A NEW birth pool loan scheme is hoping to make it easier for mothers to have their babies at home.

The Dorset Home Birth Group has launched a new rental scheme that will offer the use of professional grade birth pools for women in West Dorset.

Rental of the pools is being offered free of charge and all mothers would have to pay is the £30 cost of a new liner.

The aim is to make water birth a more accessible, affordable option for people in West Dorset.

Daisy Forster, who co-runs the Dorset Home Birth Group, said: “We are so excited about this scheme as these are great pools and we are really lucky to be able to offer them to local families, who can benefit from them without the expense of buying one.

“Using water during labour and birth can make a huge difference so it’s really important all women get the opportunity to have a pool available to them.”

The pools can be inflated in under 10 minutes and filled in half an hour, while the disposable liner makes the pool sterile and hygienic.

Claire Williams, who co-runs the group, said: “Using water is a great way of helping mums induce labour, and this scheme means that now everyone birthing at home can have access to a pool.

“These pools are so easy to use, and being able to rent one locally is really handy for expectant mums.”

Mum Debbie Firks 33, from Charlton Down, used a birthing pool for the birth of her son Toby five months ago.

She said: “It was a better environment and it was just perfect to have a home birth.

“It’s more relaxing and I would definitely recommend it to someone else.”

Head of midwifery at Dorset County Hospital Jo Hartley, who helped secure charity funds for the scheme, said: “I really recommend birthing pools, they help women cope with the pain of labour and help them to achieve a birth at home.

“They can contribute to a very positive birth experience.”

For more information about the Dorset Home Birth Group visit dorsethomebirth.co.uk