Rigid or Inflatable Birth Pool

[glastochick]

Just starting to think about getting a birth pool organised.

Only 28+6 so know there's plenty of time yet, and we may not even get to have a homebirth, but I like to be prepared.

What is everyone's experience of both types of pool? Can you also get heaters to keep the temperature steady or do you have to keep emptying them and topping them up with more hot water?

TIA xxx

Hi, I don't have any advice as such as I haven't used one before, but I am 29 weeks today and also have been looking into this a bit. So I'll follow this thread with interest....

From what I have seen so far an inflatable pool seems to be the more cost effective option, although not sure if you can get heaters for these. We have instant hot water though so I think this shouldn't be a problem.

I guess one of the advantages of having an inflatable pool is that you don't have to actually have it sat around in your house for several weeks while you wait for baby to show up - you can just wait until you're in labour before you blow it up and it takes over your living room/bedroom/etc.

I had DD1 in a rigid pool at a birth centre, then DDs 2 and 3 at home in an inflatable. Inflatable much more affordable and TBH more comfy; the only downside is that you can't have a heater or a pump with one so you have to fill it with hot water when your labour starts. They hold the heat pretty well - all we needed to do was top up with a couple of kettles after a couple of hours and just before the babies actually emerged.
I would advise getting it inflated and ready beforehand though - so it can be done in a calm unpanicked manner!

TBH the inflatable ones do look more appealing to me at present, and they look more comfy so I'm glad you've confirmed that was you experience boogeek

We're planning on putting it in the dining room, all set up, as this is a room the cats can't access unless we let them in there (have visions of them investigating it and creating a puncture!). DH thinks we should have the pool in the living room though, so he can watch the telly!

When would you suggest getting one by? I was thinking we should look to have it delivered by 37 weeks. First baby so fingers crossed we won't see signs of arrival before then!

Hi we used an inflatable birth pool in a box, it was brilliant. We inflated it about two weeks before my due date and it just sat in the dining room. When I was in established labour ( mooing ) my hubby filled it with hot water from the tap - our boiler heats it as its used. It took nearly an hour to fill but to be honest I was oblivious to it all you really get in the zone. When the midwife arrived at about 08.00 I was 5cm and they let me get in. BLISS, I wouldnt give birth any other way. We topped it up hot water just before DS was delivered at 13.45 so it keeps its heat well.
Good luck!

we had a fibreglass one hired from splashdown.

it was great, DH did a trial run of how long it would take to get up and running about 10 days before d day, then when I started having contractions with DS2 he set it all up - took about 15 minutes to get it up and about 45 mintes to fill.

We didn't have a heater, dh topped it up with hot water .
came with a pump to pump it out.

they delivered it and picked it up when we were done.

I spent a lot of time in labour on my knees in the pool and was extremely glad to have had the soft bottomed inflatable pool!

Sausage, the pool came with a big thick mat for underneath the liner

We've got this one from Birthworks - all set up and currently being used for relaxing in while waiting for baby to show up (am 41 weeks today). Downsides: tis not cheap (I used my HIP grant towards the cost) and takes up a lot of space - this could be especially a problem if you curious cats investigating it! Upsides: Water temp is maintained and it's filtered so can use it as and when I want, it's v comfy, we have it for 5 weeks (37-42) and there'll be no faffing for my DH when I'm in labour.

But the inflatable BPIAB and la bassine look excellent and the feedback on MN about them is v positive.

I had a BPIAB and couldn't fault it.

I gotthis oneit was a fantastic service etc.

Hi there

I have had both rigid and inflatable birth pools. The rigid one was in hospital for the birth of DD1 and the inflatable one was at home for the birth of DD2. I much preferred the inflatable one.

We had a La Bassine and it was great. Although it was the smallest (compared to other inflatable ones) there was plenty of room. Don't forget when you're thinking about size that the midwives need enough room to get round the sides of the pool to help you and see what's going on. The floor is also inflatable so comfy for kneeling on for extended periods of time but solid enough when fully inflated to stand/squat on without wobbling!

It kept its heat well and DH periodically topped it up with hot water. We filled it from the hot water tap and it came with a pump to pump the waster water out once we'd finished.

I'd suggest you set it up a couple of weeks beforehand and fill it to check how long it takes to fill and whether your hot water tank has enough to fill it in one go! We had a plumber service the boiler beforehand, and he suggested turning the temp right up on the boiler so that the water is really hot. Then you can dilute it with cold as you put it in, but you won't need so much hot water (if that makes any sense!).

We put towels around one side of it, on top of a waterproof sheet, so that I had somewhere to stand when I got out.

8 months after using it it's still all packed up on the dining room floor waiting to be sold on eBay!

lol at my attempt to link. I meant to say I think it was rigid.

i am planning to use the birthworks one when/if i get the go head for a home birth. I had thought of putting those large foam play mats under the pool to cushion the floor more. I like the idea of leaning on the sides of a rigid pool.

I had most of my labour with ds1 in a huge hospital pool and it was lovely.

I had the basic BPIAB from Boots, got it delivered around 36 weeks and had a trial run of inflating it etc. DH put it up and filled it in an hour or so when I got to 6 cm (would have got in earlier but MW didn't come to house until then). DD was born a couple of hours later and temp was easily kept up with tiny bit of adding. The package I got from boots came with a non-slip mat, we insulated out stone floor with old blankets and towels. The pool bottom was nice and soft as it inflated too. The midwives commented on how much they liked the inflatable pools as they sides are comfier to lean over for monitoring you etc.

Good luck, home waterbirths rock!

I used a rigid one. I was really comfortable - I put a folded up duvet underneath the liner so it was comfortable on my knees. We set it up two weeks before I was due (in July) and it was great for cooling off in the hot weather, and just generally being comfortable and not all heavy and awkward.

By the way, don't worry about the water not being "sterile" if you fill it up a few days in advance - birth is not a sterile thing And the water kept it's heat fantastically. We had a foil cover, and even overnight, it only needed a bucket or two of water replacing. I don't think you need to bother with a heater. But an emptying pump is useful.

I bought a birth pool in a box and the accessories kit (hose pipe, pump, plastic sheet, thermometer and sieve!)

We had a trial run setting it up a couple of weeks before then put it away again. When I knew I was in labour DP set it up. 10 minutes to inflate and 45 minutes to fill from our combi boiler. DP loved this bit as it made him feel he had an important job!

I got in at 3am - bliss! - and delivered Jack at 9am. We didn't have a heater, just topped up with a few kettles when needed. The inflatable floor was priceless - six hours on your knees hurts! And there was a little inflatable seat, although I didn't use that much. DP and my friend had back ache from spending so much time lent over the side rubbing my back!

Afterwards DP used the pump to empty straight down the outside drain, threw the liner in the bin, wiped down with Milton and put away. Simples! Later in the summer my 4 year old and his mates used it as a pool in the garden - the sides were strong enough for them to stand on and jump in!