Home Birth New Zealand, Giving Birth in Water New Zealand : Product Instructions

Product - Instructions

To inflate pool

Spread pool out into a flat area clear of any sharp objects.
Use the pump included to inflate, beginning with the pool floor and working your way up the separate chambers. Ensure you have the hose in the correct outlet for INFLATION - not DEFLATION! Also ensure you use the correct fitting nozzle, pushed firmly into the one way valve. This means it will not fall out and that pumping is most efficient! If pumping is difficult you may not have broken through the skin of the valve.
In an ideal world, fully inflate your pool 2-3 weeks prior to your due date and check the sides for strength. Inflate more if the side dips substantially when leaned on. The pools are fully inflated for 24 hours before leaving the factory, making any defect very unlikely - but better safe than sorry! If your pool does not stay fully inflated, contact us immediately. Make sure cats, dogs and other sharp things are not in contact with the pool.
Spread out ground sheet fully, cover with dark sheets to avoid slipping on any water spilt on the ground sheet, placing the empty pool on top (once filling has begun, it is impossible to move!)

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To fill pool:

Prior to filling check the floor plug is firmly in place to avoid any unnecessary leaking
Loosen off and screw the tap connector to the hose - heating the hose first, makes it more pliable, easier to manage, and ensures a firm seal, reducing any leakages. The connector needs to be pushed firmly into the hose and screwed down.
Connect the tap nut fitting provided to your washing machine cold supply tap.
Run water completely through the hose down a sink or outside, prior to filling to ensure hose is free of any unwanted residue.
Ensure the other end of the hose is well inside the pool.
Fill pool initially with cold water, to just cover the floor of the pool (this is to avoid burning of the pool skin).
Change connection to hot water supply tap and...
Continue to fill with hot water to the middle of the second ring - allowing space to add or remove water if need be. It is a good idea to place a towel under the hose where it rests on the side of the pool, to avoid any risk of overheating the pvc and ensure the hot water is filling into the water, not in direct contact with the pool skin.
Adjust final water mix to reach desired temperature, finishing with the level to the top of the second ring.

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Notes:

The pool with sides fully inflated and labouring woman in, will hold water up to a height of 53 c.m.'s.and approx. 4-500 litres. Filling time depends on your hot-water system, taking anywhere from 25-60 mins
It may be necessary to turn your hot water heater up around 37 weeks of pregnancy. This will help to provide more hot water to fill the pool, wash laundry and take showers.

It is imperative that you do a complete test run as there is a 3% fault rate on the pools, and if you discover that you are one of this 3% whilst you are in labour - it won't be much fun! If there is a puncture or a leak, contact us immediately and we will act as fast as we can to remedy the problem.

To retain pool temperature:

Using the cover provided, the pool temperature is held relatively constant.
With the cover in place the pool will lose 0.5 degrees over two hours and only four degrees over 12 hours, depending upon room temperature and the temperature of water at the time of filling. Due to the thickness of the sides of the pool, the layer of air around the pool provides excellent insulation. Even more insulation is provided by the floor of the pool.
The pool may need to be under-filled and covered with the heat retention cover, and then topped up as required. Should your hot water system be exhausted prematurely, urns are available for hire from H2 Oh Baby! within New Plymouth or from your local Party Hire Centre. This is also great for topping up after the birth, to keep mum and baby toasty while wallowing!

To empty the pool: (Great for the garden!)

Manual siphoning

Immerse the whole hose in water, ensuring all air locks within the hose are out.
Form a suction cap by placing your thumb over one end.
Take this end to where you will be emptying the contents of the pool, and release your suction, noting that this point must be lower than the hose end in the pool, to begin the siphon action.

Alternatively, when you place your order you can also buy an electric submersible pump - see below.

Alternatively, you can hire an:

Electric Submersible Pump

Attach the unplugged pump to the filling hose.
Place the pump on the bottom of the pool.
Place the other end of the hose where you want the water to be emptied into.
Turn the pump switch on at the wall, taking care to keep the switch clear of the water emptying.
As the pool drains, you will need to tip the pool to create a well for the pump to continue sucking and to not damage the pool.

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To deflate the pool:

When the pool is completely empty and dry, deflate by opening all valves and squeezing the valve to release the air. The nozzles from the pump may be pushed into the valves to keep them open while ev eryone piles on to let the air escape! Using the vacuum cleaner may speed up this process also.
(Having someone helping to squash the pool flat along the way is great! Do it in front of a good movie, and before you know it...the pool is down!) To prevent any unwanted bugs from forming, ensure the pool is completely wiped down and totally dry before deflating to pack away.

We would really appreciate your feedback - to not only ensure that we are providing the best service and product possible, but to build up a bank of statistics on the use of water in labour and birthing. We will be posting you a feedback form three months after your due date - so look out for this.
Enjoy all the little moments, be kind to you and may you have enough sleep, food and love to nourish yourself and your family. Carla and Katy