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The Birthpool

Everything you need to know about your birthpool — what it is, how it works, and why a bathtub won't cut it.

Mother with midwife and partner at birth pool

The Birthpool

Most women start here: you know you want a water birth, but you’re not sure what the pool actually is or how the whole thing works. Fair enough — it’s not something you encounter every day.

A birthpool is purpose-built for labour and birth. It’s not a paddling pool and it’s not a bathtub. The water is deep enough to cover your abdomen during contractions — that’s the bit that matters for pain relief. There are handles to grip, an inflatable floor for cushioning, and a single-use liner that makes the whole thing hygienic. You set it up when labour starts, use it, and afterwards the liner is disposed of and the pool goes back.

Two sizes: Mini and Regular. The Mini is what most families rent — plenty of room for you, fits in most living rooms. Go for the Regular if you’re over 178cm or want your partner in the water too.

What you actually get

The rental includes: pool, electric pump, hose with tap adapter, liner, and drain pump. That’s everything you need to inflate, fill, use, and empty it.

Higher-tier packages add a thermometer, sieve, floor mat, gloves, a warm cover, and support straps. Nothing needs to be sourced separately.

→ Packages and rental options

Will your floor hold it?

Yes. A full Mini pool weighs about 487kg. In over ten years and hundreds of rentals, Trust Birthpools has never had a floor problem. Concrete ground floors are no issue. Older wooden floors — put the pool near a load-bearing wall, not in the centre of the room.

Beyond the floor, you want: proximity to a tap, a warm room, and about 50cm of space around the pool for your midwife. That’s it.

→ Choosing your birth room

Do a practice run

When the pool arrives, inflate it. Don’t fill it — just pump it up and leave it for a few hours. You’re testing whether the tap adapter fits, whether the hose reaches, and whether there are any punctures from transit. Ten minutes now saves you thirty minutes of problem-solving during labour.

→ Setup guide

Water

36–37.5°C. That’s body temperature — most women can feel whether it’s right. Keep a thermometer in the pool to be sure. During the pushing stage, stay at or below 37°C — warmer than that risks raising your baby’s temperature.

A Mini fills in 30–45 minutes from a kitchen tap. The Regular takes longer and may need the boiler to recover halfway. Test your hot water supply before the due date: run the tap and time how long until it goes cold.

→ Water management

Rent a Birthpool

Guides

Types of Birthpool — How to Choose

Purpose-built birthpool vs bathtub vs paddling pool — what the differences are and why they matter.

Choosing and Preparing Your Birth Room

Which room to use, how to create the right environment, and why light, warmth, and privacy matter more than you'd think.

Renting vs Buying a Birthpool

Should you rent or buy a birthpool? A practical comparison to help you decide.

Setting Up Your Birthpool at Home

Where to put the pool, how to inflate it, when to set it up, and why a practice run matters.

Water Management — Filling, Temperature, Draining

How to fill your birthpool, keep the water at the right temperature, and drain it after the birth.

Articles

Myth: The Pool Is Hard to Set Up

Is setting up a birthpool really complicated? Here's what it actually involves.

Myth: You Need a Big House for a Birthpool

Think you don't have room for a birthpool? Here's how much space you actually need.

Myth: A Water Birth Is Messy

Won't there be water and blood everywhere? What a water birth cleanup actually looks like.

FAQ

How do I fill the pool?
Connect the hose to your tap using one of the three adapters included in your kit. Let the water run for about two minutes before directing it into the pool — this flushes the line as a Legionella precaution. With a continuous hot water supply, filling takes about 30 minutes. If your boiler runs out, fill to the available level, let it recover for 20–30 minutes, and top up. You can boil kettle water to speed things up, but only add it when there's at least 25 cm of cooler water already in the pool.
How long does setup take?
With the electric pump included in your kit, the pool inflates in about 7–10 minutes. We recommend doing a test inflation as soon as your pool arrives — check that everything is intact, try the hose and tap adapter, and familiarise yourself with the setup. That way, when labour starts, you'll know exactly what to do. Total setup and fill time on the day is typically 40–90 minutes depending on your water supply.
Where should I set up the pool?
Choose a flat, clean surface — most living rooms and bedrooms work well. You'll need a power outlet nearby for the electric pump, and ideally a warm room (22–24 °C) to help maintain water temperature. Leave about 50 cm of space around the pool so your midwife can move freely and support you from all sides. Lay a waterproof sheet or tarpaulin underneath and around the pool for floor protection.