Benefits of Water Birth
Birthing Pools can provide all labouring women with:
the burning sensation often associated with crowning is eased.
the swimming pool effect where by when your body is submerged under the water you do not feel like anyone can see you helping you to relax and your body to work at it's best.
Women who have a water birth very rarely require stiches or an epsiotomy.
If used correctly and to their full, birthing pools can positively effect your labour.
- and a peaceful birth for your baby
Babies who are born into the water do not start breathing until lifted to the surface by the mother. It's a fantastic experience and a very peaceful beginning to any newborns life.
But don't just take our word for it. Visit
where you will find absolutely everything to do with home birth, as well as reviews of various makes of birthing pools, birth stories, information on whether you have to be induced after you reach 42 weeks and help if you are being refused a home birth.
This site is owned and maintained as a public service by Angela Horn. Her aims are to support informed choice for parents, and to encourage evidence-based, woman-centred practice for professionals. She hopes that helping people to find and use the evidence on birth options will further both aims - which is why this site focuses on published research.
She started investigating research on home birth safety in 1996 and established this website in February 1999. From 2000 to 2003 She was National Home Birth Support Coordinator of the National Childbirth Trust, a voluntary role which involved promoting the home birth choice within the NCT and to the public, and helping home birth support groups in the UK. She was also a member of the Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC) of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, and formerly of Greenwich District Hospital.
Angela is married to Graham Horn, and is a full-time mother of four sons who were born at home: Lee, born in January 1998, Robert, born in May 2000, Teàrlach, born in December 2002, and Lachlan, born in September 2004.
