We would really love to show our pool being used by real women, in real situations. Please, if you buy or use a pool, consider sharing a picture with us, we would really like to build up a gallery of women in the pool, to help us spread the word about the joys of labouring or birthing in water. A little story would be great too, but we know how busy new mums are.
Just to prove we are game...heres one of Lisa with her baby number 2!!
(Before our fabbo pools were invented of course)
Thank you to our gorgeous model. Our test pool arrived and this mum- to- be offered her pregnant belly for our services! We are happy to report that a few short days later, this mummy had a very quick labour and birthed a beautiful little boy. ( I can say that, I was her doula!)
In the pool, we would have preferred the water much deeper, but this was our first go at it, shows how much leg room there is and how deep it could go. Also taught us that its good to have a practice run before the big day!
Showing how strong the sides are. Strong enough for a woman to sit on for examinations or an emergency and strong enough for a midwife to lean on.
The Pioneer of La Bassine. Carine from Made In Water labours in her beautifully designed pool, custom made specifically for her little babies!!
One of our first customers!! Thank you Yollana for the stunning photos, its great to see how happy you all are. Much love to you and your family. Simply Birth xx
"The sensations of birthing were much stronger than I expected and I was very glad to have the pool to help me through it: I was in and out of the pool four times during the 20 or so hours that I was in labour – including the last time when Erin finally came out!"
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"My husband and I were both amazed at how well the pool held its temperature over the hours. (He did have a large pot of boiling water on the stove that he used to refill when it did start to cool – but with everything else he had to do, I think he was very grateful that it wasn’t very often)"
Brenda runs regular workshops with midwives, teaching them how to assist women birthing in water. Below are a few pictures that Brenda has generously shared with us, documenting her workshops!! Keep up the amazing work Brenda!
Brenda blows up the pool, fills it up, finds a willing mum and demonstrates the use of a water proof sonic aid, the best way for intermittent monitoring of a labouring mum in water, she doesn’t have to get out of the water and is practically undisturbed.
Showing a midwife how most babies are born under water, hands at the ready to catch the baby.....
The new mum gets to cuddle her baby in her own space, and allows those first important intimate moments to take place.
If you are interested in organising a waterbirthing workshop with Brenda Manning, please contact her at
Many thanks to Julie, Paul and their new baby Miles for the following photos.
"Resting between contractions"
"Falling in Love"
"Our first babe was born into the birth pool in a beautiful, peaceful home birth. We had planned to use the pool to assist with pain management as first stage progressed. However when my husband called our independant midwife to come over, after 10+ hours of labouring, we were surprised when she announced 'this baby is coming now, we need to fill the pool'! In our practice run it had taken 2 hot water tanks and 2.5 hours to fill! My husband and the second midwife quickly went to work heating water on the stove and somehow they managed to have it filled just enough by the time my babe arrived one hour later. The water was an incredible tool for relaxation and surrender. The pool was a perfect size for me but was too small for my husband to fit in as well. We had looked at other pools but decided on the La Bassine because of the inflatable bottom (great for my knees) and handles. In the practise run we filled the pool and then watched a movie. The pool held it's heat for well over 2 hours."
Many thanks to Jo, Paul and Lucy Barker for taking the time to write and send some stunning action shots!!"
"Paul and I didn’t have any set plans to birth our baby in water, but in researching for our homebirth we became aware of the pain-relieving effects water has during the later stages of labour, so we wanted a pool available"
"Of the two pools our midwives had available, we chose the La Bassine. It didn’t take as much water to fill (good for non-continuous hot water systems) and the inflated bottom and sides provided great comfort for sitting, reclining, kneeling and squatting."
I used the pool for the pushing stage of my labour, which lasted 90 minutes and I remember thinking, as I was squatting and pulling on the handles to counter my contractions, that I was seriously going to pull them off! The fact that I didn’t, to me showed the strength, durability and quality of the pool (as anyone who has felt the strength of a labouring woman will agree!).
Our daughter Lucy was born in the pool and I’m incredibly glad I remained in the pool to birth her, as she was born all at once – head, shoulders and body. She shot out like a cannon and floated in front of me in the water. I don’t dare to think where she would have landed if I’d dry-birthed!
Welcome baby Toa
Many thanks to Yota, Paulie and Shaye, for sharing these amazing photo's
The birthing pool was MORE than I imagined. I felt very comfortable with the cushioned floor and those wide strong walls easily coped with weight and at times powerful embraces during contractions. The size of the pool I felt was perfect, i could move around freely and never far from the wall to rest on or reach out to my support group. The set-up was very simple and quick to fill with warm water which actually held it's temperature for the duration i was in it. I gave birth to a gorgeous and calm boy, Toa, on 9/9/06 needless to say everyone is ecstatic. Well now that summer is here the pool looks welcoming in the backyard, and I gotta say I love telling people its Toa's birthing pool. You guys have a brilliant product and i encourage all women to seriously contemplate buying one. Thanks for been part of this incredible time for us
Introducing Mark and Marieke's son "Oliver Georg Krause"
"Our first baby was born in water, at home on Saturday November 25th at 4.15pm.
Regular contractions started at 12pm after a quiet morning with a few cramps, and when the midwife arrived at 1pm I was 4cm dilated. I laboured on 'dry land' for a while until I was dilated enough to get into the pool, which was set up in our lounge room. As soon as I got in the pain eased away and I felt so much more comfortable. This was what I had been hoping for but it was even better than I imagined! After about half an hour of relaxed floating and moving around in the pool, pushing contractions started. I think the warm water must have sped up the process quite a bit! It was much easier dealing with the contractions in the pool as I was able to move much more freely. I sat on my knees, with my arms over the edge of the pool for each contraction, and my husband Mark held my hands. In between contractions I stretched my legs backwards and just floated. At 4.15pm, Oliver shot out with one big push- head and body at once! After a few big screams he relaxed straight aay and lay in my arms for a few minutes in the nice warm water. I delivered the placenta quite easily in the pool, and then got out to do our first breast feed. It was a fabulous experience!!
I am extremely happy with our choice to deliver Oliver in the water, I would recommend it to anyone and would definitely do it again for any more bubba's we may have"
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Congratulations to Carla and Jono who gave birth to a gorgeous little girl, Tessa Claire born on 25th January – a gentle waterbirth at home.
"Lily Amber Rose was born on 12/12/06 at KEMH, weighing 2.71kg The pool was fantastic and allowed me to labour at home for 15 hours before needing to transfer to the hospital. I missed out on the lovely, peaceful water birth I was envisioning, but I have a beautiful, healthy baby girl, and that's the main thing. She just wasn't going to be able to make it out on her own, and we were both exhausted."
"I can't speak highly enough of the pool, (it was worth every cent) and will definitely use it again for any future birth."
Thanks Ursula for the photo of your beautiful baby and many congratulations from us!!!
Finally!!!
A couple of photo's of me, using La Bassine, I am busy writing up my story , with piccies, and these will be added as soon as I have completed them. (Ignore the dates, it was a new camera and we hadnt realised it had the wrong setting)
Relaxing with a good book, about 37 weeks pregnant.
Day 2 of labour....Using the TENS machine that really got me through the baby moving contractions. I am also wearing a necklace strung from beads given to me by family and friends through out the world....very very special to me.
In labour!! My mums wonderful healing hands massage my tired and aching body.
Changing positions...a loving husband by my side
A quick icey cold drink from my youngest helper
Trying different positions, number 2 helper watching...and Ruth my lovely midwife.
Some time later......born on my sofa, with my foot planted firmly on La Bassine, I had popped to the loo and was just to tired to climb back in the pool.....(ohhhh the irony!!)
Some more piccies : THANK YOU MIRANDA!!
"The birth pool was wonderful! I wasn't able to birth in the pool, though I wish I could have, but spent early labour in it and found it reduced the pain of contractions and eased a very fast labour. The loveliest part was being able to get back in the pool after the birth and cuddle my new little boy in a lovely, deep, and still very warm bath - beautiful!!"
Rachaels Page.
Rachael has sent in the most AMAZING birth pictures. I wanted to honour her by giving her a whole page to herself....click here to see her beautiful pictures.
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