The simple act of mothers entering the pool is one of the most misunderstood aspects of water birth practice.
Entering a water birth pool should never be a risk or feel like a challenge. For mothers in strong labour who are often tired and can be unsteady on their feet ease of access is essential.
All women no matter what their shape or size will find it exceptionally easy to get into our pools. Mothers don’t even think about it – they move instinctively and naturally lower themselves into the water.
Midwives are safeguarded from the risk associated with physically supporting mothers.
We’ve come up with a unique solution that makes entering our pools simple and safe
We’ve met with manual handling and safety experts and deeply considered the design our pools with this in mind.
As a result – all women, regardless of their size, shape or fitness level enter our pools safely with ease and minimal need for assistance.
At the heart of this solution is our signature extra-wide rim, which allows mothers to simply sit down, swivel and gently lower themselves into the water, a natural, fluid motion that eliminates the need for climbing or awkward manoeuvres.
Sit and Swivel – The Natural Way to Enter the Pool
With 3 points of contact at all times mothers remain grounded as they sit on the rim and swivel into the pool.
Midwives are safeguarded from the challenges and risks associated with multi-step units, as they do not need to support mothers climbing to get into the pool in wet room conditions.
A Simple Step Unit Makes all the Difference
The single step unit gives mothers a crucial height advantage, lowering the effective pool rim to about 60 cm, akin to a standard bathtub – so women of all shapes and sizes find entering instinctive and effortless.
Together with the extra‑wide rim, the step unit supports a natural, grounded transition into the water.
Mothers simply step on, swivel around and sit safely, without ever needing to climb, maintaining three points of contact at all times.
- This design not only protects mothers from unnecessary risk, but also safeguards midwives by reducing the need for physical assistance during entry and exit.
- Unlike bulky, cumbersome multi-step units found with other water birth pools, the compact single step never obstructs the midwife’s free movement around the pool.
- By eliminating this obstruction, it also removes the trip hazard such larger step units often create- ensuring a safer, more fluid working environment for the entire birth team.
To put this in perspective:
The average height of our pools is 75cm – about the same height as a desk or dining table.
Our 15cm high single step makes the height of the pool 60cm – the same height as an ordinary bathtub.
Warning: Risks associated with Multi-Step Units
There is a wide-spread misunderstanding that multi-step units that are equipped handrails are necessary for mothers to use for getting in and out of water birth pools.
Most birth pool companies offer big multi-step units with handrails for mothers to get in and out of their pools.
The design of their water birth pools with narrow rims and higher sides necessitates them.
Multi-step units are dangerous and in the case of Active Birth Pools unnecessary
Health and Safety experts advise against multi-step units as they present unacceptable safety risks.
They say that,
“The thought of wet room conditions with mothers in strong labour climbing up a multi-step unit, stepping over a rim and down onto a submerged plinth is abhorrent.
When not in use these these bulky step units take up too much space, obstruct movement around the pool and are present a trip hazard.”
Water safety and infection control risks you should know about before choosing a birth pool
