Birth Pool or Bath Tub

Sometimes people forgo the birth pool and labor in their tub instead and I’m all about that. BUT, here are some things to consider when deciding between the birth pool and your bathtub.⠀

• The birth pool is probably much deeper than your bathtub which allows your belly to be more submerged in the water. That can be super helpful in easing the intensity of contractions.

• The birth pool is much squishier than your bathtub. If you will be spending any time on your knees then they can get very sore and tired in a bathtub. Also, many people will labor leaning over the side of the birth pool which is squishy and molds to your body. You could not comfortably do that in a bath tub. ⠀

• If you’re going to have a birth pool at your birth you’ll want to make sure the floor is well supported in the place you are going to put it. Some old houses can have weaker spots in the flooring and water gets heavy.⠀

Also, don’t forget to turn your hot water heater all the way up before your birth so that you have enough hot water to fill the pool. I also usually have my clients boil pot of water on the stove during labor so we can quickly heat the water in the pool up if it cools too much.

The birth pools I use in my practice fit 110 gallons of water and measure 64”X50”X24”.

Happy laboring!