Blog, News & Events - Active Birth Pools

Water VBAC: exploring a new frontier for women’s autonomy

McKenna JA; Symon AG, (2014). Midwifery , vol 30, no 1, January 2014, e20-5. BACKGROUND: although Vaginal Birth After Caesarean section (VBAC) has been promoted successfully as one means of...

Excerpt from “The Waterbirth Book”: by Janet Balaskas

The introduction of birthing pools in the UK began in the late 1980's and is one of the greatest innovations to happen in natural childbirth. More than 150...

Re-evaluating water birth temperature guidelines

Barbara Harper explores the effects of water temperature on mothers and babies. Please click here to read the full article

Reasons to consider a water birth

Bridge to Health - Sian Smith When considering their birth plan, more and more women are choosing to include the use of water at some stage. In fact, around...

Exploring breech water birth

Maggie Banks - RM, PhD, ADN, RGON The paucity of literature on labour and birth in water with breech- presenting babies highlights a need to share (and document) empirical...

The benefits of labouring in water for overweight and obese mothers

Excerpt from article published by Big Birtha who provides information and support for bigger mums and mums to be. All women are more buoyant and supported by water,...

Clinical guidelines for a hospital water birth pool facility By Janet Balaskas

Professional advice for attending midwives 1. Must be the midwives choice to help mothers in the pool room. Two midwives present for delivery 2. Adequate education Literature Videos...

Water Safety Management

When it comes to the creation and care of water birth facilities nothing is more important. Micro-organisms breed freely in warm moist environments and must be prevented from...

Manual handling risks to midwives associated with birthing pools: literature review and incident analysis

Manual handling risks to midwives associated with birthing pools: literature review and incident analysis Prepared by the Health and Safety Executive

Groundbreaking research confirms benefits of water birth

Systematic review and meta-analysis to examine intrapartum interventions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes following immersion in water during labour and waterbirth Library of Medicine Ethel Burns 1, Claire Feeley 2, Priscilla J...

Research review backs benefits of water births for mothers and babies

11 JULY, 2022 Nursing Times BY STEVE FORD Water births provide “clear benefits” over standard care for healthy mothers and their newborns, according to UK researchers. They found...

Birth under water – Michel Odent

Michel Odent’s groundbreaking report “Birth Under Water” that was published in the Lancet in December 1983 is widely regarded as the seminal moment in time when the use...

The Benefits of Water Birth for Overweight Women

Pregnancy is a transformative journey, and every woman deserves the best possible experience. Overweight or obese women often face unique challenges during pregnancy and childbirth. However, the option...

Birthing Pool Rules: Journal of Water Safety Forum Spring 2021

Water births are largely considered safe — but are there potential microbiological risks? And what are the best recommendations to eliminate any possible dangers? Dr Jimmy Walker clarifies...

Ventilation for the birthing environment

Engineering experts Phil Nedin and Dr. Anna Coppel from Arup's advanced Technology and Research team look at the science of ventilating a birthing room. Water Birth Pools expel...

RCM welcomes research showing benefits of water birth

RCM welcomes research showing benefits of water birth 06 July 2022 RCM Maternity Services Midwifery Workforce Midwife Shortage MSWs - Maternity Support Workers Staffing Levels Waterbirth Research showing...

Giving birth in water: Low risk, high reward – study

Researchers concluded that water birth is as safe as standard intrapartum care for healthy individuals, and can reduce physical pain as well as anxiety during labor. Jerusalem Post...

How to restore your old birth pool to pristine condition

We've been supplying water birth pools to hospitals since 1989. Many of the pools we supplied in the 90's are still in active service! Below Venus Pool at...

Immersion in water for labour and birth – Cluett and Burns

Enthusiasts suggest that labouring in water and waterbirth increase maternal relaxation, reduce analgesia requirements and promote a midwifery model of care. Critics cite the risk of neonatal water...

The history of Water Birth

There have been accounts of women labouring and giving birth in water mostly amongst peoples living near a source of shallow warm water such as the South Pacific...

Michel Odent – the birthing pool test

This article first appeared in Midwifery Today, Issue 115, Autumn 2015. There are many reasons to avoid last-minute cesarean sections that are decided at a phase of real emergency....

Water Birth Pools: The economic reality and impact

I wrote this article a few years ago. It seems particularly relevant now. Recent news has highlighted the restrictive financial environment that maternity units will be expected to...

The case for the wide-spread development of water birth facilities

In light of the publication of recent articles that report the growing demand from women around the world who want to have a natural, drug free, non-medicalised birth...

Setting up a water birth facility

Hospitals in the United Kingdom have been evolving clinical guidelines for the use of water for labour and birth for over 3o years. The protocols for operational policy...

Legionella – blowing bugs out the water

In recent years, Legionella has made it back into the news, with several reported outbreaks in hospitals across the UK. As recently as June this year, Brighton and...

Aspects of the humanisation of water birth

23 October 2015: Yesie Aprillia S.Si.T, M.Ke Originally published 31 January 2011 In the development of modern obstetrics the most important thing to be performed is the humanization of...

Water Birth Guidelines and FAQs by Patricia Scott

Please note: this has been written for midwives by a midwife. If you're pregnant - it's worth scanning down the page as it's full of really beneficial information....

Water born: A new study shows that birth pools can ease the pain of labour

A new study shows that birthpools can ease the pain of labour. So why, asks Janet Balaskas, are some women denied access to them? (Observer newspaper January 28,...

Health Building Notes – Maternity Care Facilities: Department of Health

Guidance for the prevention and control of infection from water systems: Health Service Executive

Water Column – Installation

Fixing the column to the floor Remove the access panel using a hex key and place it off to one side Locate the water column in the centre...

BirthSpace: An evidence-based guide to birth environment design

BirthSpace: An evidence-based guide to birth environment design Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies

Emergency Evacuation of the Pool – Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Emergency Evacuation of the Pool - Isle of Wight NHS Trust Whilst this is an acceptable and commonly employed approach to evacuating a women from the pool we...

Water Immersion for Labour and Birth – Swansea Health Board

Water Immersion for Labour and Birth - Swansea Health Board

Use of Water for Labour and Birth Guideline – Hywel DDA University

Use of Water for Labour and Birth Guideline - Hywel DDA University

Management of Women Requesting Immersion in Water – Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust

Guideline for the Management of Women Requesting Immersion in Water for Active Labour and/or Birth Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust

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