How to Rent a Birth Pool

Birth in a Pool

Water birth is becoming extremely popular in the United States. Many hospitals are welcoming mothers who want this option and employing doctors who agree to help them. If you decide that you want water birth as an option, you will have to rent a birth pool. Birth pools are fairly inexpensive and easy to find. Follow the steps below to rent a birth pool and make your baby's transition from womb to water a less painful one.

Things You'll Need

• Internet
• List of doulas, childbirth educators in your community

Instructions

1. Do your research on the different types of birth pools available. Some of them have built-in heaters and consist of hard plastic, while others are soft and flexible. They vary in cost.

2. Check with the hospital where you will be delivering. Some hospitals have birth pools built into the rooms and you don't need to purchase one at an extra cost. Hospitals may also have a list of trusted people who frequently rent birth pools to their water birth clients.

3. Check with the local childbirth educators and doulas in your community. Many of them also rent out birth pools as an addition to their birth services. If you rent a birth pool from a childbirth educator or doula, review the contract carefully so that you know who is responsible for setting it up, taking it down and getting it back to the owner.

4. If you can't find a local source, check online. There are many online businesses that rent and sell birth pools.

5. If you are giving birth at home or in a birth center you may be able to purchase a child's swimming pool from a local store. Check with your provider to see if there are any stipulations regarding which pool you should select.

6. Be prepared to spend from $50 to $300 on a birth pool. If you rent one with an inner heater, such as the AquaDoula, you will pay more. If your provider is fine with a child's pool, you'll pay less. Make sure you ask your provider if she requires any additional accessories.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check with your provider first to make sure he delivers via water birth. Some providers are not comfortable with this method of birthing and renting a birth pool would be wasting your money if your provider refuses.

• If your provider agrees to deliver you in water, ask her which birth pool you should rent. Many of them have a particular tub that they are comfortable using.

• Search online, via discussion boards and groups, for women who have used birth pools and see which one they most recommended for comfort and retaining heat.

• Do not rent or purchase a birth pool that is damaged in any way.

• Make sure that there is a refund policy in place if you rent from a doula or educator in case you cannot use the tub for some reason such as pregnancy complications or you arrive at the hospital too late.

Resources

• Waterbirth International