Many hospitals have a plumbed-in water pool, and have also created a relaxed and informal environment for waterbirth. If your local hospital doesn’t have this facility, the midwives may be willing to use a pool which you have hired. It is important to have agreement to this arrangement in writing, from the supervisor of midwives, before you go to the expense of hiring the pool.

Some hospitals also run a special antenatal session on using a water pool.

If there isn’t a midwife on the staff who has experience of waterbirth, one or two of them might be able to do some specialised training if you give them enough notice of your wishes. Or you may be able to choose to have your baby at another hospital that does offer waterbirths.

You will be able to call on the services of the midwives at your local hospital to attend you at home, or you can employ an independent midwife. The pool hire companies probably have solutions to most of your other needs, but there is one practical point to consider in your planning: is the floor of the room you plan to use strong enough to bear the weight of a full pool - about one ton - or a smaller model holding half as much water, weighing half a ton?

Hire is generally arranged for a 4 week period, starting two weeks before your due date. Pools cost from £100 for 4 weeks hire. For more information, contact Eau Baby, or the Active Birth Centre which offers advice, antenatal classes and hires out pools, or Birthworks, tel. 01364 72802, and Splashdown Water Birth Services, tel. 0181 422 9308 who also hire out pools.

Where to next?

• Return to main Waterbirths page
• Join our Labour and birth discussion forum and chat to other expectant parents
• Stay healthy in pregnancy, check our guidelines