Grounded in evidence and informed by experience, our blog explores the use of water for labour and birth and showcases our award-wining range of water birth pools
Dear Buyer, Midwife, Procurement Lead, Architect, Planner or Project Manager, Choosing a water birth pool is an important decision. It should never be based on appearance or price...
A practical guide for hospitals, birth centres, architects and maternity teams planning a safer, more durable and better-performing birthing environment. When planning a new maternity unit or upgrading...
Safety begins with design When hospitals create or refurbish water birth facilities, safety must be designed in from the outset. A birth pool is not simply a vessel...
Why the inside of a birth pool matters A water birth pool is not simply a container for warm water. In a maternity setting, it becomes part of...
Why Ficore® Composite Is the Better Material for Hospital Water Birth Pools Why the material matters A water birth pool is not simply a large bath. In a...
A water birth pool is not simply a vessel for warm water. In a maternity unit it becomes part of the care environment, part of the mother’s support...
A comprehensive, evidence-based introduction for parents, midwives and maternity teams Updated June 2026 For many people, the idea of labouring or giving birth in water still feels unfamiliar....
A birth pool is a workplace A water birth pool is not simply a vessel for warm water. In a maternity unit it becomes part of the midwife's...
(CAD plans available upon request) Wall Mounted Active II Water Birth Pool Data Sheet [marmoset id="http://activebirthpools.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Active-II-Water-Birth-Pool-opt-1.mview" autoStart="1" nui="1" ] Use your cursor to move the model around Freestanding...
Why practical clinical access, room efficiency and unobstructed working space matter more than the appearance of 360-degree access. A freestanding pool does not automatically provide better access. Water...
Why water birth pools are a practical investment in safer, more efficient maternity care Maternity services are under pressure to provide safer, more personalised care while making the...
One of the clearest lessons from active birth is that labour works best when the mother is able to respond to her body. Movement, upright posture, rest, support...
The keyword that defines our approach to design is 'Active'. If we look up the definition of 'Active Birth' we get, "Childbirth during which the mother is encouraged...
In the ever-evolving landscape of maternity care, hospitals are continually seeking innovative ways to enhance the birthing experience for expectant mothers. One such innovation gaining momentum is the...
We are pleased to announce that the Active II/360 Water Birth Pool with bespoke Water Column has just been announced as a winner in the prestigious Design MasterPrize...
In 1995 we worked with a health service ergonomist and the midwives from Nottingham University Hospital to explore ways in which our water birth pools could be improved...
The Active Birth Pool has been recognised at the prestigious Building Better Healthcare Awards, receiving a “Highly Commended” accolade in the category for Best Internal Building Product. Judges...
A practical buyer’s guide for maternity units, procurement teams, architects, estates departments and healthcare planners. A hospital water birth pool should be selected as part of the complete...
All women no matter what their shape or size will find it exceptionally easy to get into our water birth pools. Mothers don't even think about it -...
This short video shows how an Active Birth Pool gives mothers the space and freedom to move naturally throughout labour and birth. Warm water allows mothers to explore...
As there is no acceptable risk of mothers hitting their heads on protruding spouts we designed the Water Channel to safeguard them by making it impossible for them...
Judges at the prestigious European Design Awards awarded first prize to the Active II/360 Water Birth Pool in the Healthcare: Safety Design Category. European Product Design Award (ePDA)...
I first heard this idea from Michel Odent at the Active Birth Centre in London in the late 1980s. It stayed with me because it made immediate, instinctive...
A birth pool is part of the working environment Manual handling risk in water birth pools should never be treated as an afterthought. In a maternity unit, a...
Purchasing a water birth pool is a significant responsibility. The decision should never be based on appearance, price or catalogue features alone. In a maternity unit, a birth...
A practical guide for maternity teams, estates departments, infection-prevention specialists, Water Safety Groups, designers and contractors Core message: A birth pool should be treated as part of the...
The evacuation a collapsed woman is potentially hazardous and poses risk of injury to mother and midwife. If the need for an emergency evacuation arises the midwife should:...
“Even a recent innovation, the birth pool, does not always permit free movement.” — Sheila Kitzinger OBE Sheila Kitzinger was one of the most influential voices in modern...
The history of water birth and the development of specialised water birth pools is a remarkable story of innovation and transformation in childbirth practices, driven by the insights...
Active Birth Pools, established in 1987, has played a pioneering role in the use of water for labour and birth. Their values and approach can be comprehensively understood...
Childbirth is a transformative experience, and every expectant mother deserves the opportunity to have a comfortable and empowering birthing experience. For plus-size women, the challenges of labour and...
A calm, soothing atmosphere can help reduce stress and anxiety, allowing mothers to relax more deeply and support the natural flow of physiological labour. By integrating multi-colour chromotherapy...
In the world of industrial design, few principles have stood the test of time like those set forth by Dieter Rams. Among his “Ten Principles of Good Design,”...
Hospitals in the United Kingdom began allowing women to use specially designed pools of water for labour and birth during the 1980's. The wide-spread popularity and acceptance of...
These three short videos take just ten minutes to watch. They explain the thinking, engineering and clinical insight behind Active Birth Pools. In that time you’ll understand why...
