Waterbirth - how was it for you ?

[mummydreamer]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant with baby No.2 and after a successful 1st homebirth am looking into a waterbirth this time. However I'm phased by all the different pool types and equipment needed. Has anyone any advice?

Someone told me about Birth pool in a box - any views? Also at what point did you set the pool up and how long did it take to fill?

Your views will be gratefully received!!!

Hi - mummydreamer - no experience yet but we are also planning a home waterbirth and spent a long time looking into the various options. I think Birth Pool in a Box is supposed to be good - I decided not to get one in the end because for some reason I didn't like the idea of giving birth surrrounded by those colourful fish - thought they would irritate me in labour! We eventually purchased a similar pool (but plain dark blue) from a company called MadeinWater - unfortunately we subsequently got an email to say that they had identified a potential fault with that particular batch and there was a chance of leakage! So finally, we've arranged to hire one from Splashdown (oval, rigid-sided) and are collecting it tomorrow. They seemed to have the best prices and don't charge extra if you need to keep it a bit longer (standard 4 week hire period but you can have it earlier if it's available - I'm 37 weeks today so we are picking up a week early). Also they provide everything else you need such as hose, tap adaptor, thermometer etc. One of the women in my aquanatal class has already given birth twice in a Splashdown pool and has hired one for her 4th labour in a couple of weeks time. HTH

I laboured in a pool, and it was really helpful.
We hired ours from Splashdown, whch was the cheapest we could find - inflatable, and quite big enough.

DP faffed around setting it up in a state of hysteria as soon as I was in labour - it gave him something to do, which was therapeutic for both of us. I can't remember how long it took to fill -but it was ready in plenty of time.

We didn't bother with a water-heater, but it was summer. DP and my other birth partner topped it up with kettles when necessary. But inflatable pools are made from the material they make lifeboats from, and they have v good insulating properties.

If your boiler plays the slightest trick on you, get it checked out! Ours became slightly temperamental before ds was born, and on the day refused to heat water altogether . We borrowed an urn from church, and dh had one of those traditional 'boiling water' birth experiences! Boiler was eventually patched up by a plumber.

Thankyou all for your messages - this is really helpful! Have set myself a deadline of Monday to order the pool .....

Hi mummydreamer. I had a pool hire and it was helpful as pain relief (2nd home birth). I had one where you could leave the water in (for up to a week iirc) and it kept it at a constant temp, incredibly useful as it didn't have to be filled when I went into labour, it was all ready to go. I'd really recommend that, it took loads of stress out of it.

Sounds like a good idea, as i had a short first labour and can imagine getting a pool only 1/4 full before baby arrives!!!!

Hi, there's some great stuff on this thread - have a look at SueW's post of 22nd Sept 11:44

Good luck!

Get yourself a copy of this month's (April) Practical Parenting which has a fab home water birth DVD on the cover (and some squirty bath toys).

I watched that dvd yesterday suew, it was really good. It showed them setting the pool up and everything. She also had a kind of float cushion to lean on (rather than clinging on to the edge) which looked really comfortable.

The float cushion was a buoyancy aid from a boat chandler iirc (or maybe that was her last birth).

There are home birth and water birth groups at yahoogroups.com which may be useful to anyone contemplating either/both options.

I am 40 + 1 and am planning a home water birth using the birth pool in a box. Sorry to hijack the thread but DH wondered if anyone could give any advice about emptying the pool? Any tips or guidance gratefully received. Thanks.

AFAIK, a fair few people empty the pool by either bucketing most of it out or siphoning. You need to make sure you have access to good drainage through a sink or do it straight into the drain outside.

You can buy a drill pump from DIY stores which attaches to an electric drill and the hosepipe and helps pump the water out - only a few quid. I think birth pool in a box sell them too. If not, you could try the Good Birth Company (see thread mentioned earlier) or google for a DIY supplier. You can also get hold of a submersible pump but you might want to bear in mind the cost of emptying compared to the cost of the pool in the first place.

Good luck with your birth.

Ours came with a pump thingy and the water went out of the filling hose which we put in the street by the drain.
But then my neighbour ran over the hose with his motorbike and all the water started fountaining out all over the living room.

Thanks for your replies SueW & Blu. Hope this baby arrives soon so that I get the opportunity to use the pool!

Thanks for your replies SueW & Blu. Hope this baby arrives soon so that I get the opportunity to use the pool!

This is a bit of a long shot and nothing whatsoever to do with water births! Anyway, I thought I would give it a try and see if I get any response (crossed fingers).

My query is regarding the squirty bath toys which came free with "Practical Parenting" magazine, April 2005. I hope somebody can help.

My toddler became incredibly attached to these toys (the whale and dolphin in particular) and today, in town, we lost them. She's absolutely inconsolable and I don't know what to do. I've scoured the web and typed "Practical Parenting squirty bath toys" in on the search engine. And, this is where I ended up!!

I hope somebody is reading this and has these toys still. If somebody does happen to have them, please, please let me know as I would love to buy them from you (and pay for postage, of course).

Here's hoping for some response. My little girl is heartbroken (you know how kids get attached to things)

HELP!

Sheryl

Sue - you're a lifesaver! I can't believe our luck. You don't know how much this means to my little girl - THANK YOU!!!!

Just let me know how much you want for them plus postage and I will send the money on. My home Email address is: [email protected].

Thanks again!

Sheryl

I had a hospital water birth with my ds but am now planning a home water birth with dd. Have bought one from Made in Water as it doesn't need a liner - you just clean the inside with Dettox wipes or Milton. The Birth Pool in a Box one was slightly too big for our room (plus a bit more expensive!). However, when I saw my mw on Wednesday she said dd was breech (33 weeks). I said she had plenty of time to turn and that ds didn't turn until 38 weeks. She just hummed and said that I should still pack a bag just in case and that they would look at getting me booked in at 37 weeks for a 'breech turn' by the consultant. Talk about asking me what I wanted!! Anyway, not unduly worried as I'll probably get my birthing ball out and sit on that for a couple of weeks.!