Buying a Used Birth Pool? What to Check Before You Buy

A used birth pool can look like a good deal, but the purchase price is only part of the decision. Before buying, check the exact model, its condition, how it was used, and the supplies you’ll need to replace.

Here’s what to ask before purchasing a secondhand birth pool.

1. Check the Brand, Size, and Model

Ask the seller for a clear photo of the pool’s label. Confirm the brand, model, size, and whether it is intended for personal or professional use. Appearance alone may not tell you which version you’re buying.

This distinction matters with Birth Pool in a Box. The manufacturer gives different guidance for Personal and Professional pools, including restrictions on lending or hiring Personal models. Reusing your own pool and purchasing one previously used by another family are different situations. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the exact model before purchasing.

2. Ask About Its History

Ask the seller:

• When was the pool purchased?
• How many times was it inflated, filled, or used for a birth?
• Was a new, correctly fitted liner used each time?
• Has it ever leaked or been repaired?
• How was it cleaned, dried, and stored?
• Was it used outdoors?

For a pool used by a midwife or rental service, ask whether use and maintenance records are available.

A seller who can explain the pool’s history gives you more information to work with. If its history is unclear, factor that uncertainty into your decision.

3. Inspect the Pool While Inflated

Request recent photos of the fully inflated pool, including the floor, walls, seams, valves, seat, and handles where applicable.

Look for visible damage, separating seams, cracks, patches, missing valve caps, or signs of mold. Ask whether every inflatable chamber holds air according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Photos cannot confirm that a pool is watertight or in suitable condition. If you find damage or a previous repair, contact the manufacturer before relying on it for your birth.

4. Plan for a New Liner and Filling Hose

Include the cost of a new, unused liner made for the exact pool model and size. Disposable birth pool liners should not be washed and reused.

For Birth Pool in a Box, the manufacturer also recommends a new, clean filling hose. A hose that looks clean may still have been used or stored in ways you cannot verify.

Check each remaining accessory against its own instructions before deciding whether to reuse it. A new liner does not replace cleaning and inspecting the pool itself.

5. Confirm What Comes With It

A listing may include only the pool. Before comparing prices, ask whether it also includes:

• The recommended inflation pump
• Equipment for draining the pool
• Compatible faucet adapters
• A suitable thermometer

Confirm which supplies your birth team expects you to provide. Also check that replacement liners and any necessary parts are still available for that model, especially if the pool is older.

Used accessories add value only if they are compatible, functional, and suitable for reuse.

6. Check Warranty Coverage and Test Before Labor

Do not assume the original warranty transfers to a second owner. Ask the manufacturer about coverage for the specific pool and keep any purchase information the seller can provide.

Once you have the pool, inspect and test it well before your due date, following the manufacturer’s setup instructions. Allow time to identify leaks, check your faucet connection, and confirm that your filling and draining equipment works.

After testing, clean, dry, and store the pool as directed. Discovering a missing adapter or leaking valve during labor leaves little time to solve the problem.

7. Compare the Total Cost With Buying New

Add up the asking price, shipping, a new liner, a new filling hose, and any missing equipment.

Then compare that total with a new pool or complete package. A lower listing price may offer less savings once replacement supplies are included.

Buying new may also provide clearer product history, warranty coverage, and access to the correct accessories. A used pool deserves careful consideration of all three.

Before You Buy

Confirm that the exact model is appropriate for the intended use, that you can obtain the correct supplies, and that your birth team accepts the equipment you plan to use.

Need help identifying a Birth Pool in a Box model or finding a compatible liner? Contact Waterbirth Solutions with a photo of the pool’s label before purchasing, or browse our Birth Pool in a Box liners.

Manufacturer references: Birth Pool in a Box FAQs and What Do I Need to Order?.