Anyone used a birthpool in a first floor flat/maisonette??

[GlastonburyGoddess]

Is it possible? how much would it cost to get a structural engineer to assess the floor to see if it would take the weight?

Any experiences welcome...

My sister had hers in a 3rd floor flat. I really don't think you need a structural engineer in - it's not a swimming pool

Im v nervous about it as Im aware some can weigh as much as 1tonn when filled and I think the floor is not concrete, just floorboards...

Her flat definitely didn't have concrete floors and it was absolutely fine. If you're worried you could call a hire place - most people in London live in flats and we don't all live on the ground floor.

hmmm on the website the pool i want-a heated pool weighs 1500kg when filled and it states that it needs to be on a solid or concrete floor, I shall google some more and see if i can find a lighter one...

Try an inflatable pool, they have small size ones too, which would be lighter.

I need a heated one though, this is my third baby-i dont want to be almost pushing whilst the pool is still filling up, the other births werent particulary quick but i would prefer to know it was ready to go iyswim. through googling I have found one that weighs almost half of the other one I found, so i may be getting somewhere..

The labassine pools are the smallest ones in the market. I used one in a very fast labour (under 2 hrs). I can't tell you how long it took to fill but can ask dh in the morning. Maybe he remembers.

You don't need concrete floors to have a pool in an upstairs flat. Or pay an engineer to assess it. if you are worried about where to locate it in a room, set it up close to an external wall or external corner, or where ever there is a load bearing inner wall.

Basically, if you can put 10 to 20 people in a room and not worry if the floor would cave in, then you can put a birth pool in it. I suspect that if you couldn't put 20 people in a room in a flat in the UK (except for the size of the room) then the building would be in a state to be demolished anyway.

an inflatable one like a labassine is heated with hot tapwater. if you labour is fast, it will be heated when you get in and stay in.

Unless it's an aging building with possibly rotting floorboards I don't think it's a concern, though if you want reassurance ring a local building firm for an assessment. I actually wanted a rigid pool for a hb on 1st floor as I though main risk was flooding with an inflatable. Dread all that water goin through to flat below! I do have concrete floors though.