Waterbirth on a Budget: What You Need & What You Can Skip

Planning a waterbirth can quickly turn into a very long shopping list.

Birth pool. Liner. Pump. Towels. Lights. Robes. Essential oils. Matching baskets. Birth affirmations. Snacks. Waterproof everything...

And suddenly your peaceful waterbirth plan looks like a very expensive Pinterest project.

The good news?

A beautiful, supportive waterbirth doesn't require a picture-perfect setup or a room full of extras.

If you're planning a waterbirth on a budget, start with the things that help create a safe, functional birth space. Everything else is optional.

First: Don't Cut Corners on the Birth Pool

If there's one place to prioritize your budget, it's the actual birth pool.

A purpose-designed birth pool gives you something an ordinary bathtub or inexpensive kiddie pool may not: adequate depth, room to change positions, supportive construction, and a design intended specifically for labor and birth.

Think of the pool as the centerpiece of your waterbirth setup.

You can save money elsewhere.

*NEED: A Birth Pool Liner

If you're using an inflatable birth pool designed for a liner, this belongs on the essential list.

A fresh liner creates a clean interior surface and makes cleanup significantly easier after birth.

It's one of those supplies that isn't particularly exciting to buy—but you'll be very glad you have it. 

*However, if you own your birth pool and plan to toss or even reuse it, you can wash, sanitize, dry and store it for later without using a liner to save some cash!

NEED: An Air Pump

If you're using an inflatable birth pool, you'll need an air pump to inflate it. You can use a standard "air mattress" pump.

Trying to inflate a birth pool manually isn't realistic, particularly when labor has already started. An electric air pump makes setup quick and easy and helps ensure the pool is properly inflated before filling it with water.

Ideally, inflate and test your birth pool before your due date so you know how the pump works and how long setup takes.

Once you've tested everything, you can deflate and store the pool according to the manufacturer's instructions until it's time to use it.

NEED: A Way to Fill the Pool

You don't need a complicated plumbing setup.

You do need a clean hose suitable for filling your birth pool and an adaptor that works with your faucet or shower.

Test your connection before labor.

Finding out at 2 a.m. that your hose doesn't fit the faucet is not the kind of birth surprise anyone wants.

NEED: A Reliable Water Thermometer

Water temperature matters during water labor and waterbirth, so this isn't something we'd leave to guesswork.

Fortunately, a simple reliable thermometer doesn't need to be expensive.

Your birth provider may have specific temperature recommendations or protocols, so discuss those ahead of time.

NEED: A Plan for Emptying the Pool

Eventually, all that water has to go somewhere.

A submersible drain pump and hose make emptying a birth pool dramatically easier than trying to remove the water manually.

It's not glamorous, but this is one piece of equipment you'll appreciate after the birth.

NEED: Towels — But They Don't Have to Be New

You do not need a stack of beautiful matching towels.

This is the perfect job for towels you already own.

Gather more than you think you'll need and keep some dry ones separate for after the birth.

Old towels work just fine.

HELPFUL: A Debris Net

This is one of those inexpensive little items that can be surprisingly useful during labor.

Birth is birth. Things may end up in the water.

A simple net allows your birth team to quickly remove debris and keep the water comfortable without draining or replacing it.

HELPFUL: A Birth Pool Cover

A cover can help retain heat when the pool is filled but temporarily not being used.

Whether you need one may depend on when you fill your pool, how long it sits, and how you're maintaining the water temperature.

It's helpful—but not necessarily something every family needs.

YOU CAN SKIP: Expensive Birth Clothing

You don't need a special "waterbirth outfit."

Wear a bikini top, sports bra, nursing bra, lightweight tank—or nothing at all.

Use something you already own and don't mind getting soaked.

Your baby truly will not care whether your swimsuit coordinates with the room. 😉

YOU CAN SKIP: Fancy Lighting

Those dreamy waterbirth photographs filled with candles and twinkle lights are beautiful.

They're also optional.

Use lamps you already have. Dim the overhead lights. Open the curtains during the day.

If you already own battery-operated candles or string lights, wonderful. But you don't need to buy an entire collection to create a calm birth environment.

YOU CAN SKIP: Expensive Birth Décor

You don't need:

Birth affirmation banners.

Matching baskets.

Special blankets.

New throw pillows.

A perfectly styled room.

If those things make you happy and they're within your budget, enjoy them!

But they don't make your waterbirth more legitimate or meaningful.

Comfort matters more than aesthetics.

BORROW BEFORE YOU BUY

There are also supplies you may be able to borrow.

Ask your midwife or birth center what they provide before purchasing anything. Some birth professionals may already have equipment available for clients.

Friends who have recently had home births may also have supplies they're happy to lend.

Just make sure anything that needs to be single-use remains single-use.

Spend Your Money Where It Matters

When you're working with a limited budget, divide your list into three categories:

Essential:
Birth pool, appropriate liner, air pump, filling supplies, thermometer, and a plan for draining the pool.

Helpful:
Drain pump, debris net, pool cover, extra towels and comfort items.

Nice to have:
Special clothing, décor, candles, baskets, signs, new robes and everything else that makes a birth setup Instagram-worthy.

Then build your setup from the first category outward.

Waterbirth Doesn't Have to Be Elaborate

Some of the most beautiful birth spaces are incredibly simple.

A birth pool.

Warm water.

A prepared birth team.

A few towels.

Someone you trust beside you.

That's enough.

Your waterbirth doesn't need to look like the ones you see on social media. It needs to work for you, your birth team, your home and your budget.

Spend where it matters. Use what you already own. Skip what you don't need.

And put your energy into preparing for the experience—not decorating it.