Choose birth pool
1. Can I use a children's pool as a birth pool?
It is not recommended as children's pools are not made for that purpose.
The children's pools on the market are usually made of ordinary PVC, which releases toxic substances when the plastic is heated by the water.
The depth of the children's pool is usually very shallow, which in turn affects the water level, which becomes low. This increases the risk of the baby not being born from water to water, which is not suitable if you planned to give birth to the baby in the pool.
The low water level also reduces the water's ability for optimal pain relief.
The strength of the pool's edges is also usually weak, which does not allow for the possibility of support for the pool's edges.
2. How do I choose the right birth pool?
We recommend using our comparison chart to compare the features of the birthing pools and answer the questions below to more easily know which birthing pool suits you and your needs best.
Consider the following:
- How tall are the birthing person?
- Should the partner/support person have a place in the birth pool?
- How much space is there for the birth pool? (The surface may be sparse in hospitals). Support persons/staff are advised to have access from three sides of the birth pool in the event of an emergency.
- Bearing capacity of substrate.
- How quickly should the pool be taken up and down? (Include time for inflating/deflating and filling/emptying with water).
- Is your household/hospital able to supply the amount of water needed?
- How close are you to filling and emptying the pool and how do you plan to do this?
- How much hot water do you have or should you fill with boiled water on the stove?
- What is your budget? (the birth pools come in different price ranges for sale, but renting is by far the most economical as all accessories are also included).
3. What do I need more than a birthing pool?
Required accessories:
- Air pump (fill and empty the pool with air)
- Liner (disposable cover)
Optional accessories:
- Pool cover (retain heat)
- Debris net (for emptying and convenience)
- Water pump (for emptying)
- Birth mirror (see for yourself/others during birth)
- Eco hose + faucet connections (for emptying)
- Thermometer (check water temperature)
- Tarpaulin/incontinence protection (under the pool)
- Small towels (wet, cold on the forehead/neck)
Selection of air pump
You must have an air pump to inflate your birth pool, you cannot do it manually, for example with your mouth. It should preferably be an air pump with three different sizes of nozzles and an outlet and inlet.
You use the air pump to fill the birth pool with air and deflate it.
4. Do you have to use liner?
Liner in a new private pool, where only one person will use the birth pool, is not a must. However, it is recommended as it facilitates cleaning of the birth pool afterwards and gives extra strength to it. Keep in mind that when using a birth pool without a liner, blood stains settle in the material of the pool and cannot be washed away.
Liner is a requirement in birth pools that must be reused to reduce the risk of blood and infection spreading.
Liner is a disposable product and should not be reused.
Please read our guide on liners.
5. Do you have to use an echo hose?
Just like our entire range of birthing pools, the hoses are made of organic material to reduce the use of chemicals.
It is not a must to use an eco hose, but we want to eliminate all unnecessary chemicals where possible.
When you use a non-eco hose to fill your birthing pool, chemicals and possibly other substances from the hose are washed with the water into the pool. The pool is filled with this water where the woman giving birth will be with any partner/support person and also where the baby will then be born. Therefore, filling is not recommended, but a non-echo hose. However, you can always empty the pool with a "normal hose".
If you are a private person who wants to buy a birthing pool, we recommend buying an eco-hose that you can both fill and empty the birthing pool with. You can then use this hose to water the lawn or throw it in the plastic recycling bin.
If you are a company that rents out birthing pools or a birthing ward, we recommend purchasing two eco hoses if you want to reuse them.
Mark one tube with red tape and the other tube with green tape.
The hose with green tape is used to fill birthing pools with water and the hose with red tape is used to empty the birthing pools of water.
Our rental packages always include an eco-hose as a disposable product. This is therefore not sent back this so that we can ensure and guarantee that each hose is whole and clean for each new tenant.
6. How deep should the water be for optimal carrying capacity?
No matter how deep a birth pool is, the water depth should be enough to support/carry you, so you can feel comfortable.
As a general guide, the water should cover the stomach just below chest level. Above that level, you're almost guaranteed to lose your stability when relaxing on your back, forcing you to hold on to the side of the birth pool (not very safe and not what you need during labor/birth). Too much water depth also reduces your choice of birthing position.