whats the cheapest i can get a birth pool??

[mad4mybaby]

My dh being annoying as he not overly keen on me having home birth esp as i want a water birth this time and every where i have looked to hire are starting at £125. This is money we just dont have and id never hear the end of it if i didnt use it for whatever reason! Have even looked into using paddling pool type thing but there is no way they are sturdy enough/comfy enough to use IMO.

Can anyone help?? I dont even know anyone i can borrow one off!

I used an inflatable birth pool and it was absolutely fine. I actually used a paddling pool thing which was the same design as a birth pool in a box and it was only about £35 I think.

where did you get it from? I'd have to set mine up in the dining room which is tiled floor, wouldnt that be really uncomfortable?

La Bassine does a good one for about £100. Google it. It is yours to resell afterwards. I got mine 2nd hand from a MNer for £50. If the thought of 2nd hand makes you go then you can also buy a disposable liner for it.

check ebay?

The Entertainer, not sure whether they do them any more though. The floor was slightly inflated iirc, or you could put it on top of a duvet - mine was on a wooden floor and I've also been at births (as a doula) where they've been on tiled floors.

i was just on that website! Its that sort of money we dont have though!

what about all the stuff that you pay extra for like the pump, hose, liners etc....?

The La Bassine itself is £65, isn't it? the hose, pump, etc brings the total to £100. So if you think you do without the accessories, then £65 is the pool. remember that you can recoup your half your money by reselling too.

I got my la bassine on ebay for £30 - there are quite a few for sale as some people have bought them but unfortunately not had the birth they planned.
i loved mine - really comfortable

looked at a few sites for you

www.birthpoolinabox.co.uk/
£84 for the mini one

www.homebirth.org.uk/waterchooseah.htm

www.shoppingcomparison.co.uk/chea p_Birth-Pool-in-a-Box-Deluxe-Kit.htm

www.gentle-birth.net/
you can hire them on site above

madeinwater.co.uk/waterbirth.html

www.thegoodbirth.co.uk/our_birthing_pool s
the above site gives advantages of hiring or buying. and has detailed on important things to consider when getting one.

www.thebirthexperience.co.uk/page18.htm

www.activebirthpools.com/guidelines faqs.html

you might get one on e-bay too but i'd have thought you would really need to know what you are looking for. so if money is an important issue as you say, research what you really need and keep looking on e-bay. you could also ask your midwife about borrowing one. she will know lots of women who would've bought one and might be happy to lend it.

looked at this
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130246437298&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_P R4PCNBIX&refitem=250279923445&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closedviewitem&refwidgettype=osiwidget& trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%252BIA%26itu%3DCR%252BIA%252BUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D42

copy and paste it - it should take you to see La Bassine Birth Pool small for £20 and free delivery. it has been used once but advert does reassure that condition is good - might be a goer!!

all the very best to you and your water baby!! hope you find what you need.

oh and advert on the sale of the la bassine birth pool said that the accessories are often a waste of money. having never been there i do not know but she said that it was her third child so she musthave a jolly good idea. she says you can used any thermometer for example and i am sure any hose would fill it with water.

yhanks for all that!

So if i bought a used one off ebay is it the same as hiring one from a company? I mean in terms of cleaniness??

it's your decision babes. you can contact the seller about condition etc... and ask specific questions. but if you gave birth in a pool in hospital or hired one, many people would have been there before you, so i suppose if you are happy with one careful owner and getting it from her then go for it. hiring does seem expensive.
if i got the one from e-bay i'd clean it thoroughly myself anyway, and would if i hired one or bought one new just to be sure. suppose it is like washing your brand new bed sheets once before putting them on the bed, so you feel they are aired and fresh.

whats the best thing to clean it with? Would antibac wipe be enough? If you got one of ebay you'd have to buy a new liner anyway... would you still need to clean anything? I have never seen a home birth pool so hoping someone out there can help??

i've never had a home or water birth sorry made4mybaby so wouldn't want to mis-advise you. contact the seller, as they might have a liner with it. if not you'd need to get one but might be able to get one of those on e-bay too.

as for cleaning i personally would fill it with luke water and a mild cleaning antiseptic liquid and use a cloth/pad to rub it all over. empty if and fil it a couple of times with just water and empty to rinse it, rub it with a towen to dry it and then leave it to dry thoroughly in the open air if possible. antibac wipes might well be enough tho if you did it all over. i just like soapy water!
as you are probably quite pregnant (not sure how many weeks you are) i would get my partner/mum/dad/sister/brother/friend to do it as you'd have to bend a bit. depends how you feel hun.

I bought an eco birthpool in a box from ebay for £60 then a brand new liner from boots for £20. Still adds up, but at least it's sparkly clean!

Maybe join as many homebirth forums/chat boards as you can, there'd be a good chance of 'meeting' someone who might lend you one and you could just buy the liner for £20/25?

I bought a mini birth pool in a box for my DD's birth and never used it (EMCS), but did end up lending it to someone I met in this way - they borrowed the pool and all the gubbins, just bought their own liner plus collected it and brought it back of course.

Getting down on your hands and knees and scrubbing it woudl be a pretty good way of making sure your baby is in the right position and bringing on labour I would think!

Hope you can get it sorted. All the best.

I was given mine by a lady on Freecycle. It was brand new. Just ask on your local site, you'd be surprised how many people ask and receive.

Speaking as someone who used to rent out birthing pools:
You must clean the pool with something strong yet safe, this is crucially important to avoid infection and contamination.
If you haven't had your baby yet you are welcome to borrow my inflatable birthing pool for free, we are in the South East. It has everything with it.
Talk to women who've had water labour/birth. Get your partner to talk to partners who've been there and done it. This is usually really helpful and reassuring. I had three water babies and two home births. Wonderful experiences! Good luck

Hi Tanja1964,
R u still around? Do you live in Kent? I live in Tunbridge Wells. Would it be possible to borrow your pool, I have 2 weeks to go and the girl that was going to lend me hers went on hol! Ah!
Let me know, thank you very much.

hi,
I'm 33 weeks pregnant and decided to give birth at home, I thought maybe somebody could help me by lending me her birthpool. thanks

i got mine from eBay £30 collection only from 20 mins away

that included a sterile liner which alone costs £30... also the pool (which had never been used as previous owner had to birth in hospital) and all the pumps, waterproof non slip floor mat, heat cover, hose etc etc (ie everything, except sieve which i bought from poundland, 4 for £1!)

Many local homebirth groups will lend a pool so long as you buy the liner (£30), worth a google or facebook search to see if there are any home birth groups local to you.
also some hospitals have pools to loan to home birthers (not mine but 2 different people who i know can borrow one through their MLU)

Have you asked your midwife if they have one to loan out? Mine did, although I only found out when I was in labour in my own pool and she mentioned it then.

My local home birth group loans them out and are great places to go for support anyway! You just need to buy a liner then.