Birthing Pool Essentials
What you should know before using your birthing pool.
For many couples, using a birthing pool at home is the best possible way they could bring their new child into the world. If there are no complications with your pregnancy and the thought of giving birth in hospital doesn't fill you with joy then definitely consider using a birthing pool.
Modern birthing pools have been developed having listened to feedback from midwives and focus groups and are much more reiable than they used to be a few years ago. The best pools will come with three separate inflatable chambers which gives the structure much more strength.
When your birthing pool arrives you should take care not to immediately open the folded material but instead let it stand in the room for an hour to acclimatize to the ambient room temperature. If the material is too cold and you unfold it there is a chance it could crack.
You should take care not to overinflate the pool so make sure you read the instructions because they will usually give you a maximum height to which the pool should be inflated.
It is highly recommended that you do a trial run a couple of weeks before your due date to get the feel for it and iron out any issues you might experience. This can be fun for both you and your partner having a nice hot tub in your living room.
You should always use a new liner for the actual birth but there's no reason why you can't reuse liners for test runs or for just enjoying a nice warm soak. This can be very relaxing for Mom to be.
Most inflatable pool kits will usually come complete with electric pumps and water pumps so you should be mindful of having trailing leads near the pool to avoid the possibility of electrocution.
When you have finished with the pool it should always be cleaned thoroughly using a mild sterilising solution and obviously the liner you use for the birth should be disposed of appropriately. It is usually recommended after the birth, if you have used a hose to empty the pool, that the hose is not reused to fill the pool again although you would probably be alright using the hose as long as it's thoroughly sterilised in warm solution.
We recommend using the Eco Birth Pool In a Box because it comes with everything you need for a happy, relaxed labor and birth. The instructions are very easy to follow and the price won't break the bank either.