‘Birth Day’ Framed Birth Pool
“I gave birth to my daughter in the framed pool, I loved the depth and space in the pool to enable me to move into positions that were comfortable. The top rails being solid were great to hold or rest on as I changed positions, highly recommend this pool.”
– Fiona
Reliability, depth and value – New Zealand designed and made, this pool features a structured frame – perfect if you like something harder to lean on; larger size to accommodate two people in the pool at once (also perfect for taller people); and nothing to inflate so nothing to worry about getting punctured or deflating. You can also place pillows, blankets, pool noodles, etc. between the pool and the liner to create comfy spots to lean or sit on.
The required single-use birth pool liner is $40.00 and is included in the hire price. This, and the refundable bond ($50.00), are automatically added to your cart. The birth pool must be cleaned (as per provided instructions) before being returned.
F.A.Q.
What's included with birth pool hire?
- ‘Birth Day’ Framed Pool
- New Zealand made generic single-use birth pool liner – more information
- 10m food grade filling hose (IMPORTANT: This hose is for filling with clean water only!)
- Tap adapters
- Full instructions (via email – if you need printed instructions, please let the volunteer birth pool coordinator know)
What else will I need
Whilst the tap adapters fit most taps, we cannot guarantee that the fittings will definitely connect to your tap – please test the tap adapters after you pick up the pools so you have plenty of time to get an alternate adapter if the supplied ones don’t work. You will also need something to empty the pool. The easiest method is to use a garden hose and syphon the water out, but a bucket also works in a pinch.
Also check out the What you need for home water birth article.
Are there any discounts I can get or can I pay the pool off?
As a non-profit charity, we want birth pools to be as accessible to everyone as possible. An automatic $50 discount is available to Community Services Card (CSC) holders (this is applied during checkout after you enter CSC details). A payment plan can also be arranged (please contact the birth pool coordinator before booking). If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact us and we will work something out for you – we want to make sure everyone who wants a pool, gets one!
Can you courier the pool to me?
Pools are difficult for us to courier so, most of the time, they must be picked up and dropped back. If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot get a pool any other way, please contact us with your circumstances and we will do our best to work something out for you.
The booking calendar won't let me book
Sometimes the calendar gets cached incorrectly and shows the pool as available when it’s not. You may get an error like, “This block cannot be booked.”
If that’s the case, go one month past your booking start date and then back again. For example, if a booking was for January 10, you would click or tap the > arrow to go to February, and then < arrow to go back to January.
This forces the calendar to refresh itself and show the correct availability. If that still doesn’t work, please contact the volunteer pool coordinator to check availability and arrange a manual booking if the pool is indeed available.
If your booking start date is too close to another booking, it will also say, “This block cannot be booked.” Unfortunately this means the pool is unavailable. The calendar will look something like this if that is the case:
This pool isn't available, are there any other similar pools?
Unfortunately we only have one of these pools and there’s no other structured equivalents. The next best option to this pool would be the La Bassine Maxi Professional which is a similarly large pool.
Dimensions
Shape: Rounded hexagon
Dimensions: 120cm side to side (145cm corner to corner) x 65cm deep
Volume of water: 675L at 80% full
This pool is suited to taller than average people or those who wish to have someone in the pool with them.
Instructions
Low resolution PDF (fast download): Birth-Day-Framed-Pool-Instructions-.pdf
High resolution PDF (download suitable for printing or high zoom): Birth-Day-Framed-Pool-Instructions.pdf
Google Doc (online): View online
Hire contract
We get that reading lengthy contracts is annoying but it’s really important that you read all of it. If you don’t you could end up with a bill for $400 or more! Worse is that you could end up making someone or their baby sick. So please, please make sure you read ALL of this contract! If you need help understanding this contract, please contact the volunteer birth pool coordinator to set up a phone call or meeting to go through the contract with you.
By hiring a birth pool from Auckland Home Birth Association you agree that:
- You, the hirer, WILL INDEED read this ENTIRE contract carefully. You accept that failing to do so may result in cancellation of your hire or replacement of a pool AT YOUR EXPENSE (these pools can cost $400-$800+!)
- Auckland Home Birth Association (AHBA) (also known as Auckland HomeBirth Community or AHBC) owns the birth pool, hose, air pumps and any other accessories, equipment and incidentals supplied with the pool (except the single-use birth pool liner and any free gifts included with hire which are yours to keep).
- You will pay:
- The total amount of pool hire: hire fee + bond + single use liner cost, unless a prior discount has been arranged with the birth pool hire volunteer coordinator; and within 7 days of booking unless a prior arrangement has been made.
- Any cost associated with repair or replacement of the birth pool and accessories/equipment due to damage incurred during hire and/or whilst the pool and supplied accessories/equipment is in the your care/possession that is in excess of the bond (in which case the bond will not be refunded).
- Any cost associated with cleaning of the birth pool and accessories/equipment due to contamination during hire and/or whilst the pool and supplied accessories/equipment is in your care/possession or due to insufficient cleaning before returning the pool that is in excess of the bond (in which case the bond will not be refunded).
- It is extremely important that the single-use birth pool liner is used at all times! This liner is yours to keep. Do not return a used liner!
- If the single-use birth pool liner is not used, the bond will not be refunded (due to extra cleaning required) and any additional cleaning costs incurred must be paid by you (see 3.c.).
- Returning a used liner will result in some or all of the bond being retained for the increased cleaning required and disposal of the used liner.
- The birth pool and supplied accessories/equipment will be collected from the birth pool coordinator by arrangement (see the Pool Pickup & Return tab).
- It is very important that the supplied instructions on the use and care of the birth pool and accessories/equipment are followed at all times! Any and all people who use the pool or help with its use must also follow these instructions!
- Failure to follow instructions can cause damage to the pool and/or equipment and will result in loss of bond and additional cost if over and above the value of the bond (up to including the full cost of replacing the pool).
- It is your responsibility to ensure that everyone who handles the pool whether that’s setting the pool up, filling the pool or using it, reads the instructions! This includes spouses, partners, doulas, birth support people, family, friends, helpers, etc.
- The birth pool and supplied accessories/equipment (but not the single-use birth pool liner) will be returned to the pool hire volunteer coordinator ASAP and, at most, within 7 days after birth.
- AHBA reserves the right to request return of the birth pool and accessories/equipment sooner than 7 days after birth in times of high demand to ensure availability to others.
- The birth pool and all accessories/equipment supplied (except the single-use birth pool liner) MUST be well cleaned and well dried as according to the supplied cleaning instructions, and returned in the same tidy manner in which they were collected. This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! If the pool or accessories are returned untidy or uncleaned, some or all of the bond cannot be refunded due to the extra time and costs required in cleaning. If any cleaning is needed, it’s $25 per hour (minimum one hour) required to clean, deducted from the bond.
- If any negligent contamination or damage has occurred where the cost of cleaning, repair or replacement is in excess of the bond, you will be required to pay the difference within a timely manner.
- Upon return of the undamaged, cleaned and dried birth pool and accessories/equipment (but not the single-use birth pool liner) AHBA will refund the bond to your nominated bank account.
- No refund of the hire fee can be given after the pool has been collected, even if the pool is not used, except under certain conditions (such as financial hardship). Please enquire if you think you qualify for a hire fee refund.
- If the liner is unused and is still in its sealed bag, it can be returned with the pool for a full refund.
- Usage of the pool is at the sole discretion and responsibility of you, the hirer.
- Auckland Home Birth Association is run by volunteers and as such, while the utmost care is taken, AHBA volunteers (including the birth pool hire volunteer coordinator) will not be held personally accountable for anything amiss with the birth pool and/or accessories/equipment. Should you find anything missing, dirty, damaged or amiss upon collection of the birth pool and accessories/equipment, you will contact the birth pool volunteer coordinator ASAP to discuss the situation.
- Auckland Home Birth Association and its volunteers will maintain your privacy and confidentiality at all times.
Last updated: 22 May 2024
- Make your booking here on the website or (only contact the pool hire volunteer coordinator at [email protected] if you have issues with the online booking system or do not have access to it)
- When making your booking, select your estimated due date (EDD) from the calendar. Your booking starts 3 weeks before your EDD – the hire system will automatically calculate three weeks before your EDD and this is what will be shown on your booking and invoice.
- Payment is expected within 7 days of making the booking, even if your hire does not start for several months. You may make special payment arrangements with the pool coordinator to pay later than this or divide the full amount up into several smaller payments. If you wish to do this, contact the pool hire volunteer coordinator before making a booking.
- Once we have received and confirmed your payment, you will receive a confirmation email.
- A week before your hire is due to start, you will receive an email reminder. Then is a good time to contact the pool hire coordinator to arrange pickup of your pool, although you can schedule pickup any time before your pool hire starts. Please note that pools cannot be picked up before your booking start date unless special arrangements are made and only if the pool is available early.
- The pool hire volunteer coordinator will make specific arrangements with you for a day, time and place for pool pickup. Also, see the “Pool Pickup & Return” for general information on the pool pickup and return locations (and days/times). IMPORTANT: Pool pickup must be arranged and confirmed by the pool hire volunteer coordinator BEFORE picking up the pool.
- You or the person picking up the pool for you will pick the pool up from the arranged location. Included will be the pool, single-use liner, filling hose, tap fittings, instructions and any necessary accessories such as air pump (for inflatable pools).
You will also receive a copy of the pool instructions, hire contract and tips by email. Contact the pool hire volunteer coordinator if you do not receive this email.
All people who handle the pool or will potentially handle the pool (e.g. people present at your birth) MUST read the pool instructions and pool hire contract! - Once you have the pool, you and your birth partner(s) should do a trial run. At a minimum, this should be erecting the pool to get a thorough understanding of how the pool is set up.
The single-use birth pool liner MUST be used at all times!
It is recommended that you also fill the pool to see how well your hot water cylinder or water heating method fills the pool. See also the Ten Steps To Success tips included in the email sent when the pool is picked up.
Should you find any issues with the pool or equipment, contact the pool hire volunteer coordinator ASAP! - Once you have birthed your baby, the pool should be cleaned, dried and packed up in the same tidy way you received it. This includes the filling hose and accessories. The single-use liner is not returned.
You or the person in charge of returning the pool contacts the pool hire volunteer coordinator to arrange the return of the pool back to the pool hire coordinator. Drop off MUST be confirmed by the pool coordinator BEFORE returning the pool. You must not drop off the pool to any of the locations without the pool hire coordinator confirming first! - Once the pool is returned, the pool coordinator will inspect the pool and then either request bond refund if the pool is clean, tidy and undamaged or contact you should anything be amiss. When the bond refund is requested, the second bank signatory will authorise the bond refund. We try to do this as timely fashion as possible but as it requires two people to action, this can take up to 7 days. Once the refund has been actioned, it is usually refunded to your account within a working day. Some banks may take longer. If you do not receive your bond refund within 14 days of receiving the bond refund email, please contact the pool hire volunteer coordinator.
You can cancel at any time you need to. If you need to cancel, please do so ASAP so the booking is freed up for someone else.
Refunds
100% refund if more than 7 days before pool hire is due to start.
$25 cancellation fee if 7 days or less before hire. This helps our organisation cover the cost of administration of the pool hire system.
This fee is waived for Community Services Card holders and anyone who needs extra financial help.
Unused Birth Pools
If you pick up the pool, no refund can be made unless you are experiencing financial hardship. In which case, please talk to the volunteer birth pool coordinator for help.
Unused Birth Pool Liners
Unused birth pool liners may be returned for a full refund so long as:
- the liner has never been used;
- has not been taken out of it’s original packaging at any time; and
- the liner packaging is still sealed.
IMPORTANT: A day and time for pickup MUST be arranged with the Pool Hire Volunteer Coordinator BEFORE pickup. Returning a pool is usually more flexible but please still check with the coordinator before dropping the pool back). If you turn up outside the prearranged day and time, the pool won’t be ready and/or the pool coordinator may not be available.
Te Atatū Peninsula
Address: Full address supplied after pickup arrangement has been made.
Days/times available for pickup and return:
- Any day and time between 7:30am and 10:00pm. Outside of these times can be done by special arrangement.
Monthly meetings
Address: Auckland Women’s Centre, 4 Warnock Street, Grey Lynn.
Days/times available for pickup and return:
- Second Tuesday of the month between 11am and 1pm [Dates]
IMPORTANT: DO NOT turn up to Auckland Women’s Centre outside of the pre-arranged pickup/return! AWC does not have anything to do with birth pool hire. Pickup/return at this location is only available if the pool coordinator is able to attend the meeting and you have emailed and arranged with the pool coordinator to pickup/return at the monthly meeting.
Can’t pick up?
If you booked a pool and then find yourself unable to pick up or return the pool (e.g. your car has broken down and you can’t get family or friends to help), please contact the birth pool coordinator and we’ll work something out for you.
If you live out of area and there are no other pools available to you, we may be able to arrange a courier. This is only under special and limited circumstances and you will likely need to pay for the courier yourself. Please contact the pool hire volunteer coordinator to see if this is something we can do.
Can you help?
We are currently looking for volunteer birth pool coordinators for North Auckland and South Auckland – if you think you would like to help, please contact our birth pool coordinator for full details – [email protected]
Some requirements are:
- Safe storage of four birth pools plus liners, accessories and repair kits
- Monitoring birth pool hire emails and using the online booking system
- Cleaning and repairing pools where needed
- Inspecting pools when they are returned
- Prepare pools ahead of hire
Pool bookings can vary in frequency from only once a month to multiple in a week. You must be responsible, reliable, have integrity, be able to work independently and use initiative, and be passionate about helping others. There is a small remuneration per pool hire. Training will be provided.
Check availability & hire
From: $120.00
Step 1.Your Hire Start Date is:
Step 2. Use your Hire Start Date in the below calendar to check availability and select your hire period.
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