Birthing Pools For At Home Water Births

By Angela Kendrick

So, you're having your baby at home. Great! If you are thinking about doing a water birth, then here are some tips for selecting a birthing pool.

Birthing pools are most popular for home deliveries, but sometimes they are found in hospitals, birth centers, and other labor and delivery maternity wards. The problem with doing this at a hospital, is of course, if it is already being used when it is time for you to go into labor. That means you won't get to use it.

Some hospitals will let you spend some time in their baths, but not let you deliver due to the risk of infection while using the same bath for a large amount of women (regardless of how rigorously they clean them after delivery).

The hospitals tubs may have been cleaned with harsh cleaning products, leaving behind a residue on the bath's surface. You don't want these chemicals in your water when it is time to give birth, whether for you or your baby.

Giving birth at home with a birthing pool puts you in control of how you deliver. If you really want to have your baby in a hospital using a birthing pool, you will need to check if they allow you to bring in your own pool. Some are more flexible than others and there should be guidelines for use, including where it can be set up.

You will need to have preparations in place to help fill and prepare the birth pool itself. There are steps and procedures you will need to follow. You will need to consult with the supplier for their recommendations. After all, you don't want to be in hard labor, trying to figure out what to do, and miss the chance of having a water birth. A fun thing you and your husband might want to do is go through practice runs of getting things ready. Once it is ready, don't waste the water. Do a little skinny dip as a way of rewarding yourself.

The level of comfort of having a water birth in your own birthing pool cannot be underrated - it's important you feel at ease and comfortable in the pool. That is why you need to practice and prepare. If you buy a birthing pool you have the luxury of testing it out before the birth as often as you wish. A water birth can be a very rewarding and satisfying way to bring your baby into the world.

Angela Kendrick has served in several youth and kids's ministries, educating offspring and parents through all stages of human being.