Types of Birthpool — How to Choose

You’ve decided you want a water birth at home. Now comes a surprisingly common question: do I actually need a proper birthpool, or can I just use the bathtub?

The short answer is yes, you need a proper pool. The longer answer explains why — and once you understand it, the choice between pool sizes becomes straightforward.

Why a bathtub won’t work

A standard bathtub gives you about 30–35cm of water depth. That’s not enough. The pain relief from water immersion comes from having your abdomen covered during contractions — and that requires deeper water than a bath can provide. Bathtubs are also too narrow for the positions that help during labour: kneeling, squatting, leaning forward. You can’t move freely, and your midwife can’t work around you.

A bath is fine for comfort during early labour. But for active labour and birth, it’s not deep enough, not wide enough, and not the right shape.

Paddling pools have the same problems in a different form. They’re too shallow, they have no handles, the walls aren’t rigid enough to lean on, and they’re not designed to be lined for hygiene. A birthpool might look like an inflatable, but it’s engineered for a specific job.

What makes a purpose-built birthpool different

A proper birthpool — like the Birthpool in a Box used by Trust Birthpools — solves every problem the bathtub creates. The water is deep enough to cover your abdomen when you’re sitting or kneeling (about 58cm internal depth). The pool is wide enough to move freely and change position. There are six external handles to grip during contractions. The inflatable floor provides cushioning. And the disposable liner system means the pool never contacts the birth water directly.

The walls have three independent air chambers — bottom, middle, and top. This gives you safety redundancy (if one chamber loses pressure, the pool still holds) and allows you to adjust the wall height. The pools are made from eco-friendly materials, free from phthalates, lead, and cadmium.

Find out about renting a birth pool for your home water birth

Two sizes: Mini and Regular

Birthpool in a Box comes in two sizes, and both are available through Trust Birthpools:

Mini — 165cm × 145cm when fully inflated. This is what most families rent. It holds approximately 300–350 litres of water and fits comfortably in a standard living room. Suitable for women up to about 180cm tall. The Mini is big enough for comfortable movement during labour and birth — don’t let the name mislead you. It’s called “Mini” only in relation to the Regular.

Regular — 193cm × 165cm when fully inflated. The larger pool, holding approximately 450–500 litres. Choose the Regular if you’re taller than 178cm, if you want your partner in the water with you, or if you simply want maximum space to move. The trade-off: it takes longer to fill, uses more hot water, and needs a slightly larger floor area.

Both sizes share the same design, features, and accessories. The price is the same regardless of size — the choice is about your body and your space, not your budget.

How to decide

For most women, the Mini is the right choice. It’s roomy enough for labour and birth, it fits in more rooms, it fills faster, and it uses less hot water (which matters if your boiler is small).

Choose the Regular if any of these apply: you’re over 178cm tall, your partner wants to be in the water during labour, you have a large room and a strong hot water supply, or you simply prefer more space around you.

If you’re unsure, the Mini is the safer bet. In hundreds of rentals, Trust Birthpools has found that very few women wish they’d gone bigger — but the Mini’s faster fill time and smaller footprint are practical advantages that matter on the day.