Hi guys,

I'm asking the same question in the labour and birth section, really hope someone can help us!

We desperately want a home water birth, and have already booked (but not paid for) our pool and are due to go and collect and pay for it when I'm 37 weeks. Trouble is, we live in a block of flats so there's obviously not LOADS of water available, and sometimes even filling the bath is an issue. We have to turn the water on for quite a while to heat it up before we can even consider running a bath. Not ideal for filling a pool! Does anyone have any advice? I know we could heat water on the stove and in the kettle and stuff, and that would help a little, but that's a whole lotta water! Has anyone done this before and had enough water? Or would a heater of some kind be better? I don't know how fast the water goes cold or anything

If we can't do it, we're faced with two options: Birth at home with no water, or go to the hospital to use their pool. I'm so upset that we might not be able to have the birth we've dreamed of I don't want to have to give up the home part OR the water part. Any advice?

Thanks girls x x

Is it your first child? I think your labour is likely to be longer if it is so you should have time to fill it, albeit with kettles and pans etc as well as the hose! I did a test run of mine today and only the first few inches were hot water, then just tepid because it didn't need any more.

There was a similar thread a while back and someone reccomended a pool heater? X

That's good to know becstar, thanks it is my first so I've told OH we'll have plenty of time to wait for more water to heat up, but it's hard to imagine how big it is until it's actually here iykwim? lol

Thanks feeble, I'll have a look back through the board x x

Hi ladies that was my thread a week or so ago. My hot water tank comes no where near filling my pool and takes hours to re heat....we have no immersion either so I was in this exact situation. In the end we bought a pool heater and as a test run filled the pool with cold water. The heater took 12 hours to bring the pool to the right temp....our plan is too either...1 fill the pool and have it heated and ready but half empty it every 24 hours to keep the water clean or 2 start filling when I go into labour with as much hot water as I have and use pans and kettles etc however this could take forever!! I would defo recommend the pool heater....I was going out of my mind with worry that I wouldn't get the home birth in water I am so desperate for!

Xx

Thanks Donch03! What kind of pool and heater have you gone for? We've got a birth pool in a box, and OH is worried we'll melt the plastic or something with a heater Glad you're still going to get your dream birth Thanks again for replying x x

Could you appeal to the neighbours? Surely if you gave them the price of heating the water you could just buy some extra hoses and have 3/4 boilers going!

Hi Hun we have the Birth pool in a box mini and bought an Intex pool heater for like 80 quid. The heater won't melt the pool as it works outside of the pool by heating water that's pumped into it from a filter. We have made short cuts though as we're not using a filter....bit complicated to explain but will if you want to know xx

We only know one of our neighbours on this floor, but we could use hers if she doesn't mind!

Yes please Donch, if you don't mind explaining! x x

Hi Hun,

Is there anywhere else you would be comfortable going?

Parents, family members, friends?? Obviously you wouldnt want them THERE with you but maybe someone who would 'lend' you there home???