What are the benefits of using a labor tub?

Many women find that warm water immersion enhances relaxation during and between contractions and can lessen the need for pain medication. Buoyancy can reduce pressure on the abdomen, promoting better circulation and more efficient contractions. The tub also increases mobility so that it is easier to change positions to aid the progress of labor. There are medical benefits as well; warm water immersion can increase endorphins (the body’s natural pain relievers), reduce catecholamines (stress hormones which increase pain and slow labor), reduce blood pressure within minutes, decrease edema, and lessen the incidence of tears and episiotomies, forceps or vacuum-assisted deliveries, and Cesarean sections.

What services are provided by Waterbirth Resources?

We deliver a specialized, heated, portable labor tub to your home or hospital room. Our service includes setup, support, cleaning, takedown, and removal of tubs. Rental of a tub includes all services, a disposable liner, and use of accessories, such as a tub thermometer and underwater booster cushion. We also rent birth balls and birth stools by the week. We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for hospital tub delivery; home delivery is prearranged. We have been serving the community since 2000, making tub rental carefree so you can focus on your birth.

What does the tub look like?

The tub is round, and has a hard plastic shell wrapped around a soft foam interior. A sturdy vinyl liner covers the whole tub, and a disposable liner wraps it a second time. A circular foam pad is used as a base. To see more pictures of the round tub online, visit www.aquadoula.com.

How is the tub filled and temperature maintained?

The tub should ideally be located within 30 feet of a combined hot and cold faucet and within five feet of a grounded electrical outlet to plug in the heater. It should be filled with water that is close to body temperature (around 98 degrees Fahrenheit). Tub heaters help to maintain water temperature once the tub is filled.

How do I get into and out of the tub?

The tub walls are 2 feet high and firm. Stepping into and out of the tub is not difficult for most people. We suggest that mothers be assisted, and that a bathmat or other nonskid material be placed on the floor.

How is the cleanliness of the tub maintained?

The tub and all accessories are thoroughly cleaned between rentals with a hospital-grade germicidal disinfectant; hoses and drain equipment are sterilized with a bleach solution. For additional protection, a disposable tub liner is used. For infection control purposes, we no longer rent or recommend tubs with jets, as they are difficult to sterilize and do not accommodate disposable liners.

When should I call for the tub to be delivered?

For hygiene reasons, warm water should not be maintained for more than 48 hours. Therefore, if you are planning to use the tub in the hospital it is important not to set up until labor is established. Call to let us know when you think labor has started, and call your birthing professional; when you have confirmation that you are in labor, call us back for tub setup. For use at home, we will make an appointment to set up, usually within a week of your “due date”.

What is the rental period?

We will work with you to determine when it is time to deliver the tub; this usually happens about a week before you are due. Typically, you may keep the tub until the birth is complete, then call us to arrange a mutually agreeable pick up time. During a hospital birth, in the unusual circumstance that labor is not progressing after 24 hours, we will reassess the situation; at that point, the tub may be drained and refilled, or if labor has stopped entirely, picked up and delivered again at another time.

How much does it cost to rent a tub?

Rental of a round tub and all accessories is $250. Prices include all disposable items such as liner and debris filter as well as delivery, setup, and cleaning. Included in the price is a $50 non-refundable deposit, which is sent at the time of the reservation. For delivery outside the Twin Cities area, for on-call setup (hospital use), or for those who call for a tub during labor and have not reserved ahead of time, a $50 additional fee for each service is applied. (Late registration is arranged on a space available basis.) In addition, state rental tax of 7% is added to all rentals. We also have birth stools and birth balls available; these may be rented for $5 per week. If you are renting a tub we can deliver these at the same time, otherwise we request that you pick up and drop off these items at our Minneapolis location.

How do I make a reservation?

After you receive your information packet, send back one signed copy of the rental agreement with a check for the $50 deposit, and we will put you on our calendar.

What is the refund policy?

The $50 deposit is non-refundable. No refund or reduction of the rental fee is available once the tub is set up (unfilled) at a specified location. Due to the unpredictability of birth, we cannot offer a refund if you are unable to use the tub as planned (this may be due to a quick birth, medical complications or other factors).

Physical Specifications:

Round labor tub: 60 inches in diameter, 24 inches high, fully heated, uses disposable liner (included), GFCI protection. Water level 18 inches, temp 94 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, water capacity approximately 175 gallons/filled weight 1,500 pounds, pressure 0.6 pounds per square inch, area needed for setup 6 feet by 6 feet.