The
versatile oval shape of the Deluxe Pool offers the labouring woman the
possibility of lying along the length or using the width to press her
feet firmly against the side.
The head of the pool is tapered
and sloped at an angle of 55° to provide comfort and support. The
foot of the pool is vertical to enable the mother to squat or kneel.
Maximum space
has been provided for freedom of movement during active childbirth
to give the mother the full benefits of the buoyancy of the water.
The rim of the pool is extra
wide (6 inches) at the front for comfort when leaning over. There are
6 grab rails recessed into the rim for use when squatting and to assist
entry and exit.
The pool is designed
to be a freestanding unit that does not require boxing in. The absence
of a surround creates a space for the midwives legs to be placed under
the pool when attending a birth.
This feature is
an important improvement in pool design for midwives. It helps
to reduce the possibility of lower back tension caused by leaning over
the pool.
The integral moulded step assists
access and egress 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.
The depth of the pool allows
the mother to be deeply immersed and yet accessible to the midwife.
The Deluxe Pool
is fabricated from a high impact weatherable ABS plastic. I have carefully
chosen this material rather than GRP fibreglass for the shell.
Because, its harder surface
is less brittle. Its more resistant to bacteria and not affected
by the repeated use of sterilising agents.
The material has a lightly textured, slip resistant internal finish and a smooth, clean external finish.
The pool is mounted on a steel frame with adjustable feet and anchor points.
The pool is 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 the pool
as well as making it easier to clean and maintain.
As the panels will
be factory fitted installation will be easier and less costly. The pool
needs no building in. It will need to be secured to the floor. There are
anchor points on the steel frame for bolting the pool to the floor.
The Deluxe Pool
is fitted with a drain designed to help lower the overall height of the
pool. The drain is located at the back of the pool.
Its fixed at a slight
angle off the horizontal and operated by a rod which controls a gate valve.
For installation the pipe work will ideally need to be taken through the
floor to the stack.
If it is not possible to install
the pool in this way the pool can be raised for normal drainage connections
to the wall behind the pool.
The Deluxe Pool
is being successfully used in over 150 NHS and private maternity units
throughout the U.K. and abroad. |