Water babies

If progress is slow and labour stops

Or if the baby shows signs of being tired – there’s time to go to hospital for help. The important thing is to have plenty of towels at hand, to dry off, and have a bag ready ‘just in case’.

How do I go about arranging a waterbirth?

Most maternity units have a pool installed in the labour ward, or a portable one that can be used at home. To find out about the facilities in your area, you need to contact the Head of Midwifery or a Supervisor of Midwives in your local hospital.

If you chose a home birth, you may have to hire your own pool and set it up.

A number of places hire pools out. The Active Birth Centre and Splashdown are the best known. Some companies charge per week (£45), which can be extended on a daily basis. Others charge for a four-week period, in which case it works out at about £150. Some hospitals have portable pools and will bring them to your home. They generally charge for the pool liner, which is around £25. Whatever else, be sure to check that the floor of the room can take the weight of 160 gallons of water, otherwise the birth could be a rough ride.