Nothing yet, but…
Hubby asked us to set up the birth pool out on the deck so it could begin to warm in the sun. Presumably, we’ll empty and refill with nice hot water when the time comes but in the meantime it’s out there for a test run.
This is a pool specifically designed and manufactured for birth. It’s oval-shaped, about 4 or 5 feet in diameter, and 30 inches deep. It has soft sides, inflated with air but with better support than a typical swimming/wading pool. There are handles on the inside.
The girls and I had a few laughs over some of the instructions and warnings printed on the pool:
- Strictly no DIVING (then how is a laboring woman supposed to get in over those 30″ sides?)
- We strongly advise you to inflate the pool before due date
- Empty after each use (the alternative? ew. ew. ew.)
- We recommend for age 7 and older (so children under 7 shouldn’t give birth in pools? or mothers shouldn’t give birth to children under 7?)
In the meantime, I am having just a few scattered contractions now and then - nothing that feels very productive, although I still don’t doubt that I’m in the very early stages of labor. I’m thinking it will pick up during the quiet times of the day: naptime and bedtime. Anyway, I’m not in a huge hurry, because I still think it would be fun to deliver on The Boy’s birthday, Saturday.
And speaking of naptime, The Boy has requested that momma lie down with him. I still can’t resist those big brown eyes, especially when he asks so sweetly and goes for a nap so willingly.
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Filed under: live labor: Bethany, pregnancy/labor
I’m getting so excited for you! And those instructions are hilarious! Seriously, where do they come up with this stuff!
Sooo funny! But, aren’t pools awesome for labor? I used one with my boy and loved it!
I am loving the warnings!
We set up a birth pool at our house for my last baby and it was amazing. I loved it!
I like the inflatable idea — that seems like it’d be really nice!
Hurray!! I’m really excited for you guys and will be staying tuned for more updates. Those warnings (and your comments) are hilarious!
That was funny!!
And good luck for the labour! I’ll come back every few hours to see if there is anything new!
Hooray! I’m so happy to see an update.
I hope you make it *barely* to the Boy’s birthday. I had my eldest on his daddy’s 24th birthday and I just think that is sooooo neat!
so where did you get this birth pool??
thnx
Yeehaw! Can’t wait!
lol Yeah, I want to know about that last one…
I hope the labor is fun and easy. One can hope & pray right??
I used that pool for my last baby! We were quite amused by the “no diving” warning (which we decided must be for the baby… so if diving is defined as entering the water head-first, the pool must be for breech births only…)
3 out of 5 of our home births were with water. Your tub looks so much easier to set up & take down. Where did you get it?
Laughed at the warnings for the tub- too funny!
Hi Kim, how much do those cost and where do you get them? I am planning my 4th homebirth, but I may have GD. But if I can still have a home birth, I might be interested in trying one of those.
I also wanted to know where you got the pool. I used an Aqua Doula for my first two, that I rented from the midwives for $150. For my last birth I bought a regular inflatable pool for $30, which wasn’t so great. It didn’t come with something to heat the water, which would have been a vast improvement, and the sides weren’t super supportive. So if you wouldn’t mind providing a link for yours, I’d be interested too! Thanks.
Oh, I forgot to mention in my earlier post… you must live in the middle of NO WHERE to want to labor OUTSIDE on your deck! My hubby thought this a bit strange.
I’m excited for you!!!!
I guffawed out loud at the instructions on that birthing pool!!
I can’t wait to log in and read your live blog birth!
Soon….
Leanne in Longview
Just a question. I have a friend who has 13 children and most were home births and I was able to be there staying with the children for 2 of her births and they allowed them in and out to watch during the birth. Do you do that with your kids? Could you talk about the process since we are all so intriqued??
Thanks.
I borrowed the pool from my midwife, but just did a quick search and found that it’s available at http://www.yourwaterbirth.com for just $98 plus shipping. It’s called La Bassine.
E.W.E., This one doesn’t come with a heater - we’ll just run the hose from the washer’s hot water supply in the house to heat it up when we’re ready to use it.
Heather,
We do live way out in the country, and we have a long drive (the house isn’t visible from the road) and the deck is 10 or 12 feet off the ground, so it’s all pretty private. Even so, my dad thought it was all a little strange.
I just like the fact that we don’t have to fill the pool in the house, and I don’t have to worry about sloshing or splashing, and emptying/cleaning the pool will be a breeze.
I birthed my son nearly one year ago in the same pool and loved it! I had to buy it, and best purchase ever considering I plan on using it again, and again. I’ve also lent it to friends (we all have used a liner in it to make clean up easier). I hope you have as good of a birth exprience in yours as I did mine! I find myself frequently checking your blog to see if you’re in labor!