Waterbirth

Water is being used by more and more women for labor and birth with good reason: water helps with labor pain and helps facilitate relaxation. I suggest that clients consider having a water option - either a deep bathtub (the "regular" bathtubs are often not deep enough, nor are they wide enough), an outside hot tub (if the baby is expected during warmer weather), or by renting or buying their own birth tub/pool.

Places that sell or rent birth tubs:

Dolphin Circle Tubs

Waterbirth International

Your Waterbirth

Interested in a less expensive option? Here are some ideas:

Your Guide to an Inexpensive but Wonderful Waterbirth

Mothering Magazine's Birth Pool

Resources and Information

Places that sell inflatable kiddie pools:

Quality Inflatables

ShipStore

Pool Store

Waterbirth Info/Safety:

Some great abstracts on the safety of waterbirth

Common questions about waterbirth

More info on waterbirth safety and resources

Labor & Birth in the Water: A Midwife's Perspective

What I Learned from the First Hospital Birthing Pool by Michel Odent, MD

From Mothering Magazine - Aqua Baby: Birth at Home in a Tub

From the UK, research on using water in labor & birth