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Original poster

Home water birth

21 replies

Lion5711 · 16/07/2013 09:53

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and still need to actually research whether it's best to hire or buy a birthing pool (any advice most welcome!). I had a hospital water birth with my first and found it such a relief. My labour was fairly quick, so I wonder if it's best to keep up in our bedroom but at what point I don't know. Also how does it keep at the right temp? We live a good 40 mins from the hospital (and midwives who will be possibly on call for home birth) so I know it will be us sorting out. Any other help/info/advice will be great!

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snickersnacker · 16/07/2013 10:36

It's worth asking the midwife team if they lend them out; ours does, so we only need to buy a new liner.

Make sure as well that you have a hose, and the right adaptor to fit said hose to your taps.

I think that temperature management is very low-tech and is likely to involve your birthing partner topping it up with warm water as necessary!

ReikiMummy · 16/07/2013 10:48

Hi,

I bought one (La Bassine - from Made in Water). I could have hired one from the local Trust, but there was a time limit on how long you can have it for... which in theory is fine, but I wanted one here outside of that time in case I went into labour early (ha! No such luck!) or a bit overdue... (looking more likely...)

To be honest, its been worth every penny even before the big event, as its been up in the kitchen and i've been using it to keep cool and ease aches and pains for the past couple of weeks.

The temperature regulation isn't that much of a faff. Underneath mine I have a tarpaulin, and then some 'spare' carpet as insulation. The amount of water in there helps to regulate the temperature, so it doesn't drop too quickly. It stays hotter than a bath does put it that way. Over about 3 hours i think mine dropped in temperature by about 2 degrees. When it has needed topping up, the hose just runs from the kitchen sink over to the pool and my OH takes a bucket or two of water out as its refilling to maintain the water levels.

With our boiler it takes about an hour to fill, and roughly about the same time to empty using the electric pump that came with the kit.

Hope this helps :)

Bunnylion · 16/07/2013 10:54

I've hired one that is heated so you don't have to top it up with hot water. It was just under £300 for 5 weeks. Apprently you can fill it up and keep the water in it for a week as it comes with a filter.

The NCT has a fair bit of info here

I don't think it's worth buying one.

SoupDragon · 16/07/2013 10:57

I bought a Bath Pool In A Box which was fabulous. Perfect in fact.

I kept topping it up with hot water - as we have a combi boiler this was easy. Occasionally, my mum bucketed out some water to stop it overflowing :)

SoupDragon · 16/07/2013 10:57

It makes a fabulous paddling pool afterwards too.

ReikiMummy · 16/07/2013 12:17

Just as a comparison for costs - the La Bassine one I bought is here

At under £150 too. :) And my other half is looking forward to using it as a ball pool....???!!! lol

ReikiMummy · 16/07/2013 12:19

The only thing to bear in mind with the la bassine / birth pool in a box ones is that you do have to empty water after 24 hours. No filter/inbuilt heater in them. :)

Original poster
Lion5711 · 16/07/2013 16:39

Thank you very much for help I will look into it more tonight, I had images of the temp dropping really regularly so it's nice to know it holds it better. I think we may buy one, at least we have it and I won't worry about early/late arrivals. Would you say it's worth paying more to have one with a seat within it? Out bedroom is the largest room in the house, I'm guessing thats ok?

OP posts:
ringaringarosy · 16/07/2013 17:05

at our hospital they loan them out at 40 pound a pop.its much more expensive to buy the whole kit new so thats what we did.you keep the temp by topping up when needed,you need a floating thermometer and someone to check it doesnt go too low,that was dhs job,it kept him busy and feeling like he was doing something important,would reccomend for all fathers to be actually!

ringaringarosy · 16/07/2013 17:08

i was in mine for 2 hours and it only needed topping up once near the end so i think they hold the temp quite well.the only criticism is that once youve had a water birth in hospital,which are basically giant baths,the inflatable ones arent quite the same but still i found mine really good.

Original poster
Lion5711 · 16/07/2013 21:03

Thanks, I'll look into hiring from the hospital as well as I didn't realise you could. I found the hospital one too big/hard and not very easy to find a great position to be honest-so I'm hoping it being inflatable may be easier? ! But then it's probably never going to be the most comfortable thing when I felt like my back/pelvis was actually breaking!!

OP posts:
ReikiMummy · 16/07/2013 22:03

the one i have doesn't have a seat in it, not sure if i'd want one or not!

inflatable sides are good, have fallen asleep in it with arms over the edge before and still been comfy!

SoupDragon · 17/07/2013 07:00

The inflatable ones are very comfortable as they are, by definition, soft. I knelt in mine, hanging over the edge. I don't think it would have been as nice in a hard pool. Had no need of a seat.

fuckwittery · 17/07/2013 07:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 17/07/2013 08:16

I had my heat retaining cover folded in half over the pool until DDs arrival was imminent.

ArabellaBeaumaris · 17/07/2013 08:20

If you have an inflatable one don't forget to check you can inflate it. We only realised when I went into labour that we didn't have the right pump attachment. By the time DP had blown it up through puff alone I was pushing Hmm

DaveMccave · 17/07/2013 09:27

I'm surprised all hospitals don't loan them out these days! I'm getting a regular birth pool in a box, only need to supply my own hose and tap adapters. I've been contemplating buying the heat insulating cover from the birth pool in a box website, may be an idea for you... If I wasn't being loaned one I would buy, either to sell on again and make most of my money back, or to use as a paddling/ball pool. Would be great for family baths in the summer :)

CityDweller · 17/07/2013 09:29

I rented the smaller size birth pool in a box. We had it inflated and ready to go in spare room from 37 wks (DD didn't arrive until 42 wks!) DH filled it up half way when contractions started getting serious. I got in it when mw got here and baby was born 3 hrs later. It did need topping up with hot water throughout, but only cos DH had been a bit conservative with temperature when filling it to begin with. I believe it was a bit of a faff /grim emptying it, but that was DH's department Grin

I rented from these people www.waterbabybirthingpoolhire.co.uk/ and they were fantastic - you can extend rental for free if you go past dates, as I did, and delivery and pick up was really easy to organise.

SoupDragon · 17/07/2013 10:52

Also, if you have an inflatable one, don't inflate it by yourself, whilst in labour, in the kitchen because you don't want the noise of the pump to bother sleeping children. If you do, you may have to manhandle it through 2 doorways, get it stuck and have to climb over two sofas whilst 40wks pregnant and in labour.

Not that anyone would be that stupid.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 17/07/2013 11:47

If you are planning on putting it in the bedroom, be VERY careful that the floor can take the weight. In fact, it is probably worth getting a surveyor to pop in to confirm that its safe wherever you put it, unless it's on concrete.
The last thing you want is to start in the bedroom and finish up in the lounge! Grin

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 17/07/2013 11:48

Remember that a litre of water weighs about a kilo IIRC!

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