Questions, Answers and Tips

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions, answers and tips to support you in the lead up to your water birth. 

If there’s anything else that you would like to know, please feel free to contact us. We’re more than happy to discuss your individual questions and needs.

FAQs

When you purchase a Birth Afloat pool from us the Birth Afloat personal pool includes 1 disposable liner and the Birth Afloat professional pool comes with the pool only.

When you hire a Birth Afloat pool kit from us you receive:

  • Birth pool of your choice with liner
  • Electric air pump to inflate and deflate
  • Clean fill water hose with shower attachment
  • Water powered siphon system
  • 7 various tap connections
  • Thread seal tape
  • Thermometer
  • Debris net
  • Multi grips
  • Disposable bed pad
  • Detailed user instructions

When you’ve decided which pool kit is the one for you, you should book it as quickly as possible, as we tend book out during peak seasons (yep it’s a thing).

It’s a simple process. Go to the pool of your choice in our shop ‘for hire’ section and head through the checkout. You only need to pay the refundable deposit applicable to your pool at this time. $150 for an inflatable pool kit and $200 for a heated, wooden pool.

You will then receive an email with a link to the booking form which will provide us with all the information we need to complete your booking.

Once that is submitted and your deposit paid, the pool is yours. We will send you a booking confirmation with T&C’s for your information.

You can change or cancel your booking at any time before it is dispatched or picked up. 

 

If you’re picking up your pool kit, you’ll need to contact us the day before your hire period starts, to arrange a pickup time. So, pop the date in your diary.


If it’s being delivered to you, you will receive a tracking number so you can watch its journey and when it will be arriving.


It’s ideal to be home when it arrives, so it’s not sitting outside in view of the public.


They are sent well ahead of a courier’s usual delivery time estimate to ensure you get it on or before the day your hire period starts.


If you can’t arrange for someone to be home on those days, then please let us know a safe place where the courier can leave it and we will give the appropriate instructions for the courier when booking your delivery.

 

The hire period is for 3 weeks. Should you require the pool after that period, a daily rate of $15 for Inflatable Pool Kits and $20 for Heated Wooden Pool Kits per day is charged and deducted from your deposit at the end of your hire.
Your deposit is automatically refunded into your nominated bank account you provide upon booking, once your Pool Kit has been returned by your ‘Hire end date’ and checked for dirty, wet, missing or damaged components. If your Pool Kit is returned wet or dirty, you will be charged a $50 cleaning fee. If a component hasn’t been returned, you will be contacted to give you the opportunity to return it. If there are any components damaged, you will be charged repair or replacement costs. .
The hire fee needs to have cleared in our account prior to the ‘due date’ on your invoice.
Courier delivered Pool Kits can be dispatched up to 10 days prior to your hire period start date, depending on your location, so you’ll need to allow for the bank’s processing time. 
If you’re picking up your pool kit, please ensure funds are cleared in our account prior to pick up or you can pay on pick up. Cash or card accepted.

Things change, we understand that. You can cancel at any time up to 1 week out from your booking (7 days) providing your pool kit hasn’t been dispatched or picked up yet.

You will receive a refund less $50 which is retained as an administration fee.

If you cancel within 7 days, and the pool kit hasn’t been dispatched, we take 50% of your deposit to cover our costs. 

Once you pick up your pool kit or it is dispatched to you, there is no refund on the hire cost whether you end up using it or not.

Firstly it will depend on where you are birthing. If you’re birthing at home and can pick up from Ocean Shores, NSW, then you have the choice of hiring a Birth Afloat heated wooden pool or a ‘Pool In A Box’ inflatable birth pool kit, both available in two different sizes. 


The wooden pools are most popular for home births. 
If you are birthing in a birthing centre or hospital, an inflatable pool would be best suited for you. These can be hired or purchased. 


The size you choose will depend on the space you have to set up your pool and your hot water system.
For home births, the heated wooden pools are definitely the most favoured because of the convenience of saving and heating the water, as you only need to fill it once.
For convenience of a take away Birth Pool, the inflatable pools are the best, as they come in a Kit that has everything packed up neatly for wherever you choose to birth.
They fit in one seat space in a car or can be couriered to most areas. Exceptions apply.
This is entirely up to you so you feel comfortable with when you’d like it set up and be ready to go.
Most women choose from 10 days 2 weeks before their due date to have it set up and ready to go, but the date you request can be changed at any time.

We generally try to have your pool ready about 1 week before you’ve requested. This will depend on availability.


I suggest you leave ample time to set it up, especially if you’re using a Heated Wooden Pool, as they take a little more setting up. It is recommended to set it up, if you have the space, as soon as you receive it, then leave it covered with a double bed fitted sheet to keep dust off it. This is not included in the Kit.

We can deliver hired Inflatable Pool Kits to many areas in Australia, but not all. 
It’s always best to check in with us first to ensure we can deliver to your area.


For a quote on how much it will cost to have it delivered and picked up from you, send us your full address and we’ll let you know.

Please allow ample time to place order and have it delivered. We do book out and couriers can be unpredictable when they’re busy so leaving more than enough time is crucial to ensure you get your pool kit or order on time.


Inflatable Pool Kits can be picked up from either:


5 Bobra Glen, Ocean Shores, NSW, 2483 
or
47 Sayers St, Lawson, NSW, 2783

The Wooden Pool Kits aren’t suitable to be delivered by couriers, so they can be picked up from:

5 Bobra Glen, Ocean Shores, NSW, 2483

wooden pool kits can be delivered (or picked up) within Byron Shire for a delivery fee of $60 each way.

We deliver purchased pools and accessories to anywhere in Australia and Worldwide.
We have several payment options available. They will appear on your invoice and booking process.
We offer, credit card, direct debit, Paypal, Afterpay and cash payment options.


Please use your full name as the reference on all payment methods.

Yes, all our Kits come to you sterilised to hospital grade standards.
We take great pride in ensuring every Pool Kit is thoroughly checked, tested, cleaned and sterilised in between every client, so you can be assured it is in perfect condition for your birth and your baby.
There are 7 components to a Wooden Pool Kit that require more space than an Inflatable Pool Kit, which fits into one car seat space of any car.
 The large Wooden Pool requires a wagon, ute, van or trailer.


The sides are 1.5 metres X 60cm and require a back seat to be put down to fit in most cars.
The small Wooden Pool requires less space and can fit into smaller vehicles.
The sides are 1.3 metres X 60cm.


If you’re not sure it’s always best to check in with us first.
Yes, absolutely. We fully understand the importance of having water at your birth and we want it to go as smoothly as possible for you. If you have any questions or problems at any time while you have your pool kit, you can call, text or email us. We’re here and ready to support you.


Maybe things are happening in a hurry, and someone might need some support with setting up the pool in time. If we are availble, we are happy to talk you/them through it over the phone and help calm the nerves if necessary.


Our beautiful wooden pools take a little more set up than the inflatable pools, but well worth the effort.


Here are a few tips to make sure it all goes smoothly.


1. Firstly, read the included instructions carefully as it will explain how to set it up, use it and pack it up as easily and efficiently as possible.


2. It’s a good idea to set it up before labour sets in, so you can take your time and get it right.


3. Cover it with a sheet while waiting for bub’s arrival, to keep dust off it.

Tips and troubleshooting

You can join both of our hoses together to extend the length of the inlet hoses. A hose to hose joiner is included in your connections provided.
Our heating unit is a big drain on any house. Each element is 240 volts and 2400 watts and must not be put through a power board or double adapter. They each need their own outlet in the wall.
Should they trip the electricity on your house, this is a safety measure, and you may need to turn off some appliances or run one element from a different circuit in the house, using a good quality extension lead. Usually, the other side of the house will be on another circuit.
Our water powered siphon systems are very effective when used properly. Once the green hose is attached to the water source, the pump submerged and the end of the blue corrugated hose is at the drainage point, turn the tap on with enough pressure to start the siphoning system.

If it doesn’t start, increase the pressure of the water going through it, as counterproductive as that may seem.
Ensure both the green hose and blue hose are connected properly and there is no air escaping around the white collar. This will affect it’s efficiency. If necessary, use thread seal tape to prevent any air escaping.