We’ve spent decades observing the way that mothers move in our pools and considered how to best serve their needs.
Our passion for excellence has led us to study ergonomic design theory and to work closely with mothers, midwives, health and safety and manual handling experts.
This has enabled us to design water birth pools that are incredibly comfortable, practical and easy-to-use.
Mothers simply tell us that, ‘they love our pools’.
They are actively encouraged to move freely and naturally.
They instinctively interact with the pool and find comfort and support wherever they are.
They benefit from complete freedom of movement and unparalleled comfort and therefore have better births.
Freedom of movement combined with the relaxing effects of warm water and release of oxytocin significantly increases the possibility of physiological labour and birth.
Active Birth Pools provide optimum support for mothers in the range of upright positions natural to labour and birth.
The can hold onto the recessed handgrips or use the wrap around, bullnose-shape rim for support as the they move around the pool to explore and find the most beneficial upright positions.
Features such as the Labour Support Seat, Safety Seat and Lumbar Support create additional possibilities for mothers to explore and find the most comfortable and beneficial positions.
Ficore composite, the extra-ordinary material that we use to fabricate our pools has a highly polished, ultra-smooth finish that is less slippery, tactile and warm-to-the-touch.
This makes our pools more appealing physically and approachable psychologically which helps mothers relax and feel more at ease.
The unique properties of Ficore combine with the curvaceous forms and design elements to make Active Birth Pools the most comfortable water birth pools on the market.
The design of our pools allows partners to sit in comfort and get really close to the mother.
The intimacy that couples experience with our pools is unique. No other pools allow partners to be so close without actually getting in the water.
The support thats provided both physically and emotionally has many benefits, and is key to helping mothers cope with pain and progress to experiencing physiological labour and natural birth.
All women no matter what their shape or size will find it exceptionally easy to get into our pools.
The distinctive extra-wide, bull-nosed shaped rim is relatively low making it perfect for mothers to sit on and gently swivel into the water.
Mothers don’t even think about it – they move instinctively and naturally lower themselves into the water.
There is no climbing – mothers are grounded at all times and safeguarded from risk.
When comparing Active Birth Pools with others on the market we refer to an excerpt from ‘The Clock, the Bed, the Chair’, an article that childbirth author and activist Sheila Kitzinger published in 2003:
“Even a recent innovation, the birth pool, does not always permit free movement.
In theory, a pool allows a woman, supported by water, to move unencumbered. Or so it might be thought.
Though published research often refers to mobility as an advantage of being in a pool, some pools are elaborate constructions with seats, handgrips and foot-rests, and movement in them is restricted.”
The pool dictates the position the mother should be in by placing her in a semi-recumbent posture with hand holds and foot rests to fix the arms and legs.
Mothers are positioned in the classic lying back with legs wide-open position but happen to be immersed in water.
The seats in these water birth pools are typically tilted backwards.
The mother is immobilised in a position with her pelvis tilted upwards resulting in her pelvic outlet being up to 30% smaller.
This puts pressure on the sacrum which flexes upward, into a curved position that restricts the diameter of the pelvic outlet inhibiting the baby’s descent.
The birth canal is placed in an “uphill” orientation, forcing the mother to push upward against gravity to give birth to her baby.
These seats and moulded fittings greatly reduce the space the mother has to move in and restricts her ability to use the positions most beneficial.
The benefits of labouring in water are largely negated.
The possibility of a physiological labour and natural birth is greatly reduced.”
Sheila Kitzinger MBE (29 March 1929 – 11 April 2015) was a British natural childbirth activist and author on childbirth and pregnancy.
She wrote more than 20 books and had a worldwide reputation as a passionate and committed advocate for change.
Sheila was a big fan Active Birth Pools – in fact her granddaughter was born at home in one of our water birth pools!
