Hospital tubs down, I feel defeated already!

namastemama

Hi- I've only posted here once or twice but lurk often and have found the advice and stories on this board helpful and inspirational! I'm looking for some advice (and possibly just to vent a little) as I just found out Friday that the six in-suite hospital tubs (only 2 yrs old) are down as they were leaking to the floor below. They don't know when it will be repaired, hopefully soon, and there are no backup plans. I'm due Aug 23rd and plan on a water birth, or at the very least to labor in the tub. I don't know if I'll be able to do a natural birth without the tub- I haven't taken any formal classes and planned on my yoga breathing and tub to get me through. My midwife recommended laboring in the tub at home for as long as possible, I'm just nervous as I'm 20 minutes minimum from the hospital and this is baby #2, so I would want to make sure I can make it to the hospital in time. Your thoughts on how long to labor at home with #2? Any other advice? Thanks in advance for listening

SidraJedi

I'd say its really impossible to tell. Most of the time labor #2 is a little shorter than labor #1. But I've read recently that #2 can sometimes be longer????

One of the midwives in my area rents out her birthing tub as a separate service from her midwifery. Maybe talk to the hospital about a portable birthing tub for your delivery room? If they don't have one maybe a near by hospital does and you can rent one to set up at your hospital?

Good Luck!

Celyn

Do they have showers en suite?

alanap

You'll do just fine without it! 

I felt the same way with my last. I was totally depending on the tub experience and then my water broke first so I couldn't.  It worked out fine anyway and so will yours.

Jcrab

I would be very hesitant to labor at home in the tub as long as possible - it can speed labor up and if you don't want a home birth that could be a bad idea. I wouldn't worry too much about the tubs if you can labor in the shower. I spent all of transition (an hour) in the shower at home and actually thought my labor was slowing down. I alternated kneeled over a yoga ball and standing in the shower. I did push the last 20 minutes or so in the tub but do not find it crucial to my delivery. Read Ina May and start to believe - You can do this!!! 

judahsmommy1

Honestly, I think that the tubs being down (right now) might wind up being a good thing for you. Hopefully they'll be fixed by the time you deliver, but completely relying on one tool for a natural birth sets you up for very difficult situations. For example, some women wind up in labor and the tub just isn't the experience that they hoped for. They aren't comfortable in it and so they get out. If that were to happen to you, you'd feel like the one thing that enabled you to have a med-free birth didn't work out.

I would suggest using this to find some other tools that will support your desire to go med-free. Research other relaxation methods like the shower, a birthing ball, breathing, massage, vocalizing, movement, music, aromatherapy... the list goes on. That way, whatever happens you're prepared. 

TrendyTina

Same thing happened to me. The nurse manager basically told me I was out of luck. I said, "I don't think so." If this is a service the hospital offers, they need to figure it out. I went to the hospital administration office and got business cards for the CNO (chief nursing officer) and the president. I emailed the CNO and CCd the nurse manager. My email was very nice and stated how I knew they were committed to the highest level of care. Within 24 hours, there was an inflatable tub ready to go for me. Don't give up. This is YOUR birth and you deserve the birth you want!  Sometimes you have to go above people's head to get what you want and that is ok! If I didn't get anywhere with the CNO, I would have contacted the president. Luckily, it didn't come to that. 

 

ETA: I found laboring in the shower to be very relaxing. I sat on my yoga ball with the shower head pointed on my chest for over 3 hours (it felt like only 15 minutes because it was so relaxing!). My husband dimmed the lights, put on music, and turned on the LED candles I brought. It was great!  

Temp76535187505890

I disagree that you should avoid laboring in the tub at home. I say do what relaxes you and allows you to progress as necessary. You just need to be cognizant of what you are experiencing and figure out the right time to leave for the hospital. Read up on the emotional signposts and stages of labor as they are good indications of your progress.  I do agree though, that you shouldn't get set in any one coping strategy but read up on a bunch and have them at your disposal. Never know what you might like!

 

I was really looking forward to the gigantic hot tub size tubs at my birth center. It was a major selling point for me. By the time I got to the center my tub only had two inches of water and then it was decided I needed to change rooms so another tub needed to start filling. I delivered 10 minutes later never getting the opportunity to step foot in the tub. I was disappointed but it wasn't the end of the world, I had an utterly fabulous birth experience. Had I wanted to, I could have gotten in the shower but it didn't even appeal to me at the time so it's likely I wouldn't have even liked the tub, who knows.  

sadsadie

ArmyQM:

I was really looking forward to the gigantic hot tub size tubs at my birth center. It was a major selling point for me. By the time I got to the center my tub only had two inches of water and then it was decided I needed to change rooms so another tub needed to start filling. I delivered 10 minutes later never getting the opportunity to step foot in the tub. I was disappointed but it wasn't the end of the world, I had an utterly fabulous birth experience. Had I wanted to, I could have gotten in the shower but it didn't even appeal to me at the time so it's likely I wouldn't have even liked the tub, who knows.  

Hahaha, I'll take your labour over a tub any day. Wow!