Home Water Birth - which birth pool did you use? is it worth spending more???

[fymandbean]

Am just getting my head around the idea of a home birth and my lovely midwife has suggested a water birth...

It sounds like a good idea and as birth is just over 3 weeks away (assuming baby not early ) I need to get on with it ASAP....

I can see two main options - a blow up cheapish pool and an expensive rigid hired heated type one. Anyone who has used one or the other I'd be grateful for your opinions. Thanks in advance!!!

i had a la bassine that I got second hand. it's lovely! and am planning on using it again this time round

I rented a heated one - our hot water tank isn't very large and we were afraid the pool would still be half empty and/or cold when I needed it. As it turned out the pool saw far more use as a pre-birth wallow as the bath isn't very large and I really didn't fit (birth turned out to be dry land, but there you go). I'm glad it was there and available for a couple of weeks beforehand as it really was a lovely retreat, especially after yet another "have you had it yet?" phone call as I went increasingly overdue!

thanks ladies.....

have just been doing some eBay research and realised you can buy the inflatable type second hand - isn't that a bit grim???

well, if you used one at hospital it'd have been used before!
mine was second hand and was fine.

we got an oval fibre glass one first from the active birth center and second from splashdown.

splashdown was MUCH cheaper for the exact same pool

they got it to us and picked it up very easy.

I felt totally safe with the sturdiness of the structure.
I have no other comparison but was very very happy with the choices I made.

We bought a La Bassine and it was fantastic (fairly small though so no room for your partner to get in and also not ideal if you're very tall).

I lent it to a friend afterwards for her birth. We cleaned it out thoroughly with some Milton solution but you could always buy a plastic liner for it if you're very squeamish about using a 2nd hand one.

I have had 3 water births in 3 different pools. 2nd dd was born in hospital pool, 3rd dd was born in a rigid pool that I hired from the good birth company - tbh, this one was not comfortable as I had piles that appeared mid-labour and so couldnt' sit down, ouch!
3rd dd we bought a second hand la bassine inflatable that had never been used as the lady ended up in hospital, it was bliss!! really comfy and you can lean and grip the 'walls' to get into a really nice position. I was worred that being inflatable it might puncture or be a bit floppy but it was great.

I have used this pool twice before and one will be being delivered for my 4th baby in 2 weeks' time.

Imogen who runs the company is fabulous, a midwife herself and very helpful.

The deal she has there is far cheaper than the first 2 times I hired a pool.

The pool is rigid and heated and filtered so the temp is fully maintained which pleases the m/w's no end as it's one less thing to monitor and Dh can stay with me the whole time rather than making trips to heat up water.

The 3 weeks before is bliss fym, absolute bliss!

(sorky cake btw)

I used a birth pool in a box and it was great. If you buy it second hand, make sure you buy a new liner and new accessories (hose, pump etc). Because it is inflatable it is very very comfy on your knees etc. Good luck with the birth!

i have a birth pool in a box eco regular. i inflated the pool to see how big it was but didn't get to use it as DS2 arrived prematurely. also have 2 liners , sieve and hose still in wrapping, tap connector, waterproof sheet and non-slip mat for the floor and pool cover.
all above for sale for a reasonable offer. email me at franbower at aol.com if you're interested.
you'll need a foot pump and a thermometer, that's all.
good luck with the birth

another vote for la bassine here

I was pretty sold by this pic

www.beautifulbirths.co.uk/La%20Bassine.htm and although I didn't look quite that serene during the process . it really did help create a good comfortable ambience for me. Whichever you go for I would definately ensure it has inflatable or very padded bottom to it allows you to labour on your knees/all fours as long as you want without getting uncomfortable. I didnt have a heater but we filled it direct from the hot tap and just topped up with kettlefulls of water from time to time. The house was warm and the inflated cells insulate it so it was not hard to keep it at a nice temperature. I bought mine second hand. Good luck!

Birth pool in a box (inflatable) - recommended by my midwife, and was excellent, though in the event when I wanted to get in, the water was too hot, as DH was worried about there not being enough hot. So by the time it was the right temperature, I was at transition (so water and opportunities for different positions was bliss). Gave birth on land in the end (long story).

If you get an inflatable, get an electric pump (only £12 I think). And of course you can use it as a deep paddling pool in the summer!

Good luck and have a beautiful birthing!

Thank you all for your responses - feb I may b in touch, just making decision on what to go for!

This is a v.useful thread for all of us HBers to be - bumping now!

Hi I have just joined so might be too late to add my thoughts!

I've had three kids now pregnant with my fourth and have always hired from Birthworks.

Their service is great and the pools whilst wooden have a padded base. They also hire a number of different sizes at a range of prices. The octagonal that they have is the exact same model as Gentle Waters.

Good luck choosing. :)