If you're pregnant and starting to think about where you'd like to give birth, you might be wondering about a homebirth.

Perhaps the idea of labouring in your own space, with your own things around you and a little more privacy, sounds really appealing.

And then you start looking into the practicalities...

Do I need a birth pool? How much does birth pool hire cost? When should I book one? Where will it go? How do I fill it? And what happens if I change my mind?

If you're considering a homebirth in South East London or North West Kent, these are all useful things to start thinking about during pregnancy.

And if you're planning to join one of our Rise & Glow antenatal courses, there's an added bonus: we offer free birth pool hire to eligible Rise & Glow clients planning a homebirth in our local area.

More on that below.

Do you need a birth pool for a homebirth?

Nope.

You can absolutely have a homebirth without a pool.

Some people love the idea of giving birth in water, while others simply want to have the option of using warm water during labour. Some end up spending hours in the pool before getting out to give birth somewhere else.

And some people hire a pool and never get into it at all!

That's one of the lovely things about preparing for birth: you can give yourself options without having to decide exactly how your labour will unfold.

Why do people choose to use a birth pool?

Warm water can be a wonderful tool during labour.

Being immersed in warm water can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable, while the buoyancy of the water makes it easier to move and change position.

For some women, getting into the pool becomes a real turning point in labour; a chance to relax their body, focus on their breathing and feel more comfortable through contractions.

If you're considering a homebirth, it's therefore worth thinking about whether having a pool available would be useful to you, even if you don't have your heart set on a waterbirth.

How much does birth pool hire cost?

If you're arranging a private birth pool yourself, the cost will depend on the company, pool and hire period.

And the pool itself isn't necessarily the only thing you'll need to pay for.

Things you may need to budget for include:

The birth pool hire
The main cost is usually hiring the pool for the period around your due date.

A disposable pool liner
You'll generally need a new liner for each birth for hygiene reasons.

A filling hose
Some companies provide everything you need, while others require you to arrange certain equipment yourself.

A water birth thermometer
You'll need to be able to monitor the temperature of the water.

A pump
You'll need a way to fill and empty the pool, depending on the pool and your home's set-up.

Delivery and collection
Check whether these are included or charged separately.

So when you're comparing birth pool hire options, look at the overall cost and exactly what's included rather than just the headline hire price.

When should you arrange your birth pool?

You don't necessarily need to organise your birth pool at 20 weeks pregnant.

But this is a good time to start researching your options, particularly if you're fairly sure you'd like to have one available or if you'd like to get your hands on one of the limited free birth pools available locally.

Most homebirth pool hire companies work around your estimated due date and provide the pool for a window of time around it.

Exactly when it arrives will depend on the company you're using.

Thinking about it during your second trimester means you can sort out the practicalities without it becoming another last-minute job towards the end of pregnancy.

And importantly, you don't need to be completely certain that you're having a homebirth before you start researching birth pools.

It's perfectly reasonable to explore your options and see how you feel as your pregnancy progresses.

What about filling the birth pool?

This is probably one of the most practical things to consider when you're planning a homebirth with a pool.

A birth pool needs a decent amount of warm water, so you'll want to think about:

• where the pool will go

• how far it is from your bathroom or water supply

• whether your hot water system can cope

• whether you'll need an adapter for your tap

• how you'll get the water into the pool

• and how you'll empty it afterwards.

It's worth discussing all of this with your pool hire company before booking.

It's also worth considering the size of your room. A pool that looks surprisingly compact online can take up quite a lot of space once it's inflated!

What if I change my mind?

This is really important.

Hiring a birth pool doesn't commit you to a waterbirth.

You can change your mind. You might get into the pool and decide you don't like it. You might decide you'd rather labour on dry land. You might plan a homebirth and end up transferring to hospital.

Or you might discover that the pool is exactly what you needed.

Birth is unpredictable. Having options available gives you flexibility rather than locking you into a particular plan.

My own experience of using a birth pool

When I was preparing for the birth of my third baby, I planned a homebirth and hired a birth pool.

The pool itself ended up being one of the things that made the biggest difference to my experience.

Although getting it filled wasn't exactly the serene experience I'd imagined!

Our boiler had broken down a couple of weeks beforehand (typical!), so when labour started my amazing husband was running around filling the pool using kettles, saucepans and water from the shower while I worked through increasingly intense contractions.

He got it done thankfully, and eventually, I got into the pool.

The warmth and weightlessness were incredible. Instant relief!

I could move freely, lean into my husband and focus on my breathing. The pool became this little cocoon around me while my body got on with the job of giving birth.

Our daughter Apolline was born in the pool, and lifting her up out of the water was probably the best moment of my life.

The whole experience certainly wasn't perfectly organised(!) but having that option available meant I could use the birth pool when I really needed it.

If you're considering a homebirth, think about the whole picture

A birth pool is only one part of preparing for a homebirth.

You'll also want to think about:

• where you'd like to give birth and why

• your local maternity service and homebirth team

• what happens if you need to transfer to hospital

• who you'd like supporting you

• how your birth partner can help

• pain relief options

• positions and movement during labour

• how you'll create a calm environment

• and what practical preparations you'll need at home.

And this is where good birth preparation can be really helpful.

You don't need to be 100% committed to a homebirth to start learning about it.

In fact, I'd encourage you to explore your options while you still have plenty of time to change your mind.

The more you understand, the easier it is to work out what feels right for you.

Can hypnobirthing help if I'm planning a homebirth?

Absolutely!

Hypnobirthing isn't about guaranteeing a particular type of birth. It's about understanding how labour works, learning practical techniques for working with contractions and feeling confident making decisions throughout your birth.

For someone considering a homebirth, that can be particularly useful because you'll want to feel comfortable with things like movement, breathing, relaxation, positions and using your environment to support your labour.

And just as importantly, good hypnobirthing preparation should also help you feel confident if your plans change.

Because planning a homebirth doesn't mean you have to be committed to staying at home at all costs.

It's about having a plan, understanding your options and knowing what you might want if circumstances change.

Free Birth Pool Hire With Rise & Glow

If you're planning a homebirth in South East London or North West Kent, Rise & Glow clients can benefit from free birth pool hire as part of their antenatal preparation.

It's one less thing to organise and one less expense to add to your homebirth budget.

There is, however, one important limitation:

We currently only have one birth pool available.

So free birth pool hire is allocated on a first come, first served basis, according to your due date and the pool's availability.

This means that if you're considering a homebirth, it's worth letting us know that you'd like to use the pool when you book your antenatal course - rather than waiting until the final few weeks of pregnancy.

The pool is available to eligible Rise & Glow clients attending in-person hypnobirthing classes in our local South East London and North West Kent area.

What does the free birth pool hire include? 

If you're an eligible Rise & Glow client planning a homebirth in South East London or North West Kent, our free birth pool hire includes a Birth Pool in a Box Eco Pro — a sturdy, reusable birth pool designed specifically for labour and birth.

The pool is suitable for up to 40 uses, so rather than buying a single-use pool, you'll be using the same pool that has supported other Rise & Glow families before you.

Your free hire includes:

• Birth Pool in a Box Eco Pro (regular size) - see dimensions here
• Pool connectors
• Inflation pump
• Guidance on what else you'll need
• Recommendations for where to buy the additional equipment
• A video showing you how to set up the pool

You'll normally have the pool from around 37 weeks of pregnancy, giving you plenty of time for it to be ready if labour starts.

What do I need to buy?

There are a few things you'll need to provide yourself:

A disposable pool liner – you'll need a new liner for your birth.

A hose – for filling the pool with warm water.

A pump for emptying the pool – this is optional, but can make emptying the pool afterwards considerably easier.

Don't worry about figuring out which bits you need or where to buy them. I'll give you recommendations for the appropriate equipment and you'll also receive a video showing you how to set everything up.

What happens after the birth?

Once your baby has arrived and you've had a chance to enjoy those first precious days together, you'll return the pool to me.

I thoroughly clean and prepare the pool between every use, so you don't need to worry about doing a deep clean yourself.

All you'll need to do before returning it is give the pool a good wipe down with ordinary household cleaning products.

And there's one little Rise & Glow tradition I love...

Write your baby's name on the edge of the pool before you return it! 🤍

That way, the pool gradually collects the names of all the babies who have been welcomed into the world using it, and future mamas get to see just how many little people have gone before them!

Why combine birth pool hire with hypnobirthing?

If you're considering a homebirth, you'll probably spend quite a bit of time thinking about the practical side of things.

But preparing for the experience of labour is just as important.

Our hypnobirthing and antenatal classes cover how labour works, breathing and relaxation, working with contractions, birth positions, waterbirth, birth partner support, decision-making, induction and much more. 

The aim is to help you feel calm, informed and confident enough to make decisions that feel right for you.

Considering a homebirth in South East London or North West Kent?

If you're around 20–30 weeks pregnant and starting to explore your options, now is a perfect time to begin thinking about your birth preparation.

You don't need to have everything decided.

You don't even need to know whether you'll ultimately choose home, birth centre or hospital.

Start by learning about your options, talking them through with your birth partner and finding the preparation that feels right for you.

And if a homebirth and waterbirth are looking increasingly appealing, free birth pool hire could be one less thing to add to your list.

Our Rise & Glow antenatal and hypnobirthing courses are available across South East London and North West Kent, with local venues and courses designed to help you prepare for birth and those first weeks with your baby.

Take a look at our courses below, or email [email protected] if you have any questions about our Free Birth Pool Hire Service for hypnobirthing clients.