The Fremantle Midwives arranged for us to have this wonderful birthing pool.

It needed a little TLC, which was just the kind of creative project that I was looking for.

I could contribute greatly to this birth by creating a space for our baby to be born.

This pool had been around for quite a while. That was clear by the amount of baby's names carved into it's panels.

It needed a new base and new hoses and connectors (to get the water from the laundry room taps into the pool). It was my pleasure to supply them.

The pool is made up of six panels. (Being hexagonal shaped is very appropriate as that is the shape of the molecules of water.)

Each panel is made up of sanded and oiled boards. The panels are approximately 3.5 feet high (waist height), with handles carved into the top at the centre.

They are detachable which allows for easy movement.

They are weighty panels, and can be carried at most two at a time.

They are connected with hinges on the inside of the panels. There is one at the top, and one at the bottom of each panel connection.

The TOP of the hinge has the post permanently attached and slips into the lower hinge.

<<< Like this. This is a view from the inside.

If you're building your own, remember - the hinges need to be on the inside.

Finally you need some padding.

We bought two blue rubber mats from the rubber manufacturer and cut them to the shape of the pool.

I drew a heart on the join to allow for easy re-assembly.

Lining the pool was a challenge.

In order to have the whole 'birthing pool' experience be successful you NEED to make sure the water stays IN the pool, and that you can get it back out again.

I went to the local store to buy plastic big enough to cover the pool, but they no longer MAKE it wide enough to fit.

Oh dear.

Luckily Vijan dropped by and leant a hand.

"Perhaps..." I thought

"Maybe we could tape two sheets together..."

Good idea, but despite the effort, this did not work.

We got cushions of all different sizes and began lining the inside of the pool to give my beloved a softer base.

Once the water begins filling the pool, even the thickest cushion gets squashed, so use more than you think you need.

When the actual time of birth arrived I used a large pond liner that I had bought for Little Lefroy. It stretched perfectly across the pool and down the sides. It was the perfect solution.

NOTE: When you get the lining on, take a big, thick rope and tie it AROUND the birthing pool to keep the lining in place.

The cushions were a great success, making the pool much more comfortable than it would have otherwise been.

Usually, women need to hang their arms over the sides of the pool to support themselves in the water.

I watched a friends birthing video and saw that he husband had given her a didgerido which she stretched across the pool and dangled from.

About half-way through the labour I went and cut a bamboo staff, removed the foliage and sanded it smooth.

When the moment arrived it became the staff she used in her most challenging times.

She thanked me for it many times since then, saying that I had given her strength through it.

As I said, there were many children's names carved into the pool, and once Darshan was born it was my task to carve his name into this magical box.

I borrowed Nis's wood-etcher and began...

If you are considering Natural, Non-Interventional Birth, we recommend it. If you (or your partner) are handy, then why not build your own pool.

You can even carve it! Then please share it with others.