Debbie Pulley, CPM

Water Birth Supplies

There are several approaches to water birth

1. Rent a "Birth Tub" and all the necessary accoutrement's available online (cost: $400-$1000)
2. Make up your own birth tub package and accompanying paraphernalia (under $100), or
3. Do it the really cheap way (variation of option B shown below)
4. FYI - a gallon of water weighs approximately eight pounds

Option B:

Aquarium blow up pool (approximately 60" x 22") with inflatable bottom

·        important for long term comfort!

·        approximately $25

·        find at Kroger in the summer, or online

·        http://www.qualityinflatables.com/58480.html

·        http://yourwaterbirth.com/pools.shtml

Tarp to put under pool

·        $5 at Home Depot

Air Compressor or device to blow up pool

2 Heavy-Duty garden Hoses

·        $15 at Walmart or Home Depot

1 Faucet adapter

·        from your hot water faucet (kitchen, bathroom, washing machine hook-up, tub, etc) to garden hose size--beware that each faucet has a slightly differing size, so do a trial run before the birth!!!  Do NOT run hose from the hot water tank due to contamination issues even in really clean tanks.

1 Battery-operated submergible Pump (electric pump can be substituted but can’t be used while mom is in pool)

·        if battery then mom can safely use while in the tub

·        little and quiet

·        around $45 online or at Lowe's or Home Depot

·        recommended: Attwood WaterBuster Battery-Powered Pump

o       requires 3 D batteries not included (get a spare set!)

o       http://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/plumbing/attwood_water-buster_battery-powered_pump.htm?E+scstore

1 Fishy-net (2" square)

·        cheap at Walmart

·        used to clean the pool during the labor/birth

Here's the picture: pool sits on tarp in a room (bedroom, kitchen, wherever) that is private and cozy. One hose runs from your hot water faucet via the faucet adapter into the pool (assess length requirement). The other hose attaches to the submersible pump in your pool and run out a door, window, or into the tub--this enables us to drain and refill tub with hot water as needed to maintain or adjust the temperature. It is also easy to empty the pool after birth.

Cheaper ways:

·        Use a garden tub (uncomfortable over the long-term) or jacuzzi

·        Only get 1 hose (+ adapter) no pump: use hose to fill, and then reuse hose to empty pool by gravity-flow/siphon.

·        Buy a waterbed adapter (Walmart) that uses your faucet to create a vacuum to "pump" water out of tub to empty it [instead of a submersible pump]

·        Use buckets to supplement the above options [Note: this pool is large, and it is not feasible to only use buckets!! You won't have a water labor or birth that way!!]

·        Place pool near window.  Hose can be run out the window to empty pool.