Waterbirth: Does the birth tub matter?

By Micky Jones, BS, CLE, CLD, CHBE

There are many options when considering the use of hydrotherapy in labor and birth. As with all the other options related to your birth, it is important that you research your options and make the best decision for you, your baby and your family.

Many women find relief from the warmth of the shower during labor. Of course, at some point, maybe before you are ready, the hot water will run out and you will be forced out of the shower. The shower also requires standing or sitting and possibly the support of another person. If you are so blessed to have your own garden style tub that is deep enough for the water level to cover your belly and allow you to achieve buoyancy, halleluiah! It may be a good solution for your labor and/or delivery. You should still ask some questions of yourself. Is your home tub clean enough? It should be cleaned thoroughly before you enter it for labor, including the jets if it is a spa type tub. It may be difficult to make sure it is clean to your liking and standards in the final days of pregnancy. Also, can your care providers reach you from many angles in your bathroom? If it is adjacent to walls on several sides it may be too difficult for your care provider to actually “catch” when the time comes if you want him/her to.

“Kiddie pools” or inflatable pools designed as children’s toys but not designed specifically for labor and birth have become increasingly popular in recent years. Due to the cost and lack of local professional birth tub rental services, many families have chosen to go with a cheaper and seemingly equal alternative.

There is disagreement in the birth community as to the safety of inflatable kiddie pools in labor and birth. Many midwives see clients use them on a regular basis without incident. However, several of the midwives I have spoken with generally prefer professional birth tubs, such as the Aquadoula™ birth tubs. The first safety issue with kiddie pools is the inability to regulate maintenance of water temperature. Some families will use waterbed heaters underneath kiddie pools or other containers to hold water temperature around 100 degrees. This is a serious electrocution risk. The heaters can penetrate through padding, melt the pool and cause serious danger when the plugged in heater comes in contact with mom and baby in the water. It is NOT worth the risk. If you choose a kiddie pool DO NOT use a heater of ANY kind, no matter what that awesome “make your own waterbirth tub” tutorial tells you.

Second, if your kiddie pool is punctured, it may cause at best a wet, distracting mess and cause an “everybody out” call from the midwife and at worst cause a complete and total disruption of your labor. Some moms prefer the padded feel of an inflatable tub and thicker walls that can be leaned on. Birth Pool in a Box is the answer for the inflatable tub lover! No more sloshing water out of the sides as with some inflatable pools and no worries about a puncture or leak. These inflatables only loose 1/3 of the wall height if a ring is punctured and can even be purposefully lowered for shorter moms. The regular size even has a built in seat and sides sturdy enough to sit on without letting water out. That is the difference between a pool built for play and a pool built for birth.

Finally, it’s a matter of comfort. Many kiddie pools are not large enough for buoyancy or for more than one person. Actually, my first of two waterbirths was in a permanent in-home garden style tub and it was not quite big enough. While the water was very relaxing and I achieved buoyancy, I had to be on my knees with them deeply spread to achieve relief. Trust me, the last thing you want is to feel cramped in your birth tub. If the tub is not big enough to allow you to float, it will not offer the level of relief and comfort that hydrotherapy promises to provide.

I have given birth in a home tub and an Aquadoula™ tub and I can attest first hand to the difference. The comfort and convenience of a well built, well designed birth tub is worth every penny. In the home garden tub, I had some relief, but it really wasn’t quite deep enough to achieve full relaxation. Especially for us tall girls with long legs (I am 5’8.) it is nice to have the proper legroom. Another great thing about the portable tub is that your care providers and support people can reach you from anywhere. No more crowding of 5 people on the one side of the tub not attached to a wall. Everyone can reach you – one pouring water over your back, one putting cool cloths on your forehead someone else close by offering support, surrounding you in the love and comfort you desire. It is also reassuring knowing these tubs were designed with the safety and comfort of the laboring mother and baby in mind. The Aquadoula™ has been used by mothers and babies worldwide and even seen on TLC’s A Baby Story. The Birth Pool in a Box was designed and tested by midwives and has been used by over 3,000 women in Britain. These tubs are used in hospitals, birthing centers and homebirth practices everywhere. They have a reputation of safety, comfort and quality. You will only experience THIS BIRTH once. Have no regrets. Even if you rent a tub from someone else or buy your own – go with the safety and comfort of a professional birth tub.

If price is the main barrier to renting a birth tub from us, please let us know and we can work out a payment plan starting earlier in pregnancy.