FAQ
Why use a birth pool?
What are the benefits of using water during labour?
How long can I be in the water?
Why might my midwife ask me to leave the pool?
When can I get in?
Once in, will I be able to get out again?
Why does the baby not drown?
Can I deliver the placenta in the pool?
Why are some midwives more at ease with water birth than others?
What is the importance of water temperature?
Can I use other forms of pain relief while in the pool?
Where can we put the pool?
Is the circulating water heater safe?
How long are the hoses?
Will they connect to my taps?
Is it easy to assemble?
What if the domestic hot water is not enought to fill the pool?
How does the temperature control work?
How much electricity does it use?
What else might i want or need?
Does the room fill with steam?
How do I empty the pool?
Is it safe to keep the water in the pool for up to 7 days?
Will the chemicals effect the baby if I deliver in the pool?
What if my baby comes before the pool?
What if the baby hasn't arrived by the end of the hire period?
What if I can't use the pool for labour?
Can I get a refund if I send the pool back before the end of the hire period?
Technical specification
Hygiene?
Why use a birth pool?
1) Generally women feel more in control and are more satisfied with their birth experience
2) Water provides great comfort and mobility
3) Water supports the mothers weight and therefore helps to conserve her energy
4) Immersion in water relieves anxiety and aids relaxation so mothers can let go of their conscious thoughts
5) Women feel more relaxed and use fewer pain killing drugs
6) Labours can be shorter and are less likely to need drugs to artificially speed up the labour
7) Women are less likely to need medical intervention
8) Women can maintain an upright supported position which aids downward gravity of the baby
9) There is less pressure on the main blood vessels so there is optimal oxygen supply to the baby
10) There is less pressure on the pelvic ligaments and joints to allow maximum room for the baby and less pain for the mother
11) In the second stage, the perineal tissues can stretch more easily and reduces the likelihood of tearing
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What are the benefits of using water during labour?
1) There is evidence that immersion in warm water can lower blood pressure during labour.
2) It is much easier to maintain active birthing positions in the gravity reduced environment of the pool.
3) Water supports the mother during labour reducing the pressure during labour.
4) Women have used water as a form of pain relief for hundreds of years.
5) Warm water on the lower back (which is the area of the spinal chord that receives the nerves from the lower abdominal region) can reduce labour pain.
6) Relaxation in the days leading to the birth (particularly those moments when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep)
7) As an added bonus the pool can be used for special family time together before the new arrival (Children sleep very well after an hour in the pool)
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How long can I be in the water?
As long as you need/want to be, it sometimes happens that water slows things down to a point where the midwife suggests that you get out and walk about for a bit. How long you can stay in the pool if things have slowed down will depend on the experience and open-mindedness of your midwife as well as
how able you are to challenge her request to leave the pool if you don't want to. (Your birth partner and birth plan can help you here)
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Why might my midwife ask me to leave the pool?
There are occasions when the midwife might require you to leave the pool for good reasons.
An abnormal foetal heart beat
Meconium
Abnormal maternal observation such as high temp, pulse or BP
Agreement on the need for an internal examination
Midwife's intuition
The role of the midwife is to assess that labour is progressing normally, and if deviating from normal to take appropriate steps. How she assesses, and what the appropriate steps are will to a degree depend on her knowledge, experience and intuition. Therefore it is fine for you to ask for her rationale in asking you to do something you might not want to do, and to expect a reasonably detailed explanation. However, you may not be able to take in all the information, and your partner (and/or doula) can help here. When all is said and done, the midwife is legally responsible for the safe delivery of baby and mother, and if she has real concerns for you then it is advisable to accept her recommendation.
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When can I get in?
When labour is "established". This is about 4-5cms dilated, or when contractions are about 2 minutes long, regular, and about 5 mins apart. Use this "tool" when you find that other techniques like massage, TENS, dancing, no longer help, when you begin to think; "now I really need something". Often, getting into the pool at this point gives a wonderful whooshing release of tension. This relaxes the muscles, eases fear and anxiety, floods the body with endorphins and quite often moves you along the road of labour quite a way.
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Once in, will I be able to get out again?
You can get in and out as often as you need to. The temperature of the pool is constant there is no need to get out while the pool heats up. A plastic stool is provided to help you get in and out.
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Why does the baby not drown?
A baby born without distress into water will not receive the stimulus to breathe.
Breathing may be stimulated by
A significant drop in temperature
Having received some distress during delivery
Excessive handling while still underwater
The baby is still connected to the umbilical cord and receiving an oxygenated blood supply via the placenta. In water, the cord remains soft and continues to pulse after the baby is delivered, so the baby does not need to breathe until after the cord is cut.
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Can I deliver the placenta in the pool?
Some midwives may prefer you to leave the pool for the third stage because it is very hard to assess blood loss in the water. You should discuss this with your midwife either before or during the early stages of labour. The advantage of leaving the pool to deliver the placenta outside it is that the water may still be reasonably clean, and you may be able to hop back in it for a quick wash while everything is being tidied up.
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Why are some midwives more at ease with water birth than others?
The Midwife's Code of Practice states that midwives should operate within the sphere of their expertise. Some might interpret this to use as a get -out clause if they have not been trained in the use of water. However, the Royal College of Midwives clearly says that it is also the duty of the midwives to gain knowledge in this area in order to offer it as part of normal practice.
Make sure that the Community Midwives office knows that you are intending to use water and to request that an adequately knowledgeable midwife attend you.
Give an unfamiliar midwife a chance to extend her sphere of knowledge by accepting that she has limitations, but negotiating to go beyond them together
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What is the importance of water temperature?
It is absolutely fine to have the water at any temperature comfortable to you using the pool before labour for relaxation. However, it is very important that the labouring mother does not become overheated as this may be a factor which can cause distress to the baby.
The recommended range is between 34 - 37.0 degrees C during the first stage of labour and 37.0-37.5 in the second stage. If a baby is delivered in water it must not be cooler than the average body temperature. However, remember that it is nigh on impossible to get readings accurate to half a degree in a constantly moving body of water. The important thing is to observe the floating thermometer, the thermostat and the labouring woman all together.
You may need to lower the set temperature of the thermostat.
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Can I use other forms of pain relief while in the pool?
Use of other forms of pain relief such as massage, acupressure, homoeopathy, aromatherapy to mention but a few, along with loving and encouraging words from birth partner or midwife, breathing, visualisation and maybe gas and air will all help you in your "tool kit of pain relief options" which may include many of the above and others that are unique to you.
There are no side effects connected to the use of water as pain relief so it does not preclude any other form of analgesia that may be appropriate at a later time. Using water as pain relief can help you get further down the road of labour without closing doors on other options.
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Where can we put the pool?
We suggest that you put the pool where you feel safest and most comfortable. The pool comes in sections and can be carried and assembled almost anywhere. A flat floor is preferable, with access to a power point nearby (not an extension lead). Midwives like to have access to at least two thirds of the pool.
First and second floors are fine if you are happy about the weight load; full weight is about 650kg. If you are living in a conventionally built house, that has been well maintained and is not more than 150 years old, then problems with floor loading stress are likely to be minimal. If you do have concerns, then I would suggest that you seek further ad vic e from a qualified structural surveyor.
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Is the circulating water heater safe?
Yes. There has never been any instance of infection to either mother or baby that has been attributed to our pools. We take hygiene very seriously and the Heath and Safety Executive have devised our cleaning protocol. All equipment is flushed through using chlorine solution (which is the most effective disinfectant), drained and then stored dry.
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How long are the hoses?
Each pool comes with two hoses that are each about 6 meters long. If you think that may not be sufficient, please measure the distance from taps to pool location adding at least 2 metres, for the drop and rise, and let us know. It is always possible to have more hose at no extra cost.
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Will they connect to my taps?
Two types of tap connector come with the pool, they are Hozelock Universal (designed to fit mixer taps) and the Original funnel shaped, with jubilee clip to connect to single taps with smaller spouts.
You may have special taps which will not fit to the connectors, in this case, you may need to think of other taps in the house that could be used, or investigate other systems of connecting hoses to them.
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Is it easy to assemble?
Yes, it is very easy to assemble. There are step by step instructions to help you assemble the pool, and telephone support is provided if required.
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How long does it take to fill?
It takes 10 -15 minutes to assemble, and filling depends on water pressure, the pool is usually ready within an hour.
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What if the domestic hot water is not enought to fill the pool?
The heater can heat water to the required temperature from cold. However, it may take over 12 hours to do this. If you can use some hot water, then the time required will be reduced. Obviously using a pool with integral heater in this situation is the only way a pool could be available. It is advantageous that the pool can be kept heated, filtered and conditioned for up to 7 days.
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How does the temperature control work?
When the pool is first filled, there is a period of adjustment before the water reaches a constant temperature. This is what happens; when the thermostat registers the water temperature at its pre-set level, the heater element switches off. The element is still hot and the pump is still pumping water over it, so that the temperature continues to rise. It is important in labour to control the temperature and not to get overheated, so I would suggest that you set the required temperature slightly lower, maybe 35/36 degrees. You can do this by pressing the temperature switch on the control panel. Continual taps will move the thermostat control one degree at a time (you may have to go up the scale -as far as 40 degrees, before coming back down).
Alternatively if you leave the pool to settle for a day or two, (by this, I mean, keep the heater and pump on) it should maintain its temperature at the regulated setting.
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How much electricity does it use?
To maintain the pool warm and filtered at maximum economy, it needs to be on all the time. It will use as much electricity as a light bulb. This is because the thermostat will switch off the heater when it reaches the pre-set temperature. The walls of the pool are made of high-density polystyrene, covered in a protective membrane. This is very good insulating material. In addition, the close fitting cover is lined with insulating material. Heat loss from the pool is minimal. The cover also keeps steam from escaping and causing condensation problems.
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What else might i want or need?
You will also need a plastic sheet to protect the floor from drips and soft cushioning to go under the liner to give added softness and comfort. Your midwife will probably suggest a cheap strainer to remove detritus from the pool; a small mirror may be used to confirm arrival of the baby's head and an underwater torch! Essential oils should NOT be added to the pools. You might like to light a candle, play relaxing music or burn essential oils in the rooms. Please remember that any electrical item must be placed well way from the pool, and not to touch switches with wet hands.
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Does the room fill with steam?
There will be some steam when the pool is in use, however the fitted cover means that no steam escapes when the pool is not being used, and that also reduces heat loss of the water temperature.
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How do I empty the pool?
A pump is provided to empty the pool quickly and efficiently using the hoses.
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Is it safe to keep the water in the pool for up to 7 days?
Yes, it is, provided you use the filter and the conditioning chemicals according to instructions. If your children are enjoying the pool and are jumping in and out a lot, bringing debris in, then it may be wise to empty the pool more frequently.
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Will the chemicals effect the baby if I deliver in the pool?
No instances of sensitivity to the chemical have been noticed or recorded.
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What if my baby comes before the pool?
The window of either two or three weeks before and two weeks after the due date means that most babies will come during that time. However, sometimes they do come early. For a baby that is very premature it is not advisable to have a home birth or to use the pool. In this instance the Conditions of Hire state that if a pool is cancelled with less than 2 weeks notice from the beginning of the Hire Period, we reserve the right to charge the full fee, as we are a small company, flexibility is possible; if there is any chance of getting the pool to you before baby comes, then we will look into it.
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What if the baby hasn't arrived by the end of the hire period?
Again, everything possible will be done to ensure that you keep the pool for as long as you need it. We do not generally charge for this but please remember someone else may be waiting for the pool.
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What if I can't use the pool for labour?
Unless the reason is through the fault of Miracle Products Ltd/Aquabirth, then no refund can be offered. It makes sense to get plenty of use out of the pool in the preceding days for relaxation and pain relief.
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Can I get a refund if I send the pool back before the end of the hire period?
No, the way to look at it is that the 5-week window is the time frame within which you guess that your baby will be born. (This is correct for most people). If baby is born on day one, then you have achieved your expectation. If you no longer wish to use the pool after the delivery, it can be returned earlier but no refund is made. The pool is superb for bonding with the baby after the birth for the whole family.
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Technical specification
Packaged in two 51cm x 61cm x 63cm transport boxes (additional small box)
Assembled pool Depth 61 cm
Assembled pool Diameter 162 cm
Empty weight 39Kg
Full weight 669Kg
Floor load 572 kg/sq m
Capacity 636 litres
Operating temp range 27-40 degrees
Seating capacity 3-4 adults
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Hygiene
Our disinfecting protocols have been devised by the Health and Safety Executive. Each pool is sanitised and individually packaged ready for your hire.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF HIRE
Before placing your order through the miracle box for a heated birthing pool we recommend that you read our list of frequently asked questions. Copies of all our information can be emailed to you - please contact us
Rental agreement
The hire period is five weeks . We recommend that you book the pool to cover three weeks before and two weeks after your due date unless circumstances dictate differently. If you do go overdue and it is getting close to your pool return date, just call and let us know the situation. It is more important that you concentrate on having a baby than packing up a birthing pool.
Cost of hire
Non-returnable booking fee of £50 is required with all bookings. (This will be subtracted from the overall balance). Please book your pool ASAP to ensure that a pool is availbale for your required dates
Returnable deposit of £100 is required to ensure the pool is returned to us clean and in good working order. (This should be paid as a separate cheque and will only be banked if the pool is not returned to us in the state you received it.)
The Hire of the Pool is £320 all-inclusive for 5 week hire period this includes delivery to and from your home address.
Payment of £270 to be paid 2 weeks prior to booking date.
Once a booking is placed we shall call you and discuss any questions that you may have with regard to a water birth.
If a pool is cancelled with less than 2 weeks notice from the beginning of the Hire Period, we reserve the right to charge the full fee.
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