birthing pool for home birth - La Bassine Birthing Pool

[hippopo]

Hi,

I am planning to have a homebirth and would also like a waterbirth too. Have done some research on pools and wanted some advice.

I originally thought I would like something really sturdy like a hot tub/jaccuzzi type thing that are £400 to hire for 5 weeks. Expensive I know but thought it would be worth it.

Then I came across La Bassine Birthing Pool
which is an inflatable pool which also says sides are sturdy - can have 2 midwifes leaning on it and still holds up. This is only £100 to buy.

Does anyone have any experience of a good birthing pool and any recommendations?

Thanks

I've used the La Bassine twice and it's fab. It can defo take having people leaning on it.

It's also quick to put up and fill and quick to empty and deflate. It has also kept the temperature well (put a layer of bubble wrap underneath it)

I'm 5'10" and it's long enough for me to sit down in and have my legs straight out in front of me. It's also still deep enough to give pain relief when I'm on all fours.

Hi, I was umming and erring between La Bassine and Birth Pool in a Box. In the end I went with the birth pool in a box as it was larger and I am quite tall. It does come in two sizes. La Bassine looked good because you could always reuse it as a paddling pool (albeit a high-sided one).

Actually I didn't use it at all as I was induced in hospital. Also, with hindsight, DS would probably have arrived before it was filled! (1.5 hour labour).

I have no personal experience of this but my DH tells how his ex-W sister had a home birth. Bought a large paddling pool in Argos, filled it up in the living room when the time came, had a lovely relaxed home birth, then cleaned out the pool, dried it off and took it back to Argos.

When I was looking into the whole home water birth thing I remember reading something about the water needing to be a certain depth, and it being a safety issue for the baby at birth (something to do with the baby making contact with air, and reflexes, and breathing) which is why paddling pools weren't generally a good idea.

Thinking about my speedy labour, I in an ideal world (assuming no induction/hospital and acres of space at home) it would be good to go down the hiring route, and getting a filter and water heater so the pool could have been kept full and ready so could be used immediately.

That said, I had a water birth with DD in a birth centre and was only allowed in once 7cm so the relaxation wouldn't slow labour down too much. So an hour to fill the pool wouldn't make too much difference if your labour isn't too quick.

Once the baby has crowned it must stay submerged under the water until it is fully out. If the pool is too shallow or you're a bit half in half out the air may stimulate the baby to breath.

My bassine only took 25 minutes to inflate and fill.

I can't believe someone was rank enough to take a used paddling pool back. Vile.

I had my DS at home in a pool - bought the largest one of the 'Birth Pool In a Box' (bought from NCT online shop). It was great - i'm 5'7 so average height and there was loads of room, it filled up quickly and easily - DH did this while I was in the early stages - chances are you won't be able to get in straight away as can slow down contractions so there should be time to fill it. It's now up in the attic ready for the next one! Would def recommend. Also with regards to hiring one, i'm not sure I would want to hire one after seeing the state of the water after i'd given birth - but maybe that's just me being fussy! All the best for your home birth

I used a La Bassine for my home water birth in October. I found it really good - the inflatable base was very comfortable and it was quick to inflate and fill, although we ran out of hot water so it was kettles & pots on the hob to get it up to temperature.

I bought mine on ebay (unused) which cost £60 including the postage costs. Thinking we might try and sell it as it has been thoroughly cleaned and you can buy liners but not sure anyone will want to buy a used birth pool as I'm not sure I would have!

Good luck!

i had a la bassine and loved it. bought it second hand for about £75, and sold it after my 2 homebirths for £65!!!

it was great, very sturdy, i was leaning on the sides and they didn't give at all. the inflatable base was a godsend too

i am 5 foot 8 and it was plenty big enough

I gave birth in one 6 days ago. It is definitely sturdy enough and the inflatable floor is comfortable but even though I'm short I still didn't find the water was quite deep enough for the position I wanted to be in (on knees leaning forward). In the end the birth was too quick for that to matter much.

Daft question but we have a dog and if we inflated it in advance do you think that it's possible to puncture it if he happened to jump up?