Birthing pool - do I get one and how?

[Cha]

Am having my second at home (was the plan for 1st too, but didn't work out) and was wondering whether to get a pool. We live on the 1st/2nd floors of a Victorian terrace (c1885) and have heard you need to get a surveyor in to see if your floor can support the weight of the pool (about a ton?). How do you organise this? How much does it all cost? Live in SE London.

Also was a bit umming and ahhing about whether to get one at all. Is it really worth it? Have heard again and again that it is but have one horror story that makes me slightly uneasy. Also my midwife says you can get the pain relief afforded by a pool by being in the bath. Is this true?
Sorry to ask so many questions!

I hired the cheapest, most basic inflatable type, like a deep yellow paddling pool. They are made of the same material as life rafts which has good insulating properties, so don't lose heat too much. The midwives kept a thermometer in the water, and supervised temperature control and my dp and birth partner topped up with a kettle full of water when necessary. It was good and deep, the sides were firm enough for me to lean forward over, and as these are the smallest pools, the suppliers told us that if our floorboards would support the weight of 8 people standing together on the floor, we'd have no problem with the pool. I didn't give birth in the pool, but I did spend several hours in it and would thoroughly recommend it for labour.

There are always ads galore for birthing pool hire in the back of the Pregnancy magazines. I;m sure your midwife would know the best and closest supllier, ask her.

Mine was paddling pool/life raft stuff too. DP inflated it while I was in labour.

I was in fact only in it for 8 minutes, but since I got in at 8cm, dilated to 10cm, pushed three times and gave birth in the water, I think it was VERY well worth it.

Unless you stay in water for very long periods of water.... the temp is not an issue (I mean it doesn't get cold). This is ONE of the reasons why pools are better than baths as they are made of a material whick keeps them warm ! Of course past 2 or 3 hours you may need to add some hot water.

Mine had a heater and thermostat in it to keep the water at the right temperature. I don't know how long I was in it during labour, but it was quite a lot of hours, so I was glad that dp didn't have to keep topping it up with hot water.