent the whole labour wishing I had a pool. Second home birth was an hour, just about filled the pool up in time (it was already inflated) and I loved it so so much. So comfortable on my knees when kneeling and don't remember any pain at all. Now pregnant with third and undecided what to do as if the labour is quicker this time I won't have time for it but if it isn't I know I will want it!

ItsSnowJokes · 01/04/2022 07:35

I had a home birth without a pool. I had a bath in early stages (I say early my labour was less than 1 hour 45 mins) but then leant over the sofa to give birth. We had a huge lounge and just made sure it was all clear for the midwives.

HomeprideSaucy · 01/04/2022 07:41

I had a home birth without a pool; like you, I couldn't be bothered with the faff. I laboured and delivered hanging over the sofa. It was still a great experience and much less painful compared to my first birth, in hospital.

Crazykatie · 01/04/2022 08:06

My experiences as a midwife, now retired.

The mothers choice is important and midwives do their best to fit in with that choice, but it’s a lot more work for them, it’s interesting to hear that the mothers experience is “mixed”. Pools in particular are more of a novelty than a real benefit and someone has to set it up and sanitize it afterwards, very time consuming. I didn’t have a home birth for any of my own 4 because it’s a lot less hassle for everyone to get taken to the maternity unit.

Ringmaster27 · 01/04/2022 08:16

I had DCs 2 & 3 at home without a pool either time.
With DC2 I just didn’t want the faff - it was just an extra job putting it up, then exH having to do all the emptying and putting away etc. The birth was totally fine without a pool. I had plastic dust sheets (the kind you use for DIY) taped to my sofas, living room carpet, hallway carpet and up the stairs, lots of towels and hospital inco pads (kindly sourced by a friend who works in a&e Grin).
For DC3, I couldn’t have had a pool even if I wanted one, as she was born with impressive speed Grin before I even had any of my plastic sheets etc taped down. I clearly remember having a weird urge to lay on my sofa - which is very unlike me, as I usually stay standing/walking around for majority of my labours. With the next contraction, my waters broke in an epic tidal wave and all I yelled was “Not on my sofaaaaa!!!!” 😂😂😂

FourOclock · 01/04/2022 10:30

@Crazykatie

My experiences as a midwife, now retired.

The mothers choice is important and midwives do their best to fit in with that choice, but it’s a lot more work for them, it’s interesting to hear that the mothers experience is “mixed”. Pools in particular are more of a novelty than a real benefit and someone has to set it up and sanitize it afterwards, very time consuming. I didn’t have a home birth for any of my own 4 because it’s a lot less hassle for everyone to get taken to the maternity unit.

That's interesting, home births are heavily encouraged in my area, the midwives practically danced around the room when I asked if it was possible. And DH did all the pool faffing.
Crazykatie · 01/04/2022 13:17

“That's interesting, home births are heavily encouraged in my area, the midwives practically danced around the room when I asked if it was possible. And DH did all the pool faffing.”

Home births are encouraged but they don’t provide the extra funding to do it, we were always delighted to be sent to a home birth. Two of us attending one birth is the ideal situation, away from the rush of the unit

ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp · 01/04/2022 13:29

I had two of mine at home with no pool. Gas and air. I really really enjoyed being at home. Couldn't be bothered with a pool though.

I wish you a smooth, happy birth experience.

emsyj37 · 03/04/2022 23:30

I've had a home birth with and without a pool. Without the pool, I gave birth standing leaning on the arm of the sofa. My waters had gone completely before labour started so it was quite a quick one and the last few contractions before I started the bearing down feeling were really 'take your breath away' - whereas the pool birth I never got that feeling of 'I can't cope with these contractions, it must be near the end'. It's impossible to say whether this was due to the pool or to the fact that only my hind waters had gone that time, which I hear 'cushions' the sensations a bit.
The pool labour was slower, crowning and delivery felt similar (not less painful than the dry land delivery) - clean up with the pool was easier, DH drained it with the hosepipe and the liner was disposed of. Nothing major.
I recall being boiling hot after DS came out in the pool and all I wanted to do was get out. I was glad to get out and get dry, the sensation of sweating in the hot water was no fun!
Overall if I had to do it again, I would have the pool again but would get in later on when closer to delivery and would brief the midwives that I wanted to get out as soon as baby was out.

ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp · 04/04/2022 07:51

Hot water? Really? It's not supposed to be hot, is it?

emsyj37 · 04/04/2022 09:23

@ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp

Hot water? Really? It's not supposed to be hot, is it?
It is supposed to be body temperature i think - which feels pleasant whilst you're bumbling along having contractions and breathing, but for me it was like being boiled alive by the time the expulsive phase came, I was sweating and it was uncomfortably warm for that part. It's a personal thing tho isn't it, so it may be different for others.
WutheringCripes · 04/04/2022 13:24

I just had a home birth with a pool. I was so relieved to get in, it was worth 3 million times what I paid for it. I was convinced that I would want to labour on all fours, but in reality I was grateful that I could be on my back but floating/weightless.

It may have been a faff for my husband....but I wouldn't have known about it lol.

123rd · 04/04/2022 13:32

I had a home birth without a pool. I NEVER have baths tho, as I don't find them relaxing. There is no way i would have fancied getting in one when in Labour.
I walked round the downstairs and had the back lounge set up with old towels / sheets set up.

Firecat84 · 05/04/2022 20:41

I attempted a home birth and I had a pool but actually it didn't help - I think I'd have been better off keeping to using the TENS machine. It was such a faff being all cold and wet when I then had to go to hospital, the midwife flooded our kitchen emptying it, we used about a million towels, and my partner had to clean up the horrific mess when he got home from the birth Grin Wouldn't bother again!

moreshitandnofuckingredemption · 05/04/2022 20:50

I had a home birth in the bath (fat end of a shower bath, iyswim), it was great for me but I don't think the midwives liked it a lot, I don't know if they could see everything they needed to see

moreshitandnofuckingredemption · 05/04/2022 20:51

Oh and the midwives cleaned the bath at the end so no cleaning up for us

Swipe left for the next trending thread