home waterbirth mommas: ? if you used a kiddie pool

mantle

Hey mommas, 

After meeting with the MW last night (for the first time), I realized that we'll need to keep the water warm for LO to be birthed in. She said the only downside to using a kiddie pool is that the pool heaters will melt them so they can't be used. So, other than transferring water throughout the entire thing, how did you keep the water warm enough to birth in? I am due August 2nd, so it *should* be hot enough to not be a huge problem, but still, I want to plan ahead. I don't want to spend hundreds on a "birthing pool" that I use once and toss, so the $30 kiddie pool sounded pretty darn good. I also saw a momma who used a huge horse trough from a TSC-like store....wondering if they is better for the heater aspect...thoughts, advice, and experiences wanted and needed!

Texas77again

you can also use a bathtub in your house, provided you have one.  i would not go with a kiddie tub.  the sides don't really support weight for leaning on.  you can always reuse a birthing tub for your next child or sell it to someone else.  the nice ones come with a lining so you throw that away and clean it and it's not gross for someone else to use it. 

i have attended a lot of water births and the ones that got the birth tubs were much happier.  at the end of the day i think it's worth the extra money to be comfortable on your birth-day, for all you know it could be a really long day. 

pinksweetpea2

I'm sorry, but you couldn't pay me to give birth in a kiddy pool.  The $250 I spent to rent the aqua doula was the BEST $ I spent on the labor.  

I was in labor for nearly 40 hours...I can't imagine how much work it would have been for my DH and MW to keep the tub the right temp.  Besides, they were way too busy taking care of me.  

flowerchild77

I gave birth in a kiddie pool. We hooked a hose up to my washer and put in hot water quickly that way. If it got cool (only once I think), they took a few buckets out and put some hot in. It wasnt a big deal, and was inexpensive. The sides were actually very sturdy and I leaned on them the whole time. Even had other people leaning on them- they definitely held weight. The one I had also had an inflatable bottom which was really nice.

I had a doula client who gave birth in an aqua doula, honestly, the water wasnt staying warm enough- even on the highest heat setting. And the sides were too thin for her to lean on. Even with a noodle sliced and put on the edge and a towel folded up, she didnt like leaning on the sides. There are pros and cons to both I suppose. :P

wnk1029

I used the kiddie pool, and found it incredibly comfortable.  I spent the entire two hours of pushing leaning against the wide side of the tub, with all of my weight against it.  I can't imagine doing that with the skinny sides of the AquaDoula... that would just be uncomfortable, IMO.

As far as keeping it warm, we turned up our water heater so that we would have plenty of hot water, and my midwife's assistant just periodically would scoop some of the water out of the pool and dump some more hot water in.  It worked out really well, and I didn't feel cold at any point.

BradleyInstructor

I recently attended a waterbirth workshop by Barbara Harper RN (author of Gentle Birth Choices).  She said the problem with a kiddie pool is that it is not deep enough.  A woman needs 18-20 inches of water for enough buoyancy to provide comfort for labor.  Also, many women find it comfortable to lean over the side of the tub and you might not have enough support to do this in a kiddie pool.  I'm sure it can work as other posters have attested to above, but it is really not ideal.

MissyOlivePants

whenyouseesparks:

I had a fishy pool and the sides were wide and comfy. I leaned over the side the entire time I was in it. I bought this one. I was very happy with the pool and I'll definitely use it again next time around.

Anyway. The heating part was probably a little bit of a hassle, but not anything I had to deal with. We filled it with hot water from the tap and then later when it cooled they boiled water on the stove to keep it hot. My MW, her assistant, and a student midwife took turns scooping water out, heating it, and pouring it back it. I spent a little time laboring in the tub but mostly used it for pushing, so 2-3 hours total.

Hmmm...that pool looks like it could work.  The heating it would be the thing to concern me.  The MW I met with the other day charges $200 to use her heated & jetted tub.  The price is is what makes it extremely tempting!!!