Birth Pool in a box help

[Pedrolina]

Just tried to have a trial run on this but fallen at the first hurdle - we've only got the hand pump and are finding it REALLY hard work to get any air in at all as the pump requires your full strength to pull up and push down - did anyone else find this? Am guessing I will have to order the electric pump but just wanted to check in case we are doing something really stupid. Any one any experience? Thanks

Dh is saying the pump has double action, so it inflates when you pull the handle up, too, hence the effort involved.

Make sure the valve has a good seal in, I think you have to use different attachments for different parts of the pool.

He was frantically inflating it when I was already having close painful ctx, so rather frenzied situation, anyway!!

I hope it inflated in time! Yeah I realise it's meant to be doing the inflating both ways but at the moment the idea of being able to inflate it frantically is hard to believe - not without giving dh a hernia anyway! I'll double check the seals. Thanks

I bought a seperat electric pump, and I have to say it helps. Took 10 minutes from start to finish and although the noise is irritating, no trouble at all. Pool does take an hour to fill, though, so looking for a way to speed that one up!! You can get them cheaper than £12 if you look around. Look for places that sell ball ponds/paddling pools as the pumps tend to be more like £5 than 12.

Thanks Turtle - 10 mins sounds good - especially as we don't have the space to leave it inflated which we's defo have to do at this rate.

Get an electric pump! Definitely! That hand pump is cr*p IME.

Oh, and inflate it in the room you'll be having it in. Do not inflate it in the kitchen because it is furthest away from the bedrooms and therefore the pump won't wake anyone up and then have to manhandle it through 2 doorways, getting it stuck in the second one and then have to climb over a sofa, through double doors, to pull it in from the other side. Although who would ever be so stupid as to do that whilst in labour is beyond me...

It does take ages to fill. I filled mine with just hot water, put the cover on and then topped up with cold when I needed/wanted to get in.

honest guv, dh managed 2 inflate using hand pump in 15 minutes -- we didnt have enuff hot water, tho' .

Thanks SoupDragon - that makes me feel better! One Handed Typist- your dh clearly is a talented man!

talented? Er. maybe. Or maybe just very motivated?!