Your Guide to an Inexpensive but Wonderful Water Birth

You Can Have a Great Birth Without Overspending

So you've decided water birth is the right choice for you--or at the very least that it could be. But can you afford it? Renting or buying a pool made just for giving birth can be quite costly. Electric water pumps and heaters just add to the expenses. Not everyone has hundreds to spend on a water birth, especially after paying a midwife a few thousand bucks! You don't want to give birth in the bath tub, but what else can you do? Well, relax. You can have a wonderful water birth--without overspending!

Well, first thing is first: you need a birthing pool. You don't have to buy or rent an expensive one made specifically for birthing, though. Inflatable kiddie pools do just fine. You want to make sure that it has sturdy sides that will support your weight as you lean against them. It needs to be wide enough and deep enough for you to fit in comfortably, but it also needs to fit in your home. Remember that the interior of the pools will be smaller than the exterior measurements. An inflated floor will make it more comfortable.

The most popular models are the La Bassine, Electra, Aquarium, and Ocean Reef Birth Pools. These are inflatable kiddie pools that are very comfortable for birthing. All have inflated floors and sturdy sides. The eco-friendly La Bassine is the most expensive, for it has interior handles and a carrying case. The oval La Bassine and round Electra are both blue, while the round Aquarium and octagonal Ocean Reef are clear & feature ocean animals. The large Ocean Reef pool holds 191 gallons of water and measures 76" x 71" x 25". La Bassine comes in second for size, measuring 65" x 53" x 25". Like the 5' x 22" Electra, it holds 100 gallons of water. The Aquarium is 5' x 23" and holds 106 gallons. It is the cheapest pool.