Provided that common-sense precautions are taken when cleaning out the pool, there doesn't seem to be a risk of infection for the mother, baby or midwife. Hospitals have detailed policies for cleaning birthing pools and the area around the pool, which are followed very carefully and checked upon by Infection Control Nurses. In the medical debate that followed, it was decided that the temperature of the water was very unlikely to have been the reason why these babies were born in such poor condition. If you are using a birthing pool in hospital, your midwife will check the temperature of the water regularly. If you have a birthing pool at home, the hire company should give you a thermometer to use with your pool, so that you and your midwife can check the temperature of the water.
Studies show that labour tends to be quicker in water.
One found that the second, or pushing, stage was shorter for women giving birth to their first babies who had spent some time in the pool. Another found that the length of labour was shortened by about 90 minutes for women who actually gave birth in the pool. Neither study found that using a birthing pool shortened labour for women expecting their second or subsequent babies. Two important studies have found that using a birthing pool significantly reduces women's use of pain relieving drugs in labour . Women expecting their first babies and who spent some time labouring in water had far less pethidine , and far fewer epidurals, than women who spent all their labour on dry land.