One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a water birth pool is the midwives experience and their ability to do to the best of their ability.
Midwives use the pools on an ongoing basis and need to be safeguarded from risk, supported and made comfortable.
The basis for our unique design approach stems from work we did with a health service ergonomist in 1995 in an effort to improve the design of our pools to make them safer, more comfortable and easier for midwives to use.
The curvaceous organic forms, extra-wide rounded rims and deeply contoured surrounds are defining features that have a specific purpose and set our water birth pools apart from the rest.
In this photo you can plainly see how comfortable and well supported the midwife is.
She is sitting naturally, grounded in comfort with her legs tucked well under the pool and her arms resting gently on the extra-wide rim.
The rim is not obstructed with taps and fittings which enables midwives to easily move around the pool.
By comparison when you look at the vast majority of water birth pools on the market you see a very different picture.
The solid, vertical surround and sharp, narrow rim of these pools make it impossible for midwives to sit in comfort and actually puts them at risk.
Midwives have to splay their legs apart and bend forward to get close to the mother.
Not only is this very uncomfortable but, the strain can lead to back ache, tension in the neck and shoulders and time off work.
As a result the ability of midwives to do their jobs is compromised, results and job satisfaction are diminished.
The solid sides and high narrow rims of these birthing pools not only affect the midwife but adversely impact the ability of the partner to provide support and comfort.
The lack of comfort and support is apparent.
Even with provision of a stool, the partner cannot get his feet under the rim to sit in comfort while supporting the mother.
When compared to the extra-wide rim of our water birth pools the narrow rim of this birth pool does not provide support and is uncomfortable to lean on.
The pictures below tells a very different story…
Improving Birthing Pool Design: Case Study 18 – Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors
If you’re looking for a water birth pool we’re uniquely qualified to be of service
