If you're reading this, chances are good you're about to give birth.

Welcome to the Brooklyn Birth pool community... although this pool isn't bound to brooklyn...that's just where it started. Families from all over the boroughs have hauled it on trains, handtrucks, cars and even their backs to enjoy the benefits of a warm bath during natural home birth. I'm not even sure how many women have labored in it, or how many babies have been born within its humble rubber blue walls. Which is one of the reasons for this blog.


My husband and I bought a tub three years ago for our daughter's birth, and thought it was a good idea to let others use it, to facilitate a growing home birth movement here in NYC and throughout the US. Since then, we've blown the manufacturer's recommendations of usage wide open, and at least 10 families have used the pool to bring their bundles of joy into this world in their own lovely homes.


This blog was created to continue to bring the community of home birthers together, share stories of our children, and to raise a little bloggy platform of activism for home birth rights and the midwifery model of care.

If you've given birth in this particular pool, please share your story with us! If you've given birth at home, or support the home birth choice, please leave your thoughts as well. And if you'd like to use the brooklyn birth pool, check out the guidelines and leave a post.

thanks, and happy home birthing!

Judi Lewis Ockler

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Calendar of Events!

Please check the birth pool calendar link, located over there on the right, for names, due dates, and contact information on reserving families.

Molly K, I wasn't sure if you were still interested in being on the list... I can't guarantee the pool won't be in use around your due date-- so i reserved a spot for you with a ? ... You could be our first birth pool stand-by! haha! I'd love it if you and the surrounding reservations could work out a transfer schedule that works for all parties.

BTW: the pool is the Eco Birth Pool in a Box, the "regular" or "large" size... meaning, it seats two people. Scroll down for a pic and a link to the waterbirth international page with specs and liner purchase information.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Whoa! NYhome birth listserv is a popular place!

Ok, so the BBP is starting to need its own date book...

after posting on the NYhome birth yahoo group, a bunch of families have lined up to use the pool. Here's what I have so far...

Molly Weingrod...due early August

Erin Kaplan... due June 17

Molly Kovel... due July 8

These requests are in order received... Molly Kovel, I'm not sure how it may work out, considering Erin's due date is pretty close to yours.

Ladies, I want to ask your permission to please post your contact information (email and phone #) for the families before and after you may make contact to transmit the pool.

thanks!!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Big Blue Pool Schedule

I like to leave 4 weeks between reservations...

so as of now, our fine blue nest is reserved until late May/early June, 2010. If you're interested in reserving the pool after this time, please send me an email or leave a post here.

I'm interested in all topics on the natural/home birth community--please share your information here.

I'd also love to see pics of the kiddos born in and around this love tub! Thanks!

The Eco Birth Pool in a Box Regular Size

The Eco Birth Pool in a Box Regular Size
here's our fine floor model!