- Our standard since 1988, the Original Birth Pool was the first in the world to be designed specifically for water birth, and the first to be installed in hospitals
- Since its creation, the Original Birth Pool has been installed in hundreds of maternity wards around the world, setting benchmark standards for the industry
- The pool has been consistently updated to incorporate new features and advances in technology
- The free-standing, ergonomic design of the pool allows midwives to attend mothers comfortably from all sides
- The pool’s wide rim enables mothers and midwives to support themselves comfortably
- Our bespoke fast flow drainage system empties pool in less than five minutes
- Handrails provide support for squatting and other upright positions
- An internal seat provides support during labour and birth and can act as a step assisting entrance and exit from the pool
- A skirting panel makes the pool more attractive, faster to clean and easier to maintain.
- The pool’s gently textured non-slip surface provides secure, stable footing for mothers
Wide Rim
Many women find that leaning forward is one of the most natural, comfortable and effective positions during labour.
The wide, flat surface around the edge of our pool allows them to do so in comfort, unlike the typical rolled narrow style rims of most baths. The leading rim of the pool is extra wide (10 cm +) to provide support for both labouring women and their attendants.
The wide rim provides secure stable support for women as they enters and exit the pool. Women can sit on the rim for assistance while moving their legs over into or out of the water.
The extra wide rim also enables us to set handrails into the profile of the pool.
Hand Rails
Handrails allow women to hold on for support in a wide variety of upright positions, and assist exit from the pool.
The handrails are set into the profile of the rim, avoiding the possibility of labouring women being injured by bumping into them.
Internal Step
The internal moulded step assists exit and entry to the pool and provides support. It can also be used as as stool for the mother to sit or squat on if she needs to be closer to the surface.
If the mother has her baby in the pool the seat is the ideal place to welcome the newborn.
The Optimal and Versatile Pools have a special ergonomic seat designed to promote a natural physiological labour. The seat is slightly tilted forward to help open the birth canal, and the wide channel at the back of the seat allows the coccyx to move freely.
Skirting Panel
One of the primary problems midwives experience when attending a water birth is lower back pain. This is caused from leaning over the pool or sitting by the pool with legs apart.
A major part of the problem is the distance between the midwife and the mother. The pool itself was the main obstacle.
To solve this problem we have designed our pool with skirting panels that slope inwards closely following the shape of the shell.
The free standing open design allows the midwife to work closely with her legs under the rim. Reports from midwives using the pools have been highly favourable.
Non Slip Surface
Gently textured surface provides secure stable footing
Technology
Active Birth Pools are manufactured to order by hand in a workshop devoted to producing the highest quality medical grade equipment.
Our designs and manufacturing processes have evolved over the past 22 years with the help of infection control experts, midwives, engineers, plumbers, architects and professional consultants.
The weight and thickness of our pools attests to the high specification of our craftsmanship. Our pools are extremely strong , with solid with shells up to 13 mm thick (as compared to 4 mm for normal baths) and an overall weight in excess of 100 kilograms.
We are so confident in the build quality of our water birth pools that we back them with a 100% Lifetime Guarantee.
Materials:
Our water birth pools are made out of Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP). GRP is a composite of polyester resin and fibrous glass. The resulting material is a light, durable and astonishingly tough construction material.
We make our pools using a single surface mould impregnated with layers of glass mat and liquid resin until the required thickness has been built up. The laminate is then extracted from the mould, and coated with a hardened gel, which increases its extreme durability.
When we design our pools, we are always keen to see how our products hold up in practical environments. We have conducted many tests in order to predict the likely performance of our products in most applications.
As part of this process, we have added special resins to our gel coat to:
- Harden the surface
- Increase chemical resistance
- Increase thermal shock resistance
- Increase bacterial resistance
Active Birth Pools are supplied fitted with a full length skirting panel. This wrap around panel closely follows the shape and contours of the pool and does not sacrifice the ergonomic design in any way. The panel greatly improves the appearance of our pools, and makes them easier to clean and maintain.
Our pools are equipped with a bespoke fast flow drainage system. This allows us to offer the pool at a lower overall height, making it easier for mothers to enter and exit the pool, and for midwives to attend the mother.
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