the only issue with the normal hose (garden variety) is that they are not designed to transport hot water and some propenents have argued that there is a potential to release the chemicals used to make it when hot.
Ah, very interesting! I hadn't thought of this. We are still undecided on whether to use a birth pool - Our 'back up' midwife has one that we can use; we just have to pay for a new lining ($40). My last labour was 3 hours. I am expecting this one to be quicker. I'm not sure if we will have the time to set it up, and i don't know where to put it either. Can the waterbirthers out there tell me what they think, please?