Where do you stand if the birthing pools are in use?

[Lisamj]

Hi,

I really want to use the birthing pool when I give birth, but the midwife led unit we are going to only has 2 or 3.....I'm trying not to set my heart on using the pool because there are so few, but wondered if they they are allocated on a first come first serve basis? Or, what would happen in my case where my midwife knows it's something I really want and it will be in my birth plan, but then someone else turns up an hour before me and decides on the day that she wants to use the pool - would she trump me even though she hadn't intended to use it before?

Thanks

Lisa xxx

 

[Urchin]

As far as I know it's always first come first served.

In the hospital I went to you got the room you were given and that was it, no changing rooms even if the one with the pool became free.

If your heart is set on it have you thought about a home birth? I'm no expert but it might be an idea?

 

[mary70]

it is first come first served at ours my sis had set her heart on it but the last one went 15 mins before she arrived

 

[leckershell]

Ours is first come first served but if you call when you know you are in labour they may reserve it for you if you explain it's what you really have your heart set on.

Failing that you could ask your midwife/hospital if, if you bought a pool, you'd be able to have it inflated and filled in your room in the event that all pools were taken? That could be an expensive way to go but no harm in asking I guess if it's what you really want.

 

[Sherlock]

Ours is first come first served in MW led and consultant led unit. No pre booking or calling in advance etc.

The only thing they will do is if they know someone is wanting to use a birthpool and so long as the other woman using it has delivered, once they have cleaned up they will move her out quicker than usual so the next lady can come in. Seems a bit unfair as its a bit conveyorbelt like to me and also not nice for the previous person to be rushed out.

What that means is it might not be available for as much of labour as you would hope or want. You have to wait till the other person is out of there. Also if there is high demand they prefer if you decide to get out of the pool once and for all and not deliver in it etc, or you don't use it, they will move you possibly also.

As someone else said, have you looked into homebirth? No fighting for the pool with anyone then

 

[kalia]

It's first come, first served.

There's no knowing how your labour will progress so it wouldn't be fair if you could book in advance as you may end up not using it and stopping someone else using it.

My friend was really set on the pool but by the time she got to the midwife unit she really didn't feel she was coping and so had morphine. By the time it had worn off enough that she could safely use the pool unfortunately for her someone else was in it.

I wish it were possible to book. We can call the midwife unit before leaving home so that they can start filling it and by the time I'm there and have been checked over it will be ready. You might have that sort of facility.

 

[lea m]

I read somewhere the other day where you can buy like a pop up version for about £200 maybe a little expensive but then i suppose you could use it again as something or sell it on?? I will try to find where I saw them!

 

[leckershell]

What that means is it might not be available for as much of labour as you would hope or want. You have to wait till the other person is out of there.

This is what happened for me, I laboured in the bath and then moved to pool once a previous lady had finished with it and by then I didn't have long to go Bath is a good alternative lol

 

[Lisamj]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your replies.

I like the idea of asking if they'd accept me bringing in my own bought or hired birthing pool or as a last resort a bath will do! As for a home birth, a year or so back we thought it would be great fun to move into a trendy town apartment, which, lovely as it is, isn't practical for a home birth.

(I'm assuming delivery rooms usually have their own bathrooms?? - sorry if a silly question but I haven't done this before and won't get to view the unit till next month lol!)


L xxx

 

[Sherlock]

I like the idea of asking if they'd accept me bringing in my own bought or hired birthing pool or as a last resort a bath will do! As for a home birth, a year or so back we thought it would be great fun to move into a trendy town apartment, which, lovely as it is, isn't practical for a home birth.

(I'm assuming delivery rooms usually have their own bathrooms?? - sorry if a silly question but I haven't done this before and won't get to view the unit till next month lol!)

Re bringing your own pool, I did wonder about this and figure they may well say no to you due to health and safety reasons. It may mean a risk assesment etc as it will require inflating, taking up space, monitoring and filling etc. They cannot be responsible for that at all I don't think. And as its not their own equipment they may be wary due to possible problems and then potential lawsuits etc. They are trained to use the built in pools and these have passed safety checks etc. A blow up one brought it changes things. Hospital might not be covered insurance wise. Yes things are this extreme in this day and age alas.

But who knows, they may say yes.

And nope, not all rooms do. The ones I saw didn't have their own bathroom. Shared loo and showers down each corridor Some will of course, but you need to find out when you take the tour.

 

[Urchin]

At my hospital there was a shared bathroom between every 2 rooms.
Each one of these had a bath in, which could also be used for pain relief so it might be worth asking if you can have access to a bath if the pools are busy.

 

[kalia]

At the midwife unit that I'm going to (which is in the hospital, round the corner from the labour ward so maybe very different to yours) you don't have your own bathroom

I don't think they'd let you take in your own pool because of the difficulties of keeping it at the right temperature while there. But it's definitely worth asking.

It occurs to me that 2 or 3 pools is quite a lot, unless there are an awful lot of births there. There are about 5000 births a year where I am going (that includes the labour ward and midwife unit births together) and only one pool. They're putting in another at some point but that won't be any use to me in the next few weeks! Ask them how frequently they have had someone waiting to use a pool because they're all in use - if the answer is never that should reassure you

 

[Lisamj]

Thanks again,

I just called the birthing unit and they were absolutely lovely!! (such a nice change compared to my community midwife who is a bit vague and er, well, a bit useless at times in all honesty).

They have 2 pool delivery rooms and she said although they obviously cannot guarantee I'll get to use one, it's very very rare they have to turn anyone away completely. If someone wants to use a pool but they are both in use, she said they quite often put the woman in a normal room and then move her to pool room as soon as it's free! She also said if when I go into labour I call in, they will keep it on note that I want to use the pool, and although they won't 'hold it' for hours on end, if I'm due to arrive there imminently they'll keep it until I arrive. She said not all room have their own bath, but there a few on the ward which can be used for pain relief.

Feel much more settled now to know that it's more likely than not that I can use the pool, even if it is just for part of the birth. I didn't bother asking about bringing my own pool, I will just go with the flow.

Thanks everyone!

L xxx

 

[Urchin]

That's great news!

 

[sparky]

he he kept on thinking, get DH to get up early and place a towel next to it...german tourist style!

 

[lea m]

Yay Im glad they are so nice and your feeling better about things!!

 

[Suzie and Faith]

Glad they were helpful, my hospital (not that i'm planning on going there) only has one pool so 2 is definitely good! With mine if you call and say you will be in within a couple of hours then they can normally hold it for you - sounds like yours is similar xx