The single most helpful tool for dads and birthing partners to creating a successful and comfortable home water birth.

Having a successful home water birth as the partner can feel really intimidating to say the least. In a hospital setting you have the "comfort" of having staff around and people who "know how to have a baby". As a crunchy dad this last statement has proven to be false to me on many levels in hindsight,  but it was undoubtedly fact for me at the time of our first birthing experience. When you are considering a home birth though, that all goes out the window and the pressure of being a support and making the experience a wonderful memory falls on heavy on your shoulders, even if only in your own mind.

For me, I wanted to make sure that everything that was within my control went well enough to not be the defining memory. So with talking with my wife I began to theorize about what would be important. Of course some things came to me like, music, lighting, traffic of kids and pets and who would be in attendance. And while these all play a role they still didn't hit the top of the list of importance in the end.

I want you to imagine this scenario. You've been in early labor for a short while. Things are progressing as planned and you are starting to feel that you are at the end of this pregnancy and about to meet your lil bundle for the first time. You're still in what I like to think of as the dreamy fun phase of labor. you know, the part before the reality of actually pushing the small watermelon through an area of  bone structure usually meant for holding the insides of a woman together when shes standing upright? Things continue to progress and the feelings of total discomfort are beginning to kick in, this is when she will want to try and find comfort through any means necessary. She decides that warm water would bring relief. If you haven't thought this through by now you're about to  experience one of the worst feelings of helplessness ever.

But instead you're reading this and you don't have to get to this point and not have the answers already. So lets discuss a few questions that will guide your water birth preparations.

Where will we have it at?
Well this can be a super defining question as to how to have a successful home water birth. Some parents will choose to use a home tub, some will choose to rent or purchase a Birthing Pool/Tub and others will choose our preferred method of purchasing the fishy pool.

The home tub is clearly the least expensive and most easily accessible to both water and draining sources but it has it's drawback of available mobility for mama due to size. It also has the ability to dramatically alter the mood of the birth because of the obvious lack of ability to be anywhere other than the bathroom. Certainly these obstacles can be overcome but they may not be so easy to overcome as using another option.

Birthing Pools/Tubs will certainly be able to accommodate the ability to set the scene for your birth in a plethora of locations and will be spacious enough to let mama move at her discretion but they come at a heck of a price, often topping $100 for rent alone.

The option we choose for our last 2 birth was one of increasing popularity as home birth and especially water home births become more and more the norm for expecting parents. The "fishy pool" as it has become to be so affectionately called by the water birthing community is big enough to let mama move, sturdy enough to feel secure about using it inside and let mama rest on the edges without compromising the structural integrity and most importantly  cheap enough to consider at under $30.

If you choose any option other than in the home tub your next question should be....
How do we fill it?
I've heard some pretty poorly thought through answers to this question. Things like, "We'll just bring the hose inside and fill it." or "I have some 5 gallon buckets we're gonna fill up and poor in."

First off the garden hose should NEVER EVER be used to fill a birthing tub. I personally suggest not even using a new one as many garden hoses are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which uses lead as a stabilizer.

If you decide on buckets make sure you spend the weeks leading up to the birth working on your upper body strength because you will certainly be needing it. It will also take a substantial amount of time and energy to do so.

What we chose was the use of a small plumbing miracle referred to as a SharkBite. "SharkBite is the Push-Fit connection system that is really taking hold. It’s the easiest way to join copper, CPVC, or PEX pipe in any combination with no soldering, clamps, unions, or glue. Just insert the pipe and the stainless steel teeth bite down and grip tight, while a specially formulated O-ring compresses to create a perfect seal."

They come in so many different options it would be nearly impossible to not find the one to fit your needs,

Most homes will be equipped with a bath tub that has a removable spout like the one shown below. It exposes the 1/2" copper pipe that it attaches to.

I purchased the coupling and a coiled roll of 1/2" pex line from Home Depot for under $40. The system simply allows for me to push both pipes into the coupling and its ready to go as shown below.

This option now allows for me to fill the birth pool with temperature regulated water, fill it without carrying anything around and allows me to continue to support my partner through labor. I and anyone who has been through the birthing process as a supporting partner can tell you that you will not want to be away from your partner in labor for more than a very brief moment. This option also allows for you to warm up the pool by simply turning the hot water back on for a gentle warm up.

Let's now assume we are through the birth and into the post birth and placenta delivery and baby is here and with mama. They've had time to bond in the pool and mama, sore and tired as can be, has made her way to a soft surface to relax with baby while a midwife and/or doula begins post birth paperwork and checks of mama and baby. At this point you still have a pool, which is most likely not so pretty, to contend with. You are now stricken with the question.....

How do we drain it?Great question. If you filled it with buckets you probably will be emptying i the same way. Alternatively if you've decided to use the SharkBite method this process of cleanup in its entirety will take about 20 minutes.

Understanding how a gravity siphon works is essential to being able to clean up everything with massive ease. I suggest keeping everything on the same floor of the house but if you cant you definitely you should not have your water source being above you as a cleanup through siphoning can't be done this way.



To drain the pool using the SharkBite method simply ensure the pex tubing is submerged in the birth pool water. With the pipes still connected run the water into the pool for a moment to ensure there is not air in the pipe. Next use the removal tool (as shown below) to remove the pex tubing from the SharkBite and immediately set it down by the drain of the tub not allowing any air to enter the tube. If its done correctly the water should now be flowing out of the pool and into the tub. It should take about 5 to 10 minutes to drain the entire pool.

What about the rest?  
If you are using a rental pool or a pricey purchased pool you will most likely be expecting to clean the pool out for later use.
If however the pool of your choice is in your eyes disposable (and for under $30 the fishy pool is) you can very easily deflate and roll the pool up and toss it in the dumpster to be taken away.

Some P.S. Pro Tips:
-Setting up an inflatable pool is much much easier and faster with the use of an air compressor. If possible have the air compressor ready to roll days before you're expecting to use it so that you may simply plug it in and begin using it.
-Also make sure you have the right nozzle to blow air into the pool. This is the tool I've used for many years on inflatables. The pool takes about 3 minutes to inflate using this tool and a decent compressor.

-Always plan to have a plastic sheet under your pool. Even if you don't have a leak or any issues , the in and out of people will get the surrounding area wet and if its solid surface flooring it will get slick.

-I thoroughly suggest getting comfortable with hooking up the pieces well in advance of needing them. The less thinking you have to do during labor the better.





-If you do use the SharkBites DO NOT forget to get a removal tool. They are like $2 and important.






-If you hook up your water source to a tub/shower you will want to block off the shower head from being able to be used. If the water pressure gets to high it will want to come out of the shower head. (I used a small rubber plug the first time and replaced the shower head over it. I removed the head and replaced it with a threaded cap the second time. The Cap worked better)

-A good roll of duct tape will come in handy and allow for you to work hands free when both filling and draining the pool assuring that the hose or tubing stays in place when the water is flowing in either direction.
-Keep in mind how heavy the pool will be filled with water. If the area of floor that it will be going on could not support upwards of 15-20 people at the same time you should not setup in that area.
-Once the pool is rolled up and in a trash dumpster you can further compress it by puncturing the inflatable areas with a razor or knife.

I hope you find this information useful in trying to be as supportive of a birthing partner as possible If you have anything to add please do in the comments below. Thanks for reading.