If you decide to have a water birth at home, you will require:

• a pool that can be filled with water deep enough to cover your belly but not your neck
• a reliable supply of hot water to keep the pool water at a safe and comfortable temperature
• space around the pool so your midwife can reach you and your baby from different angles
• a floor able to support the weight of a full pool of water

Home bathtubs are generally not recommendedHome bathtubs are not recommended for waterbirth because it is difficult to ensure the tub and the water are clean and safe to give birth in.  For more information on how to safely set up and keep your birth pool clean throughout your labour and birth, consult the Arizona Department of Health Services Guidelines for Water Immersion and Water Birth. for water birth.  You can rent or buy a portable pool made especially for water birth. These should always come with a special single-use disposable liner to help protect you and your baby from any germs that might be on the pool surface.

Your midwife can provide you with information about:

• what to look for in a pool,
• where to buy or rent a pool, and
• how to minimize the risk of infection and plan for a safe water birth at home.

For more information on how to safely set up and keep your birth pool clean throughout your labour and birth, consult the Arizona Department of Health Services Guidelines for Water Immersion and Water Birth.