homebirth planned, c section now happening next week, pool heated and set up - any point leaving it up for after I get home?

[holytoast]

Hi,
I had a homebirth planned, and we duly hired a heated filtered pool - bit of a luxury, but loving it for relaxing in - and due to high blood pressure, breech baby, and protein in urine, all come to light in the last two weeks, have needed it to zone out in!

Question is, c section booked in a week, will use it until then to calm annoying braxton hicks, but is there any point in leaving it going for when I come home? DH probably wont use it on his own, have been told will be home in 48 hrs hopefully, and told baths and showers are fine to have as soon as I am home - just deciding between giving DH job of emptying it while I am in hosp, or leaving it up - would I be able to take baby into it, with his help? or use it to soothe my aching body after? Or just silly idea and get it taken away?

It is partly stubborness that I want to use it even though nature decided against home water birth for me, will admit!! but any benefits to me or baby to be had?

I found it incredibly hard to get in and out of a bath the first few weeks after my first section.

I'd get it taken away before you get back.

Sounds idyllic though.

you're going to think I'm a nutter, but...

I read somewhere (probably on the homebirth site, maybe a birth trauma site) about a woman who had desparately wanted a waterbirth and ended up having a very traumatic hospital birth. She went through a visualisation thing in her bath at home where she basically acted out the birth she wanted, including lifting her baby up through the water bewteen her legs and laying it on her breast, welcoming the baby as you would with a newly born baby. She found it really helped her come to terms with her experience. I think she described it as rebirthing, you might find it if you google (assuming you don't think it totally wacky!)

Now I'm not for a minute saying your birth will be traumatic, I'm guessing a planned section is fairly calm compared to emergency situation. You might find that you don't have any negative thoughts about not getting the birth you'd wished (I had a hospital birth with dd1 despite planning hwb, and was OK about it afterwards). But, seeing as how the pool is there, maybe leave it and see how you feel after the birth?

Having had filtered pools set up in the house before, it doesn't take that long to dismantle so not a major job for DH to do when you get back if you decide you won't go back in.

Having said all of that though, last time the pool was in the kitchen and was a bit of a nuisance! if it's in the way, ger it packed up sooner rather than later.

Good luck with the birth whatever you decide

Think emptying it and tidying it away will be a good job for your DH/DP to do whilst you are recovering in hospital.

(otherwise he might just keep drinking champagne like mine did - the texts he sent were interesting!)

Good luck!

yes, can imagine him sitting in it with a G and T - he would have to let me know about it too!

Thanks fr the info bumpy - she does sound a bit on the mad side.....but I kind of see what you mean...I am still a bit upset about the whole thing, but glad its now planned and have time to get used to it all.

Think I will get him to leave it up, and see how we go - its in our basement room, which has a cinema set up, and is lovely and dark and cosy - so kind of thought it might be useful if baby is cranky and wont settle? oh I don't know, one thing the last few weeks have taught me is go with the flow, cant plan anything!

Hi holytoast, just wanted to ask, if you dont mind, did they offer to turn the baby?

I actually had my homebirth assesment this afternoon, and mentioned that I thought the baby had turned as I can now feel a solid round head shape by my navel, she had a good old feel and agreed it did appear to now be in a breech position!

Going for a scan next week, where she said they would offer to turn baby and if that failed a c-section at 39 weeks?

My head is spinning, she also mentioned moxibustion? And to get on all fours? Any of this worthwhile,my DH doesn't like the idea of turning the baby!

Good luck with your birth, sounds like you have got a positive attitude to it all and have made good use of your pool regardless!

Have posted this on other threads, and obviously I don't know both your individual circumstances (high bp) BUT reflexology (and swimming, and crawling around a bit) turned my trapeze artist breech baby into head down.

After your section and the exhaustion of having a newborn you WILL NOT want to get into the pool. You will find the bath, your bed and a chair hard enough. No benefit to a baby, he/she will be cold in and out of water and so a warm bath every other day is fine.

Sorry to say but take the thing back.

I take it this is your first baby and so I'll be gentle, you will not want to sit in a cosy dark basement to settle your baby...they will be asleep for most of the time in the first two weeks.

I had exactly the same issue but without the c-section (I was induced with the gel after my waters went and nowt happened for 4 days). I was gutted as I'd tested out our hired pool and it was amazing!

But DH tidied it away before we got out of hospital (I was there 5 days) and I'm so glad he did as our house was back to normal when we did arrive home and a new baby is stressful enough without having to step over an oversized bath to get anything done!

Yep - job for DH - besides you'll need the space for all the pressies that arrive!

Not to mention the moses basket, pram, bouncy chair, nappies, wipes, etc etc etc...

Ooh sounds nice to have for you.
Baby however, needs to stay dry for a week as far as I'm aware, for his cord to dry out

Is that true mumtotwoboys? The midwife gave me a bath lesson with my son when he was 2 or 3 days old.

Yeah advice has changed apparently and they shouldn't be bathed for a week or so now. I was told that while having the 3 yr old. No advice on my newborn

Just a thought, baths and showers are good to ensure good hygiene and healing of the cs wound BUT unless to intend to refill the pool everytime you use it surely it will be an infection risk (ie warm water left for days) and lets not forget the lochia that would be floating about in it!

And not only is the advice to not bathe them for ages now, but newborns SMELL so lovely.

Thank all - home yesterday, C section went ok, not the most fun I've ever had with my clothes off, but ok and our gorgeous daughter is here and healthy - so happy, thats the main thing. Very tired, but actually really don't feel as bad as I thought I would.

Left the pool up as they brought everything forward! so no time to arrange anything but a bag. It hasn't got to go back for another 2 weeks, and not in the way, but - going to get Dh to take it down at some point, not at top of list - although may have one float in it beforehand, not with baby - just didn't think about lochia and stuff(yuck) and forgot about the not bathing them to keep the cord dry.

more the merrier, they did offer to turn her, but it didn't work - although, I think she had been in the breech position for weeks, no-one realised, because she was small, also, I had other complications that meant it probably as the best thing in the end.
The ECV was fine though, uncomfortable, but fine. They did it at 37 weeks with me, and I did all the bum in air stuff - a midwife at the hospital did moxibustion for me, eefinitely felt like she moved a lot when it was being done, but there just wasn't room for her to turn around, as she was extended breech (feet by ears) she still sticks her legs straight out now!

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.wishing you a speedy recovery from the section.

Huge congratulations! Hope your little girl smells lovely and the pool will inspire her to learn to swim by osmosis (is that possible?).

Take care, keep your feet up and eat chocolate!