When I researched my birth pool, I found hiring was incredibly expensive and looked at inflatables. The best value seemed to be birth pool in a box, which Boots was the best online price, and then you can get points as well - in fact if you purchase in conjunction with one of their offers - like triple points on baby (which is on now) you stand to make alot of points which offsets the cost of them as you can use the points to buy other items of baby stuff you might need - nappies, wipes, toiletries, clothes etc.

The other upside is that you can recoup alot of what you paid by selling on your pool afterwards. Alternatively keep looking on this forum to see if someone is selling one on second hand, or look on ebay.

The larger birth pool is the one I opted for it was incredibly spacious, retained the heat very well, easy to inflate (electric pump had it up in mere mins), was very stable even when I was leaning on the side and had all the items in the kit you need for you home birth (including the pump) - except a seive - which you will want to buy (cheapo one at wilko's)

If you do opt for a pool - you won't regret it - it was amazing and it supports your body weight and gives you the freedom of movement which is restricted in the bath.

Debs

awwww thank u for ur replies ladies im very gratefull im thinking of a birth pool but dont know how to go about it , im sure ill be back with more questions lol

claire x 13+5

i had my first baby 7 months ago at home in a birth pool and it was the best experience.  i didn't need any pain relief either but the water was wonderful so much so i didnt want to get out because the water supported my weight and i wasnt as uncomfortable.  i gave birth in the pool.  perhaps if your worried about pain relief maybe consider a pool?  even a warm bath might help. 

I'm the same as Debs, with ds1 had everything going all within the space of an hour lol!! With ds2 8 weeks ago I had him in the pool at home & didn't even think about asking for any pain relief! You will be amazed at the difference being at home makes, you may find as you have quick labours anyway at home you won't even have time to think about pain relief!

My first I had all the pain releif in the world - except the gas and air - didn't do anything for me (in hospital). With my second, born 6/6/08 I gave birth at home with no pain relief. I didn't even attempt the g&a - I think its definately a mind set thing - if you tell yourself you won't need it - you just won't. Plus being at home is more relaxing. I did birth in a pool and whilst the contractions were pretty intense and strong - 3cm to baby out in 59 mins kind of intense - the water took the edge off it - worth exploring perhaps?

Debs

i think those are all natural worries hun.

i am expecting my 5th in 11 weeks time i had my 3rd at home like you my labours were fast and i had very little pain relief my labour before my hb was only 1hrs 25 mins and i wasnt happy with them not believing me that i was progressing fast.

i had my homebirth without any pain relief it wasnt planned that way i wanted gas&air for the contractions and wanted like in the past to push them out on my own. to be honest i was so relaxed being at home and not having the stress of when to go to hospital that by the time the mw got there i was already 7cm dilated and wasnt much point as i had done the worst part so went totally natural with the mw putting pressure on my back to help ease the pain (beats any pain relief anyday lol).

she was 9lb4 was back to back labour like my others and i had no stitches, i got to go into my own bath afterwards pull on my pj's and once the midwives had gone (1hour after delivery) me her and dh snuggled up into bed and our boys came in to see the baby in the morning (i had her at 3.30am).

i planned a hb with my last one but i ended up accepting induction at 39 weeks because they were concerned about how big she was in the end i could have had her at home so this time i am very determined to have another homebirth as overall its much better for mum and baby i bonded well with baby and didnt get the baby blues or the trauma some get from going to hospital.

hth

mara x

hello ladies

hope u dont mind me coming over here and asking qs lol

im having my 5th baby im 13 weeks so loads of time yet i had my other 4 in hossie and im thinking of a home birth this time round just wondered if u can give me advice if u dont mind

all my other 4 were natural deliverys with no problems the only pain relief i had  with my last 3 was gas and air but hated it make me sick ,midwife said its a fab idea but im scared in a way because what about pain relief if i need it my last labour was only about 2 half hours

thanks in advance ladies

claire x 13+1