Baby’s Here… Now What Do I Do With the Birth Pool?

You did it. ❤️

Baby is here.

You're tucked into bed doing skin-to-skin. Someone brought you food. Everyone is staring at this perfect little human you just created.

Meanwhile, sitting quietly in the other room is...

a very large pool full of water.

😂

Eventually somebody is going to look at it and ask:

“Soooo...what do we do with THAT?”

Don't worry. Birth pool cleanup is actually pretty straightforward—especially if you've made a plan before labor begins.

And here's something you might not realize:

Depending on your birth pool, you may not have to throw the pool away at all.

Let's talk about draining it, cleaning it, storing it, reusing it—and eventually turning it into the cutest little backyard pool ever.

1. First Things First: Mom Is NOT on Cleanup Duty

We need to establish this immediately.

You just had a baby.

Step away from the drain pump.

😂

Your job is to rest, recover, hydrate, eat something delicious and stare at your baby for an unreasonable amount of time.

Birth pool cleanup is a great job for your partner, family member, doula or another designated helper.

Decide who gets this glamorous assignment before labor.

Congratulations to that person.

2. Time to Get the Water Out

Birth pools hold a LOT of water.

Which means we're going to go ahead and rule out:

“Let's just pick it up and dump it.”

Please don't. 😂

This is exactly why a birth pool kit should include a submersible drain pump and drainage hose.

The pump goes into the pool and moves the water through the hose to an appropriate drainage location.

Before labor begins, make sure whoever is handling cleanup knows:

• Where the pump is

• How to connect the hose

• Where the water will be drained

• That the hose actually reaches

This is one of those tiny bits of preparation that suddenly feels brilliant when there's a newborn in the house.

3. Your Little Debris Net Gets One Final Performance

If you've read our other blogs, you already know we have a surprising amount of appreciation for the humble debris net. 😂

Before and during draining, larger debris can be removed from the water according to your birth team's cleanup procedures.

Then the pump can do the heavy lifting.

The debris net may not be the prettiest thing in your waterbirth kit...

but it understands the assignment.

4. The Birth Liner Has Officially Retired

If you used a single-use birth pool liner, its career is now over.

And what a career it had. 😂

The liner creates a barrier between the reusable pool and the water used during labor and birth.

Once the water has been drained, carefully gather the liner inward to contain anything remaining inside and dispose of it according to the manufacturer's instructions and your birth provider's procedures.

A used birth liner should not be saved for another birth.

If the pool is used for another waterbirth, start with a brand-new liner and the appropriate new single-use birth supplies.

5. Not Everything in Your Birth Kit Is Reusable

This is an important distinction.

The pool may be reusable.

That doesn't mean every component that came with your birth kit should be reused.

Items that have been exposed to birth water or bodily fluids may be intended for a single birth.

Follow the instructions for your specific birth pool and kit rather than assuming something can be reused simply because it looks clean.

When the pool is used for another birth, appropriate single-use components should be replaced.

6. Clean the Actual Birth Pool

Once the liner has been removed, it's time to take care of the pool itself.

Follow the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer for your particular birth pool.

And then comes one of the most important steps:

LET. IT. DRY.

Completely.

Not:

“It feels mostly dry.”

😂

You don't want to fold up an inflatable pool while moisture is trapped inside.

Allow it to dry thoroughly before deflating and storing it.

7. Deflate, Fold and Store It

Once the pool is clean and completely dry, you can deflate it.

If your air pump has a deflation function, this can make the process much easier.

Then fold the pool according to its instructions and store it somewhere:

Clean. Dry. Cool. Protected.

Keep it away from sharp objects, excessive heat, moisture and anything else that could damage the material.

And perhaps most importantly:

Keep it away from the cat.

Because your cat will absolutely look at your carefully stored inflatable birth pool and think:

Excellent. A $200 scratching post.

😂

8. Wait...I Can Use My Birth Pool Again?

Depending on which birth pool you own—yes!

Some professional-quality inflatable birth pools are specifically designed for multiple uses when properly maintained and used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

That's particularly useful for:

Midwives and birth professionals.

Birth centers.

Families planning another waterbirth.

Or families who may eventually pass their properly maintained reusable pool along to someone else.

Each pool has its own recommended lifespan, number of uses and inspection requirements, so check the specifications for your particular model.

And remember:

Another birth = another new liner and appropriate new single-use supplies.

9. OR...Give Your Birth Pool a Second Life in the Backyard ☀️💦

Okay, THIS is the fun option.

Maybe you're finished having babies.

Maybe this was your last waterbirth.

Maybe you know your pool's birth career has officially come to an end.

Before you shove it into the back of a closet forever, consider this:

Turn it into a little backyard pool!

Yep.

Once you're no longer saving the pool for future birth use, it can be repurposed for some good old-fashioned summer splashing.

Fill it with fresh water, put it in an appropriate spot outside and suddenly that birth pool has entered its second career.

From birth pool...to backyard pool.

And there is something incredibly sweet about the idea of your toddler splashing around someday in the same pool they were born in. ❤️

Imagine showing them a picture:

“See this pool?”

Yeah?

“You were BORN in it.”

😂

That's a pretty great second life for a birth pool.

As with any pool or container of water, young children need constant, close adult supervision, even when the water is shallow. Empty and store the pool safely when it's not being used.

And if you're planning to use your pool for another birth, we'd keep it stored for birth rather than adding the extra wear and tear of recreational use.

Birth career first. Backyard career afterward.

10. The Best Cleanup Plan Happens Before Labor

Here's the biggest takeaway:

Don't wait until after baby arrives to decide who's dealing with the pool.

Before labor, choose your Official Birth Pool Cleanup Person™.

😂

Make sure they know:

• How the drain pump works

• Where the drainage hose goes

• Which items are single-use

• How to remove the liner

• How the pool should be cleaned

• Where it can dry completely

• Where you'll store it afterward

Then you don't need to think about ANY of this after birth.

You can point toward the pool...

look lovingly at your partner...

and say:

“That's your baby now.”

😂

Then go snuggle the actual baby.

From Birth Day to Another Day

We spend so much time preparing a birth pool for the big day.

Where will we put it?

How long will it take to fill?

How warm should the water be?

When should I get in?

But eventually the birth is over.

And dealing with the pool afterward doesn't have to be complicated.

Drain it. Dispose of the single-use supplies. Clean it. Dry it completely. Deflate it. Store it.

If your pool is designed for multiple births and you're planning another waterbirth, keep it safely stored and ready for its next chapter.

And if its waterbirth days are officially over?

Put that thing in the backyard and let the kids splash. ☀️💦

Because a birth pool that helped welcome your baby into the world becoming a little pool they play in someday?

We think that's a pretty adorable ending. ❤️

Always follow the cleaning, reuse, storage and disposal instructions for your specific birth pool and birth kit. Follow your birth provider's infection-control procedures. Children require constant, close adult supervision around water.