Waterbirth Solutions WEBSITE and STORE QUESTIONS Waterbirth profoundly demonstrates that a woman is empowered by "giving birth," not "being delivered." Many health care providers are seeing women take charge of their birth experiences and welcome this attitude, and do what they can to facilitate a gentle birth. But others are still "locked into" the medical technological model of birth and have a harder time being convinced of the efficacy and safety of waterbirth. As couples become more informed of their options, they are assuming more responsibility for their own birth experience. Give us a call if you'd like more information on changing policy at your local hospital. 1. Prostaglandin E2 levels from the placenta which cause a slowing down or stopping of the fetal breathing movements. When the baby is born and the Prostaglandin level is still high, the baby's muscles for breathing simply don't work, thus engaging the first inhibitory response. 2. Babies are born experiencing mild hypoxia or lack of oxygen. Hypoxia causes apnea and swallowing, not breathing or gasping. 3. Water is a hypotonic solution and lung fluids present in the fetus are hypertonic. So, even if water were to travel in past the larynx, they could not pass into the lungs based on the fact that hypertonic solutions are denser and prevent hypotonic solutions from merging or coming into their presence. 4. The last important inhibitory factor is the Dive Reflex and revolves around the larynx. The larynx is covered all over with chemoreceptors or taste buds. The larynx has five times as many as taste buds as the whole surface of the tongue. So, when a solution hits the back of the throat, passing the larynx, the taste buds interprets what substance it is and the glottis automatically closes and the solution is then swallowed, not inhaled. For a more complete description, please read Barbara Harper’s Waterbirth Basics. How long is baby in the water after the birth? Physiologically, the placenta is supporting the baby with oxygen during this time though it can never be predicted when the placenta will begin to separate causing the flow of oxygen to baby to stop. The umbilical cord pulsating is not a guarantee that the baby is receiving enough oxygen. The safe approach is to remove the baby, without hurrying, and gently place him onto his mother's chest. There is some physiological data that supports this rule, but each and every situation must be evaluated on its own merit. Some mothers find a bath in early labor useful for its calming effect and to determine if labor has actually started. If contractions are strong and regular, no matter how dilated the cervix is, a bath might be in order to help the mother to relax enough to facilitate dilation. This knowledge was gained by attending a workshop presented by Barbara Harper. You can learn more about these and other workshops at : www.waterbirth.org
How do I choose a birth pool?
What do I need besides a birth pool to have a waterbirth?
How many days until I receive my shipment?
How do I fill up my inflatable birth pool with water?
Is there a heater for inflatable birth pools?
How do I keep the water warm?
How do I drain my birth pool?
Who can I call with questions?
What is your return policy?
SAFETY and NATURAL BIRTH QUESTIONS
How safe is Home Birth?
Informative Resources?
How do I choose a Care Provider?
WATERBIRTH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
Why is waterbirth not more readily available?
What prevents a baby from breathing underwater?
What temperature is the water?
How much does a waterbirth cost?
Can I have a water birth at my local hospital?
How long is baby in the water after the birth?
When should I get into the water?
How do I choose a birth pool?
We carry pools specificially designed for the challenge of birth and they all have different features. We've put together a comparison to help you decide which features are important to you: Birth Pools Compared.
All Personal Pools come with a Single-Use Guarantee, though you can often use a Personal many times. The AQUABORN and Birth Pool in a Box Professional Pools come with a Guarantee of 20 Uses, though they typically can be used for many more.
What do I need besides a birth pool to have a waterbirth?
Your Care Provider is the most important ingrediant for a smooth, safe birth. Secondly, you need a quality Birth Pool and lastly Accessories to use the pool.
Here are some things to consider. All inflatable birth pools need to be inflated. You can do that with a foot pump or an electric air pump. Next, you need a hose (preferably lead-free) that will reach from your water source to the pool. You'll need a faucet adapter to connect the hose to your faucet. These items are needed to set-up your pool.
While you are using your pool, a floating thermometer is handy as well as a debris net to remove any by-products of birth.
Once you're done with your pool, you will need to drain the water. You can use a hose to siphon the water or an electric drain pump. Depending on your situation, the slow process of siphoning might be fine. If not, our electric drain pumps are incredibly fast and easy to use.
All these Accessories are sold a la carte on our website or as a bundle in our Kits. You can find everything you need in our store, in the Accessories Category.
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How many days until I receive my shipment?
Every product in our eStore is In-stock. We ship within 24 hours after your order is placed, many times on the same day. We offer both UPS and US Postal Service shipping options. When you place your order, you are given many options to suit your particular situation.
UPS Ground 7-Day tends to be the most economical for larger packages. Depending on where you're located, your package may arrive sooner. Here is a UPS Ground Map that estimates ship time from Beaverton, Oregon. USPS Priority Mail takes 2-3 Days and is economical for small shipments like one or two liners or DVDs.
How do I fill up my inflatable birth pool with water?
Long before mom goes into labor, you want to check that you can hook your hose up to your kitchen or bathroom faucet. We sell lead-free hoses and faucet adaptors, or you can procure those on your own. Either way, ensure that you can get water to your tub location long before labor begins.
On the big day, we recommend putting some large pots on the stove to heat up while you set-up your birth pool. You will likely run your hot water tank out and you can use the large pots (be careful!) to supplement your hot water tank, while it is recovering.
Is there a heater for inflatable birth pools?
At this time, there is not a safe heater made for inflatable birth tubs. The heaters used for the Aquadoula and Gentle Birth Pool will melt an inflatable.
How do I keep the water warm?
Your goal is to keep the water between 95 and 100 degrees F. Never go above 101 degrees F with a pregnant mom in the tub, as it could be harmful to the baby.
Once your hot water tank has recovered, you can use tap water, or continue to use the water you heated on the stove to warm up the pool. The sides of the inflatable are 10 inches thick, so do provide good heat retention.
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How do I drain my birth pool?
Use a debris net to remove any large particals in the water. If you filled your pool with a lead-free hose, we recommend you keep that hose and use it for your garden or another use. We sell submersible drain pumps which hooked to a garden hose will drain your pool in 15 minutes. If time is not important, you can siphon the water using a garden hose. The trick to siphoning is that the hose outlet is lower than the hose inlet. You can drain the water out a window into a non-edible garden/lawn, or down the shower drain or toilet.
Who can I call with questions?
We are a small company, owned and operated by a husband and wife team. Marla is available to answer questions during normal business hours (8-5 Mon-Fri PST), so please don't hesitate to call 503 928-2196. We've used both a Gentle Birth Pool and an AQUABORN Personal Pool for the births of our two children.
What is your return policy?
We recommend you set-up your birth pool when you first receive it to ensure it is working properly. We recommend (La Bassine requires) you set it up within the first 48 hours. In the unlikely event of a manufacturer's defect, please contact us promptly via info@waterbirthsolutions.com or at (877) 811-0238, so we can replace the pool immediately.
Please ensure there is enough shipping time before your due date. We are not responsible if you place an order, receive it promptly, and you're unable to use it.
Birth is an uncontrollable event and we'd like to provide for some flexibility. If you receive your order but are unable to use it for medical reasons and it is completely unopened (still sealed), we will give you a refund less 20% re-stocking fee, once you ship the order back to us. The cost of shipping is your responsibility.
DVDs and Books are non-refundable, unless defective.
If you order a pool and change your mind once you've received it, we will give you a an in-store credit to purchase the pool you desire. Unfortunately, only unopened pools can be returned.
Any questions, please give us a call at (877) 811-0238.
How Safe is Home Birth?
The Canadian Medical Association published a new study in September 2009. Their findings were that outcomes of homebirth with a registered midwife were the same as the outcomes of a hospital birth attended by a doctor or midwife.
Read the Study
Informative Resources?
Mothering Magazine covers topics related to natural birth on a regular basis. They have a resourceful website: www.mothering.com
Gentle Birth Choices, by Barbara Harper, is a wonderful book that delves into your birth choices more thoroughly and helps you ensure your Care Provider will be supportive of your ideals and goals. We carry this life-altering book in our store.
A book that we recommend if you're interested in the current state of our maternity system is "Pushed" by Jennifer Block. Well written, informative and a must read for every woman, pregnant or not. We carry this important book in our store.
How do I choose a Care Provider?
There are many factors to consider when hiring someone to ensure you have the safest, gentlest birth possible. First, get clear on your goals. Do you want an unmedicated birth? Do you feel more comfortable with being in a hospital, at a birth center or at home? If you want a water birth, does your care provider have experience with waterbirth or will just "give it a try"?
When you intereview prospective Care Providers find out their 1) C-section rate 2) epidural rate 3) % of return clients. You are looking for someone that you're comfortable around and that supports your ideals.
Why is waterbirth not more readily available?
Hospitals are more cooperative today than ever before, as doctors and midwives begin to see the benefits of allowing women to make their own choices. 
What prevents a baby from breathing underwater?
There are four main factors that prevent the baby from inhaling water at the time of birth:
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What temperature is the water?
Water should be monitored at a temperature that is comfortable for the mother, usually between 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Water temperature should not exceed 101 degrees Fahrenheit, as it could lead to an increase in the mother's body temperature, which could cause the baby's heart rate to increase. It is a good idea to have plenty of water to drink and cold cloths for the mother's face and neck. A cool facial mist from a spray bottle is a welcome relief for some mothers as well.
How much does a waterbirth cost?
If you rent a portable pool for either home or hospital birth, it usually costs about $375, which includes the rental fee, shipping both ways, and all the extras that you might need. Some insurance companies do reimburse for the expense of the pool rental. If the hospital has permanent birth pool equipment, there is not really even any need to let your insurance company know that you have had a waterbirth. Just in case they may object to the process, it is always safe to inform the insurance company that the baby was born vaginally. It really doesn't matter if the baby was born in the bath or on the bed - it is still a vaginal birth.
Can I have a water birth at my local hospital?
Hospitals are more cooperative today than ever before as more and more women have made their choices heard. Many people start the process by inquiring if they can bring in a portable pool kit for labor. There are a series of steps that need to take place in order to assist hospitals and providers in adopting protocols for water labor and birth and the use of a portable pool. Contact us and we'll get you some information to help you approach your local hospital.
Here in the US, practitioners usually bring the baby out of the water within the first ten seconds after birth. There is no physiological reason to leave the baby under the water for any length of time. There are several water birth videos that depict leaving the baby under the water for several moments after birth and the babies are just fine.
When should I get into the water?
A woman should be encouraged to use the labor pool whenever she wants. However, if a mother chooses to get into the water in early labor, before her contractions are strong and close together, the water may relax her enough to slow or stop labor altogether. That is why some practitioners limit the use of the pool until labor patterns are established and the cervix is dilated to at least 5 centimeters.
