Water Birth
Lucinda and Brooke encourage mothers to consider the many benefits of water in labor. About half of the mothers in our practice give birth in water.
You have many options for using water at your birth, which include...
You will also need these supplies if you are not using your bathtub:
You have many options for using water at your birth, which include...
- Using your bathtub. If it's deep enough to submerge your belly and change positions in labor, it will work wonderfully. It is easier to refill a bathtub with warm water and to clean afterwards than any other type of birth pool.
- Buying a labor tub or inflatable kiddie pool. The Oasis Pool Setup is complete, economical, and highly recommended for our families provided the mother is under 5'7". This kit includes a tub, hose, net, hose adapter, pool liner, thermometer, chlorhexidine cloth, mirror, underwater flashlight, and floor liner. Use the code "LChiszar" to get 10% off your order. If you are interested in a different type of tub, there is an excellent chart comparing major brands on the Water Birth Solutions website. Tubs and pools are available at a variety of internet retailers, including Your Water Birth, Cascade Healthcare Products, and Precious Arrows.
- Borrow a tub from your midwives! We have a few types of tubs available to loan. They are available on a first come basis, so let us know ahead of time if you would like to borrow and we will try to match the best tub to your needs. You will need to supply your own hoses, supplies, and generic pool liner. Pool liners can be purchased at Precious Arrows or at other home birth supply companies.
You will also need these supplies if you are not using your bathtub:
- Plastic liner or tarp large enough to protect your floor around the tub.
- An electric pump for inflating, if using an inflatable.
- A way to fill the tub- You can purchase brand new drinking water/potable quality hose at local hardware stores or online. These are usually white with a red stripe.
- A faucet-to-hose adapter found at any hardware store- without this piece the hose will not fit a household faucet for filling the tub.
- A way to empty the tub- there are lots of ways to do it. A submersible pump and garden hose is the fastest way to empty the tub. There is also product called a drill pump that attaches to your drill and makes it a siphon for under $10 at most hardware stores.
- Another plastic liner or tarp (clean) to cover the pool and keep it warm while you aren't in it.
- A fish net that can be used to remove debris from the tub (found in any pet department).