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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Can't decide whether to get a birthing pool for my home birth. Help me decide

19 replies

gingerninja · 24/02/2009 21:48

I'm looking at La Bassine but can't decide whether it's worth the bother or not. I laboured in water during my first birth (in a midwife centre) and it was great but it wasn't a particularly long labour and I don't know if it's worth the money / effort to get one for this one.

I don't feel strongly that I want to deliver in it or not, just keen to keep gas and air usage to a minimum so like the idea of it as a pain reliever.

Does anyone have any experiences they can share with me about their home birth and whether they thought the pool was a necessary addition or not. I'm wondering whether labouring in the bath would be a viable option. Thanks

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janek · 24/02/2009 21:54

i didn't go in the pool for my first hb cos i didn't want to take my tens machine off (it has a cumulative effect i was very afraid of losing), i had a bit of g&a, but to be honest the midwife was more interested in that than i was...

for my second hb i didn't even bother inflating it, for the same reason and managed to deliver my 9lb 10 dd with her 98th centile head with just the tens. don't know how though... - mw didn't even offer me g&a cos she thought i would think she thought i wasn't coping iyswim.

if i had used a pool it would have been a birthpool in a box though.

fruitshootsandheaves · 24/02/2009 21:58

I laboured in the bath with DC3 but wasn't allowed to deliver in it. Mine experiences were all very different and nothing seemed to work the same as the previous time.

Leanne5 · 24/02/2009 21:58

I have had two homebirths now. I liked the idea of a pool but draining it after seemed to much of a hassel for me, especially as I have quick labours. My homebirths compared to my hospital births were so different. I never needed any pain releif right till the end where I used the gas and air around 5-10 times. I coped so well at home just moving a relaxing how I wanted to. I also learnt how to breath and this was fantastic.

Labouring in the bath is always an option. Sometimes just not able to deliver baby in the bath. It depends on how deep the bath is and how much room the midwives have to see. You can always use the shower if you have one too. Great on your back.

sundew · 24/02/2009 22:02

I tried the bath for my home birth but it stopped my labour so I just used g&a.

My home birth experience was just so relaxed compared to giving birth to dd1 in hospital. I don't think I'd have bothered putting it up even if I'd hired one.

Original poster

gingerninja · 25/02/2009 11:11

Thanks everyone, that's interesting as you're all saying pretty much the same thing.

My first labour was only 5 hours start to finish so I'm guessing (hoping) this one will be shorter especially if I'm home, however I think this is a big baby and I also have vulval varicose veins which are quite uncomfortable when there is any pressure on the area ie bearing down or squatting.

I don't want to deliver in the bath as it's too small and I imagine too shallow but it is an option for labouring. Think I might just save my money and go for it on dry land with the bath as a substitute. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

childrenchildreneverywhere · 25/02/2009 16:12

I guess if you have one then it's there as an option to you. Personally I couldn't imagine labour without a birth pool, out of four babies I've only done one "on dry land" and hated it in comparison to being in water.

I'm a doula and my preference by far is the La Bassine over the Birth Pool in a Box (have seen both in action), you certainly don't need all of the extras that go with it (can pick up most cheaply in a garden centre) and you can also pick them up cheaply on Ebay as lots of people don't actually get to birth in them and resell. Even if it has been used a quick wipe round with Milton is enough to sterilise again. If you do get one and don't use it you can always stick it back on Ebay again, you may even make money ;-)

If you go for the bath idea instead you can put blutack over the overflow bit to make the bath deeper and get more a birth pool effect.

ShowOfHands · 25/02/2009 16:16

Oh I loved my la bassine. DD plays in it now with lots of balls or some water.

Disenchanted3 · 25/02/2009 16:21

I laboured in water with DS1 - no g&a - fab

I laboured and gave birth at home, in water with DS2 - fab no g&a

With DD1 I was told not to put pool up until midwife came (she got there at 8-9 cms) it was AWFUL, no g&a either but bo where near relaxing.

I was crawling up the walls, i REALLYYYY should have put my pool up!

Disenchanted3 · 25/02/2009 16:22

PS, with DD in desperation I got in the bath, it was not the same at all ... i got out after 2 contractions.

Iv just sold my labassine with everything and extras for £60!

Aefondkiss · 25/02/2009 16:32

I was in a pool, up until my dd was born, in hospital - I got out the pool to have dd, was very relaxing, for a first labor, played chess, listened to music.

I decided not to bother for my hb, was in my own bath when mw arrived... things went a bit quiet and the mw's had their lunch sitting in my back garden, I attempted to make a quiche (thought I wouldn't get a chance for a while when my baby arrived), as I weighed the flour my first big contraction came.

I decided to go up stairs to my room, another contraction on the stairs as my Mum arrived, to collect a dress for dd, who was going to her friend's birthday party(I had forgotten to give it to my mum, was a wee bit grumpy).... 20 minutes later after some lovely G&A my baby boy arrived, lovely... no regrets about not having a pool to faff about with.

Aefondkiss · 25/02/2009 16:33

labour that is

Original poster

gingerninja · 25/02/2009 16:53

Oh, differing ideas. Thanks everyone. I'm still umming and ahhing, I agree if I've got it it's an option, just don't want to waste money if I won't use it however if I can get £60 back from ebay then maybe it's an option. I think the real benefit for me will be the relief of pressure on my fanjo which is heavy and uncomfortable because of the veins.

I'll check out ebay.

OP posts:

Blu · 25/02/2009 17:00

I was in the pool for ages at home. DS was OP so it was good for kneeling in, leaning over the side, with all pressure taken off.

ceb80 · 25/02/2009 19:10

Hijack alert
childrenchildren why would you rec the bassine over the birth pool in a box? I have looked at both and prefer the pool in a box because of the handles, seat and cover. Would be interested to hear you opinion as this is my first time.

lauren61 · 26/02/2009 11:00

im going for a la bassine birthing pool, they look more relaxing and can be inflated in 20minutes so you havent got to leave it up for a month.."just in case"!! plus it looks like a ball pit or pool so toddlers can get most out of the money afterwards!

Another thing i like about the birthing pool at home idea is that baby and mum can use it afterwards for aquanatal exercise to help mum get back into shape and baby relax and have fun where you're both comfortble and safe in your own home. So even if it doesnt get used in birth, because of complications or pain relief ie. tens, its got its uses for afterwards, and failing that can just be saved for the next baby x

SoupDragon · 26/02/2009 11:02

I had a birthpool in a box and it was fabulous. Couldn't fault it at all.

ceb80 · 26/02/2009 11:04

Whoops just started a new post!

insywinsyspider · 26/02/2009 12:17

I had home birth with ds2 (planning one again with dc3) ds1 was born in hospital 'on dry land' just g&a - I had an espiotomy and had read being in water is very relaxing, good pain relief and reduced chance of tearing which was was keen to avoid.

I had a birth pool in box - all ready to go, dh had taken loads of convincing but was prepared to set up and clean up. When MW arrived at home and examined me she said I was ok to set pool up and get in I just completely changed my mind, when actually having contractions I found the idea of getting undressed and being confined to a pool too restricting and that it would make my labour out of my control - weird as I was so convinced before hand.

I sent unopened assessories pack back to birth pool in box and got full refund. I'd bought pool 'second hand' off ebay and just put it back on and got money back so nothing was lost by having pool there if I'd wanted it.

if you've done the pool thing before and enjoyed it then would be worth getting one I think, then you have the flexibility to change your mind, sounds like everyone has managed to get some money back for pools after so you really wouldn't loose anything by it.

btw dh was very relieved not to have to sort out the pool so I'm glad we didn't as I think it would have made the birth thing less enjoyable (not sure thats the right word!?!) for him, worth checking other half/birth partner is on board as they are going to be sorting it out for you

AllYouNeedIsLoveAllegedly · 26/02/2009 15:39

I wouldn't be without a pool for any future dcs - the thought of being in labour without one makes me feel quite panicky actually.

I used birth pool in a box and it was fab. I was only actually in it for about three and a half hours (used a TENS in early labour) but it was still worth every penny. I had to get out before the birth in the end and transfer to hospital and the difference in pain levels between being in the pool and not being in the pool was incredible.

And like the other posters have said, if you don't end up using it, you can make your money back on ebay anyway.

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