Waterbirth in an apartment

ChristinaLC

I'm glad this community exists! I also post to the June mommas board, but there's not much understanding there for my choice to have a home birth.

I was wondering what advice anyone might have about having a waterbirth in an apartment at home. I'm sure my midwife will have some pointers when I go for my first appointment in a few weeks, but I want to hear it from you all as well.

The birthing center has a tub they will bring, but I'm not sure what kind it is. Did anyone else get renter's insurance in case anything gets ruined from water damage or otherwise? Did you tell your landlord, get permission from your landlord, or just do it? Did you tell your neighbors so they don't get freaked out from noise?

I'm trying to figure out the best way to approach this situation, but it's a pretty strange one considering we'll be in a space that we don't own and will be responsible for potential damage/angry neighbors. I know I won't be thinking about being too loud or damage to the apartment when I'm in L&D, though, so it's best to try to plan ahead.

Thanks!

SoxChamps

Are you friendly with your neighbors? I would tell them ahead of time so that they don't think there is some kind of emergency or something. You have time to get to know them a bit if you're not. I am curious about the tub thing as well. DH is actually, he wants to know if the midwives have insurance if it pops and damages the house. I told him I never heard of one popping before!

MrsJuicy2B

That's a really good question. I've never heard of damage from a birthing tub, but it seems like something that could happen. I don't think I would nessarily contact your landlord ahead of time, but that's just me. I agree with pp that it's a good idea to let your neighbors know what's going on so they don't worry. Your midwife will probably have a bunch of helpful hints.

anabell0920

I didn't have a homebirth because I was in an apartment as well. Though I did labor for 8 hours at home so I could have easily. Honestly your neighbors will more than likely think you are doing the dirty as opposed to having a baby lol.

BostonGayGal

Definitely get renters' insurance.  It is very inexpensive.  Check that it covers water damage.

I wouldn't tell my neighbors, but that may depend upon how thin the walls are  

Aud&Shad777

I live in a town home that we own but I think we are going to tell the nieghbors ahead of time.  I think this may freak them out but atleast they wont call the cops if they hear noises.  Maybe have som good reinforcement under the tub and around it to help contain water like plastic and towels.  I dunno, I m still tryin to figure this stuff out too.

drpayne

Not sure about the neighbor issue... but regardless of the home birth, you really should get renter's insurance.  It's cheap and good for peace of mind in case of a break-in, fire etc.   I think my old apartment complex actually required it.

jenair

most likely renters insurance won't cover a non-fixture related water damage.  I've been to plenty of births on upstairs units that went just fine.  But i understand the concern.  It is a decent amount of weight and in the middle of an unsupported room ~ i can see why people (always husbands) are concerned

BUT you really should have renters insurance.  It's super cheap and totally worth the peace of mind.   

as for the neighbors - i rec putting a small sign on your door when your in labor.   'birth in progress.  sorry for the noise'  or something to that effect.  To me it will cover anyone coming to your door to tell you to quiet down but you don't have to engage in 101 awkward conversations. 

ruchemist

We are also planning a home birth in an apartment.  We're not planning on giving our neighbors or the landlord a head's up.  I'd much rather beg for forgiveness later than know ahead of time it's something I shouldn't be doing.

SPlatns

Hi Ladies,
As a mom of four kids, I support your desires to birth the way you want.  As an apartment manager,  and of an older building to boot. I would appreciate the heads up as a manager for my OWN liability reasons as well as the safety not only of you as the birthing mother and your child, but also that of the tenants below you if in an upstairs unit. I have a tenant planning this exact thing for next month.  We asked our insurance agent and she said absolutely NOT.  We also have a policy of no water beds at all, and aquariums have to be small, under a certain amount of water.  As a landlord I need to be assured of the safety of all my tenants as well as of that of the building in itself. 

Do you really want to be the first water birthing mother to collapse your floor into the apartment below? Possibly killing yourself, your baby, your house guests... the tenants below? Is the "way you want it" (your birth experience) worth that risk? Call me an alarmist, but apartments aren't built with having a pool of water in the living room in mind... especially not the older buildings.  I say find someone with a house you can use.  The other question is where are you going to safely dispose of all the bloody water?  Does the midwife take it all away? Its not sanitary to dump haphazardly nor is it sanitary to dump bloodied materials in my dumpster. Just things to keep in mind. Its only respectful. Your plans should NOT disrespect the people around you... not your neighbors, not the building, not the landlord, nor should they endanger anything or anyone.  To operate under the "Its easier to ask forgiveness than it is permission" mentality is careless, selfish and wrong.

This is not to offend you, its for you to hear the other side... and to consider fully your actions and possible consequences... perhaps your mother's home or best friends home is a better idea. 

And on the side, yes, renters insurance is always a must, regardless of what is going on. 

wintersong139

First: I wouldn't do a water birth in my apartment, because once the aquarium in the apt above mine broke and the water damage was out of control, and even caused a small fire inside of my wall where the outlet got wet!! I can only imagine how much damage would be caused by a tub, lol. And SPlatns is totally right, how awkward would it be to have someone knock on your door because they thought you were having loud sex? Yikes!! I would at least tell the apartment manager.

Second: really, SPlatns? No bloodied materials at all? Do your residents not throw away bathroom trash with sanitary napkins in it? Seems a bit unrealistic. I imagine if it is wrapped in a plastic bag is is just as sanitary as moldy, rotten meat from kitchen trash. (Yuck.) In any case, the midwife group my DH and I are hoping to use bring a large, lidded, plastic medical waste container, plastic and sheets, and roll everything up and cart it out. Not sure how that would work with water...I imagine they would pour it down the bathroom drain, although now that you mention it I wonder if that does violate some kind of community health code.

Anyone every had a water birth at home? What did they do with the water?

GPeterson24

I rent birth tubs and always recommend that my clients try to check the structural integrity of the space before setting it up, especially in older homes and 2nd floors.  This can be done through a home inspector or specialist for a minimal fee.  I also carry insurance in case the pool malfunctions.

As far as bloody water goes it's not really a big volume of blood, the water exaggerates the look of it.  It can be emptied into a toilet and it will be treated by your municipality just the same as any other bodily waste you flush.

Other disposal items (ie. placenta if you're not keeping it) are usually taken by the midwives and disposed of.

SidraJedi

We planned a home water birth in our apartment. We ended up having the homebirth and the pool but not the birth in the pool.

I ended up not liking the pool so much because of intense pressure on my tail bone and carpal tunnel in my wrists. I couldn't find a comfortable position. I birthed my DD on the bed after all. It was fine: an intense <12 hour labor and 5-6 pushes. I tore but if I had been patient and pushed for longer I could have prevented that. Recovery wasn't bad.

We emptied the tub via a hose that we ran out of the apartment onto the side lawn but it was just water as I did not give birth in it.

We also notified out neighbors that what they might hear was nothing to be alarmed over. This was per our MW's suggestion a she had someone else at an apartment home birth call the police! Our landlord knew of our intent to have a home birth but he did not ask for details and we didn't even consider that water damage could occur or that the MWs would not know how to properly and respectfully dispose of the soiled water.

We are about to move into a rental house and our next baby (still just an idea at the point) may possibly be born there. I will likely not have a birthing tub. It was a lot of trouble to blow it up and fill it up when all I wanted was for DH to hold me while I experienced early labor. Next time I will just rely on the bathtub and shower if I feel the need. Also, the tub was really in the way in our small space. We don't have a tub in this apt and in retrospect I could have been happy with a hot shower to labor in and still birthed on the bed in the end.