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Waterbirth Services 

We are agents for Splashdown Waterbirth Services Ltd.

Splashdown works with many of the world's leading childbirth and water birth experts, midwives and obstetricians and has over fifteen years experience providing pools to several thousands of women throughout the UK and. Pools can be collected from Saffron Walden free of charge and can be delivered to you for a small fee. A full set up and dismantling service is available on request.
Waterbirth Advice, Information and Workshops

As a mother of 2 waterbirth babies I am happy to help you with any questions you may have on any aspect of waterbirth, I also have an extensive library of waterbirth books and DVDs which are available to hire for a small fee and deposit. I run periodic waterbirth workshops which will discuss many aspects of waterbirth, both those at home and in hospital and will also feature the chance to see an assembled birthing pool and often the chance to chat with a local midwife, Doula or other relevant professional (including the opportunity to chat with a home waterbirth dad!). I charge a minimal fee of £10 for attending these workshops. If you are interested in discussing any aspect of waterbirth or would like to attend the next workshop please telephone Sarah on  0845 094 0075
 Waterbirth Pool Hire

Splashdown pools are provided with everything you could possibly need to make your water birth as hygienic, safe and comfortable as possible. All our pools have a thick foam base and our oval and round pools are also provided with padding for the walls and rim.

Our prices are very reasonable so they are affordable for most parents and there are no hidden or unnecessary charges.  You will be refunded £30 if you are unable to use the pool and a pro-rata refund will be given for each full week the pool is returned provided we can rehire.  Should your baby arrive before you have taken the pool, a full refund will be given (minus deposit).  

Pools are usually hired for two weeks either side of your due date but there is no extra cost if you collect your pool earlier (if it is available) and, if your baby does not arrive within the hire period, there are no extra charges.  If your baby is overdue, please let us know as one of the midwives or obstetricians who work with us will be able to offer advice on natural induction, therefore hopefully avoiding hospital induction.

Our pools are cleaned and supplied with a non-toxic sanitizer recommended by a hospital microbiologist and there has never been any known infection connected with any of our pools in over fifteen years.

Pool Hire Prices:

On the recommendation of Britain’s leading midwives, we offer a hire period of four weeks, i.e. usually two weeks either side of your due date. If a pool is available earlier than this, you may take it at no extra charge. We will not retrieve your pool until after your baby is born. If you need the pool for more than four weeks, let us know, there is no extra cost!!!

For further details of the pools available please see the main Splashdown website.

1) THE LUXURY OVAL AND ROUND FULLY PADDED POOL PACKAGE
£245 Four Week Hire Period

The oval rigid pool is our largest pool and comprises four fibreglass panels, which simply bolt together and padding for the entire pool. It is 5 ft 5 ins (1.6m) by 4 ft (1.2m) and 25.5 ins (0.6m) deep with a capacity of 167 gallons (750 litres), weighing 0.75 metric tonnes when full. Load 100 lb. per square foot evenly distributed.

This is acceptable for houses, flats or hospitals, which are designed to take concentrated floor loads of 2 to 4 times this amount – equivalent to the weight of 12 people.

The round rigid pool is 5 ft (1.5m) in diameter, 26 ins (0.6m) deep and similar in construction to the oval pool. It has capacity of 222 gallons (1000 litres), weighing one metric tonne when full and has a load of 100 lb. Per square foot evenly distributed – equivalent to the weight of 16 people.

The £245 package includes:

2) THE BASIC OVAL AND ROUND POOL PACKAGE
£195 Four Week Hire Period

The £195 package includes: 

3) INFLATABLE POOL PACKAGE
£165 Four Week Hire Period

Not to be confused with the inferior cheap “paddling” pools available to purchase (for important information regarding the use of these please see: www.waterbirth.co.uk and www.waterbirth.org

Splashdown’s inflatable pool was designed by Jayn Lee-Miller and a leading midwife, this pool is made of life raft material and is strong enough to be lent against with the whole body. The inflatable pool is used at The Edgware Birth Centre where most of the UK's water births take place. The dimensions are 4 ft 3 ins (1.3m) outer diameter, 3 ft 9 ins (1.1m) inner diameter, 28 ins (0.7m) deep with a capacity of 133 gallons (600 litres), weighing 0.6 metric tonnes when full. This pool is deep enough to allow the labouring mother mobility and comfort yet small enough for her birth attendants to easily reach her, Load 100 lb. per square foot evenly distributed – equivalent to the weight of 8 people. The pool inflates in around 5minutes and is very popular due to it’s compact nature.

Please note our equipment is thoroughly cleaned and prepared for each customer. Please note the sum of £58.75 is usually non-refundable in the event of cancellation. When you collect your pool we ask for a £50 security deposit cheque, which is not cashed but handed back to you on return of the equipment.


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