Hydrotherapy has long been known to be an effective pain reliever for many women in labor.  Birthing your baby with a gentle transition from water into water, then onto your skin can be a peaceful beginning for your family. 

Here are some things you will need for a water birth:

SilverMoon Midwifery is currently supplying the birth pool for those who want a water birth. All you have to do is buy a liner when you order your birth supplies!

(If you want to own a pool for yourself, the info is below.)

A birth pool--Can be one that is specific for this purpose and can be purchased with your personal birthing kit at www.yourwaterbirth.com  There are several options with that website.  Check with your local home birth group or other friends who have had water births, they may have a pool to lend or rent.  If you do get a used La Basinne pool, you can purchase a liner at the link above. 

You can also get a 3 ring blow-up kiddie pool from Toys R Us, Walmart, Target or Kmart, but check with your midwife for measurements.  You don't want to get a huge pool and then be unable to use it due to not enough hot water in your tank. 

Consider turning the temperature up on the water heater to max on the day you know for sure you are in labor.  Don't forget to reset it to energy saving temp. after the birth!

You will need to buy a NEW hose to fill the pool with.  Although the pool does not need to be sterile, It is important to be as clean as possible with the water your baby will be born into.  Clean the inside of the hose with a solution of 1/10th bleach and 9/10ths water, then rinse with plenty of cool water to clear it well before filling the pool.  Please wash the pool with this same concentration of bleach water before and after use and allow to dry.

Depending on where you intend to put the pool, you may need to purchase a plastic faucet converter kit to attach the hose to the sink.  Many parents just attach the hose to where the washing machine is and don't need the converter kit.

You will need a plastic drop cloth for the floor underneath the pool.  A custom fitted LaBasinne pool liner should be purchased with your birth supply kit.  You will want a hand or electric pump to blow up the pool.

Some folks buy a small sump pump that attaches right to the hose from WalMart, Home Depot or Lowe's for draining the pool.  Others have been very successful with gravity drainage back thru the hose.

 Set-up and Take-down:

When setting up your pool, place the drop cloth first.  Some folks cover the water proof drop cloth with a blanket or canvas tarp so they don't stick to the plastic while helping the mom with labor in the pool. 

Inflate the pool using your hand or electric pump, unless your feel ambitious enough to do it by mouth!  Inflate the floor of the pool first.  Put the fitted liner in after pool is fully inflated.

Fill the pool with a very warm mixture of water, it is easier to cool it down than heat it up most of the time.  DO NOT put straight hot water in first!

Mom can get into the pool anytime she wants to relieve the intensity of labor.  Don't worry about being in the water slowing labor down, if that happens she can always just get out.

Don't wait too far into labor to get the pool set up and ready, sometimes you hit unexpected snags in set-up and may miss birthing in the pool if they take a while to work out.

After the birthing, you may drain the pool using a portable sump pump, which works very fast, or get a siphon effect going with the hose being down hill from the pool.  Be sure and dip out any debris in the pool that might clog the hose.

If you are happy with your water birth experience, share your story with everyone who will listen!!

"I had a baby!  In a pool!  Outside, under the stars!  With no drugs!!"

Melinda (moments after birth.)