By now I'm sure everyone has heard my glowing recommendations for water birth-I wasn't sure while pregnant with Morgan if I wanted to give it a go or not, but after doing it, I have a hard time imagining giving birth on dry land. I had the same reservations as most mothers, "but I'll have to sit in all that stuff." Really, in that moment, you just aren't think about anything coming out of you except a baby. Sorry if this is TMI, but blood is heavier than water--just about everything (accept the baby) sinks right to the bottom. It doesn't get all mixed up.
So anyway, graphic discussion of bodily fluids aside, I've been shopping for birth tubs in preparation for our home birth. Yes, home birth. Should this be surprising or alarming to anyone, I assure you home birth is very safe (statistically it has better outcomes than hospital birth for healthy, low-risk moms when attended by a licensed and/or certified midwife), and should any unusual or unexpected events arise that would require a different setting, we are very close to a hospital. Hospital transfers happen in about 10% of homebirths. See, hospital caregivers are trained to treat disorders--birth is not a disorder, and seldom requires any "treatment" or intervention. But once you're in the doors, they just can't keep from "treating" you (it's their job). Even something so simple as the standard-issue IV (totally unnecessary in most cases) can cause complications and make a normal birth more uncomfortable and potentially dangerous than it would be on its own. By the way, you can refuse the IV (in fact, any procedure in hospital) unless they are placing it for the purpose of medication.
So anyway, off the soapbox and on topic, I've been shopping for birthing tubs. The tubs I'm investigating are inflatable, and about 25" deep when filled. The odd thing is that they aren't that much different from kiddie pools-which some women opt for as they are about $150 cheaper. I think I'm going to cough up the extra dough, though, as the birthing tubs are made from plastic that is phthalate-free and more environmentally friendly--which mainly translates into less chemicals for me and baby. There are two I'm considering, pictured below:
This above pool is the "la
bassine," and is the cheaper of the two-it has handles on the inside to hang onto during labor and pushing. It looks a little roomier, but I believe they both hold about the same amount.
This one is the "birth pool in a box," the more popular of the two. As you can see, it has handles on the inside AND outside, so that if you're on your knees leaning over the side (a common tub position), you still have something to hang onto. This one also has a seat built in, for mom or for partner (who would sit on it and hold mom). Both pools come with the option of a disposable liner, which makes a handy garbage bag for when all is said and done, but I'm not sure if the liners are as chemically conscious as the pools. One cool benefit of purchasing my own tub is that I can then offer it for rent to my future doula clients, provided they purchase their own liners. The personal-use pools are good for about ten uses--they also offer a professional grade for a higher price that is good for about 30 uses, but I think I'll stick with the cheaper one and see how it goes. Regardless, the kids are gonna be tickled to have this thing inflated in the living room (even if it won't have any water in it yet).
My only reservation with all this is that I don't know if I'll labor long enough to get the darn thing filled--it takes about 45 min, given the water heater doesn't poop out (we're thinking of installing a tankless one to avoid that problem). At least I can still rent it out.
If you have any questions about waterbirth, visit www.waterbirth.org or just ask me. For more info on hombirth, visit www.mana.org.
4 comments:
The entire natural birthing process is fascinating to me. I don't know why either. I think I have a fairly high tolerance for pain, and it's not like it lasts forever. I guess my only concern with home water birth would be clean-up, really. 45 min to fill up? How long does clean-up take? Anyway, keep the posts up, and keep us all posted. :) Do you know if it's a boy or a girl yet? I might get crafty and want to make you a baby quilt! :) Let me know!
The midwives actually take care of the cleanup, Shells-that was Troy's main concern, too. He didn't want to get stuck with it. If the birth occurs in the tub, then anything disposable goes into the tub liner when it's drained (out the window into the flower beds) and it makes a big garbage bag. Then they do the laundry, and that's really it. There's a system for birthing in bed, too, in which you put a nice sheet, then a shower curtain liner, then a natty old sheet on. After the birth, everything gets wrapped up in the shower curtain and the bed's already made with good bedding. We don't know the sex, we're being surprised ;).
Well that's super cool. :) I consider myself schooled on a tiny aspect of the birthing process. I figured the Midwives were more of a physical support system for the mothers (telling them to breathe and what not), but maybe the doulas do that? I'm no where near having kids of my own, so I appreciate the look into your life in this regard (especially as you're knowledged far beyond most people where it's concerned!).
As for your surprise, I hope it's a good one! Fingers crossed it's a healthy Fox! :)
Ya, the midwives replace the docs. They do everything except perform C-sections. And mine are awesome. But many are. Women develop a much more emotional bond with a miwdwife than a doc, because they spend so much more time with you--which makes their persence at the birth a blessing, as it always makes you feel good and happy--whereas a doc in a hospital (esp if you end up with the on-call whom you've never met) often has the opposite effect, which can make labor harder and longer. Our psyches don't like to birth in strange environments with strange people that we don't know are safe. It's a primal but very powerful instinct. That's one of the reasons having a doula is important-you're guaranteed to always have someone you know and trust with you (who yes, will hold your hand and tell you to breathe--among other things ;) ).
It's great that you're so interested! It means that when your time comes, you'll look or what's best for you, rather than just accepting what's offered.
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