After using a birth pool for the birth of my son I have become passionate about every woman having the option of birthing or labouring using a birth pool. In addition to added comfort and mobility, advantages include a reduction in the likelihood of tearing and increased relaxation.
Using a birth pool during labour helps you to relax: reducing levels of stress hormones in your body, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing your respiratory rate and requiring you to consume less oxygen. Water helps warm up your uterus as labour progresses, reducing cramps and tiredness. It helps relax the pelvic floor muscles and it also helps soften the perineum thus reducing the risk of tearing.
There is lots of wonderful information on the
Home birth UK website.
You can either buy or hire your own pool.
Buying a poolThe Good Birth Company is the designer & manufacturer of the Birth Pool in a Box product range. A fantastic pool that comes in two sizes, mini and regular. I used the mini pool for my son's birth and was very happy with the pool itself as well as the company.
You could also try ebay where there is often a selection of second-hand pools on offer. It is always recommended to use a new pool liner, hose and themometer for each birth with any pool – either new, second-hand or hired – for both hygienic and leak-avoidance reasons.
Hiring a PoolAs of March Tower Hamlets Home Birth Support Group and East London HypnoBirthing are launching a Community Birth Pool Hire Scheme, offering the loan of a Professional grade Birth Pool in a Box (from
The Good Birth Company) for either £50 which includes the pool, new hose set and a new liner or £85 which includes everything you need, the pool, new liner, new hose, delivery and collection, emptying and filling kit and pump for the pool.
We recommend having the pool from 37 weeks and you can keep it until you birth the baby. Delivery and collection as well as a demo setting up are included in the £85 package.
Contact
me for further information and to book the pool.
