Birth pools - some questions

[franch]

1. How do I find out whether the floor of my 2nd-floor flat will support the weight of a full birth pool?

2. Can anyone recommend a birth pool hire company?

3. Any other tips/info?

Thanks

I'm considering getting one myself. I've been on the Active Birth Centre (wwww.activebirthpools.com) site which is useful. They seem to say that the pressure of a birth pool on your floor will always be less than that of an average person. They have an advice line which should be helpful. Friend of mine used this company and was pleased with the service.

Really? Must have a look at the site. Someone on the homebirthuk Yahoo group just told me a pool would be equivalent to 12-15 people standing on the same spot. Since posting, the most useful info I've found is in the 'files' section of the WaterbirthUK Yahoo group - you have to sign up to get access to them.

Will have a look at the ABC site now - thanks

We got our pool from Splashdown, because they were the cheapest.
They told us that their basic inflatable pool when full was equivalent to 8 people standing on the floor in a group , and that few places would have any problems with one.

Just be careful when emptying not to flood the downstairs neighbours!!!!!

Thanks Blu, that's reassuring

planning to get mine from 'born' - a friend has just had one of theirs and her friend before as well - its one of the self-heated filtered hexagonal ones (i mean it stays hot once you've filled it, you don't have to refill every time you get in it) its £320 for four weeks, or £100 per week. My friend has just had her baby, so if I hear any more tips I'll post them!

Thanks JC. I've provisionally booked an oval pool from the Good Birth Co - like the idea of the heated ones but they have to have chemicals added to the water and I'm not really comfortable with that.

I liked the self heating one, I thought it was fab as it was already full and ready when I went into labour and could be used before that too - ds and I would quite often get in after school and I found it incredibly relaxing.

Hi, I have just bought this one inflatable pool after reading this thread waterbirth . Its been inflated for a few days now and seems fine size wise. Don't think a bigger pool would have fitted in the room.Haven't used it yet though, baby is due Tuesday.

We used gentle waters birth pools which are the ones that heat and filter the water so you dont have to refill it every time you use it. DS was induced (horrible) so didnt give birth in it but used it every day for three weeks before and a couple of times with baby afterwards so it was worth every penny.

the chemicals are very very gentle...they have to be

do get the one with automatic heating and filtration if you can - they're fantastic. mine was identical to the gentle water ones.