Home waterbirth with no combi boiler - can it be done??

[fairywing]

I am planning a home birth in the next few weeks and would really really like to have a waterbirth. We have a traditional boiler system, i.e. not a combi. We have a large 210 litre water tank. I am looking at either the birth pool in a box or la bassine pools at the moment. Do you think we will manage to fill it an maintain the temperature or am i just setting myself up for disappointment? We will do a trial run but don't want to waste my money if it can't be done. Has anyone else managed it? How long did it take to fill? Can i fill the pool with really really hot water and then top it up with cold to cool it down to the right temp?? (The BPIB website says i can't put water hotter than 45 degrees in but La Bassine doesn't). Any other thoughts/opinions??

Many thanks.

When a very good friend of mine gave birth several years ago at home I was literally boiling pots of water on the stove. We managed to get the tub full between the pots of water and her smallish water tank, but it did take a while. It was her first so we had plenty of time. And she did spend a good bit of time in the tub, so it was worth it. Good luck!

Some useful tips here [smile.

We don't have a combi-boiler either and only have a very small tank....doesn't even fill the bloody bath! Anyway I looked around and hired a pool from 'borninwater' it is more expensive than other pools £300 (just love credit cards) but it means we can heat up from cold it does take 12 hours to get to 37C but you could make this quicker by using boiling water as well if needed. It has a thermostat that keeps it at that temp or lower if you want and you only need to change the water every 7 days as it has filter and comes with all the disinfectant stuff. I can honestly say it is the best £300 I have spent as I spend hours in it which is so relaxing as I am in constant discomfort and pain from Brax Hicks everytime I move. You have the pool for 2 weeks before due date and two weeks after but if you haven't had it by then they let you have pool until you do have baby at no extra cost. It also means you have chance to get used to being in the pool and when you baby arrives they can go in it until you have to send it back.
Me and my bloke bob about in it and it's just fab, I'm gutted I'll have to send it back once baby is born.

Thanks for the useful suggestions. We are going to go ahead and order La Bassine and plan to fill it with an entire tanks worth of hot and cool down to suit, will prob have to top up with kettles then as the tank takes so long to heat. Will do a trial run and see how it goes this weekend hopefully