Re: [ozmidwifery] Fw: water bath preferences

[brendamanning]

Hi Jennifer,   I completely agree that sometimes a corner spa is pref to a free standing pool esp when you take into account the water restrictions etc. We have a free-standing pool at Rosebud Mid & a corner bath. Of the 2,  the corner is much cosier, the access isn't  a problem for the women, their partners or the midwives & we don't have doctors at births. The pool is big & accessible from 3 sides but feels very exposed & open, not good for petite women either as some say they feel a bit overwhelmed by the large expanse of water. We use it alot ( we do alot of waterbirths at Rosebud ) but the smaller bath was nicer, easier to fill, kept hot longer, less water waste, smaller cosier room.........had quite a few advantages really but is in the middle of the post natal ward whereas the pool is in the actual birth suite. If we were building again, I think we'd do it differently that's for sure but access from 3 sides is probably (for better access/OHS thingies), the issue if anyone collapses ( which has never happened in 12 years & as I say ,we do alot of waterbirths). A pre-formed spa (our pool is a poured concrete shell) would have been a better option, with inset seats, kneeling ledges etc, we did try to tell the designers this but as usual 'they' told the midwives we didn't know anything & their way was better so we got the concrete pool. The ordinary run of the mill domestic spa (no jets) would have been cheaper, taken less water, retained the heat, emptied & filled faster ( a big consideration in a fast labour), been easy to clean la, la la .   I think Rosebud Midwifery Unit sort of slips under the radar with the progressive mid they/we practice there but often have 17 years of experience in stuff other units are only just implementing & could benefit from.   If I can be any help with practical hands on teaching in the water-birth fields please pass it on, we do run workshops & will travel. I am only too happy to help ( 30 years of exp must be useful somewhere).   Cheers Brenda Manning www.themidwife.com.au ----- Original Message ----- From: Jennifer Price To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 12:50 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Fw: water bath preferences I was wanting some assistance to find out the best type of baths for our birthing suites.  I am working in rural queensland and we do have severe water restrictions at present and have been hearing a lot about smaller corner baths.  I would love some ideas on costs, manufacturers, and benefits from your experience with tubs.. thanks Jenni ***************************************************************** This email, including any attachments sent with it, is confidential and for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). This confidentiality is not waived or lost, if you receive it and you are not the intended recipient(s), or if it is transmitted/ received in error. Any unauthorised use, alteration, disclosure, distribution or review of this email is strictly prohibited. The information contained in this email, including any attachment sent with it, may be subject to a statutory duty of confidentiality if it relates to health service matters. If you are not the intended recipient(s), or if you have received this email in error, you are asked to immediately notify the sender by telephone collect on Australia +61 1800 198 175 or by return email. You should also delete this email, and any copies, from your computer system network and destroy any hard copies produced. If not an intended recipient of this email, you must not copy, distribute or take any action(s) that relies on it; any form of disclosure, modification, distribution and/or publication of this email is also prohibited. Although Queensland Health takes all reasonable steps to ensure this email does not contain malicious software, Queensland Health does not accept responsibility for the consequences if any person?s computer inadvertently suffers any disruption to services, loss of information, harm or is infected with a virus, other malicious computer programme or code that may occur as a consequence of receiving this email. Unless stated otherwise, this email represents only the views of the sender and not the views of the Queensland Government. ****************************************************************