Written by the founder, Carine Pouypoudat
Are Made in Water experts in water birth?
Well if you believe that well-informed parents are the best experts when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth then I guess we can say that here at Made in Water we are close to being expert.
The founders are the proud parent of 4 young children born between 1999 and 2005.
DS1: March 1999 – water labour – hospital bath
DS2: May 2001 – waterbirth – hospital birthing pool
DD1: May 2004 – waterbirth – home La Bassine birthing pool
DD2: Sept 2005 – waterbirth – home La Bassine birthing Pool
We are passionate about natural childbirth, recycling and ethical business.
What makes La Bassine different from other Birthing Pools?
La Bassine was first created for the birth of my daughter in 2004, to answer a very personal need for comfort and privacy during such event. I believe those needs to be inherent to all birthing women and unfortunately too often overlooked by some so-called birth experts.
My midwives enthusiasm for La Bassine encouraged us to work hard on making our birthing pool available to all women in UK.
Is our inflatable birthing pool safe?
Here at Made in Water we know about the construction of inflatable pools. We put La Bassine through exhaustive testing in order to guarantee that the maximum quality and highest standards were met. Standards we felt appropriate for such an occasion.
The main issue when using an inflatable pool is the risk of puncture. La Bassine is made in very resistant and durable phthalates free vinyl. Common sense precautions will usually prevent accidents from happening; keep scissors and any sharp objects away from the pool. Ensure that the floor beneath the pool is free from sharp edges and nails. And of course ensure your floor will support the weight of the pool when filled with water. If sitting the pool on a wooden floor we recommend using a protective blanket or a rug. The major advantage of La Bassine is its I-Beams construction, which will prevent any flooding in case of puncture. Even when deflated, the water stays inside the pool, which is held by the upright I-Beams structure.
Made in Water are aware that midwives have become concerned by the use of inflatable children’s paddling pool for waterbirth and the increasingly common assumption that any inflatable can be used. With the introduction of La Bassine we aim to deliver peace of mind to both mothers and midwives alike.
Is La Bassine comfortable?
Inflatable walls and floor provide a very good cushioning and will ensure all the comfort needed in all position during labour and birth. Our inflatable floor is 7cm thick. This layer of air provides excellent support much appreciated when kneeling down.
Because La Bassine is a unique product made from experience, it is much more comfortable than any other birthing pool. You won’t need extra padding to place beneath the pool.
What are the dimensions?
Outer dimensions are165cm length x 135cm width x 65cm height.
The inner dimensions are 125cm x 95cm.
This size is very appreciated by midwives who can easily reach you or your baby when needed. Larger pools make it harder to assist the labouring/birthing woman.
Tip: something to think about bigger pools:
· More hot water needed
· Harder to keep warm
· Less ‘nesty’
· Harder for the midwife to assist
How heavy is the birthing pool when filled with water?
Our pool holds about 450L of water at 80% full which weight around 450kg. This is about the same as 6 to 9 people standing together.
How deep the water should be for a maximum use of the buoyancy effect?
Regardless how deep a birthing pool is, the water depth should be enough to support you so you can feel the comfort of its buoyancy but it must never be too deep that you feel insecure.
As a general guidance the water should be covering your belly just below breast level. Above you are almost guaranteed to loose your stability when relaxing on your back, making necessary for you to hold strongly on the side of the pool (not very secure and not what you may need during labour). Also too much water depth will reduce greatly your choice of labour positions.
Can you sit or lean on the pool?
Most importantly you can comfortably lean while you are in kneeling down position.
When properly inflated the sides of the pool are strong enough for an adult to sit on and for you to lean heavily in any position.
How do I get in and out of the Pool?
La Bassine has a suitable external height to comfortably get in and out without the need of a plastic stool.
From personal experience I can only say that a birthing pool should never be so high that you need to play the acrobat on the slippery plastic stool to get in and out in the middle of your labour.
How do I inflate the birthing pool?
Use the bigger nozzle that you have on your pump and plug it into the big black valve on the side of your pool.
Inflate until all wrinkles are gone but make sure you don’t over inflate as it will damage the pool. You will have plenty of time to add more pressure later if needed. There is no particular order to inflate the walls or the floor first.
How do I clean La Bassine?
The best way to clean the pool is by using anti-bacterial sterilising solution. Simply wipe it down thoroughly. The upright walls and its compactness make the cleaning and drying very easy, avoiding bacteria to fester in inaccessible damp space. Make sure the pool is completely dry before you store it back in its bag.
How do I fill the birthing pool?
Just connect to your tap connector with the hose end adapter. It should take around 25/35 minutes to fill La Bassine according your water flow.
How do I keep the water warm?
Inflatable birthing pool provides a better insulation than rigid birthing pool and keeps the water warm longer.
The delivery room should always be at least 25-28°C to ensure the thermal protection of the newborn. In a room at 25°C, the temperature of the water will drop by less than a 1°C per hour. Therefore we do not think the use of a heat retention cover necessary. Kettles of hot water provide a quick way to increase the temperature in the pool should it start to cool off.
How do I empty the birthing pool?
By using the manual siphon pump. With the end of the pump submerged in the water it takes only a couple of pumps with your hand to get the flow of water going. The end of the pipe can be left in the bath or shower or hanging out of the window to drain the water.
How do I use La Bassine?
Ideally you should enter the pool only when you are in the second part of your labour. This is when ‘La Bassine’ would be used at its best. Studies have shown that women enter in the pool at 5 centimetres dilated or after are more likely to experience a shorter labour and a reduced need for epidural analgesia.
There are many positions that can be tried during the first stage of your labour that will help you to be patient enough and enter the pool at the right time.
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