Water Birth in Ireland: A Complete Guide for Expectant Parents

What Is a Water Birth?

Water birth vs labouring in water

A water birth is when you labour and and birth/deliver your baby in the birthing pool whereas labouring in water is when you are in the birthing pool for your labour and once baby is ready to be born you come out of the birthing pool. Labouring in water is often referred to as water immersion therapy.

How birthing pools are used in maternity care

Birthing pools in maternity care are used as a form of pain relief, relaxation and increased mobility during labour. They are used for spending time in warm water for labour with some options to birth your baby in water.

How water supports relaxation and pain relief

The warm water will help to reduce stress hormones in your body and once you are relaxed it allows your body to produce your natural occurring pain relievers which are known as endorphins. The water allows your body to relax as it provides support and buoyancy as this gives you that weightless feeling. It offers you a feeling of calmness and control. It also reduces your need for interventions such as oxytocin to speed up labour

Is Water Birth Available in Ireland?

Yes, water births are available in Ireland

Why water births were restricted in Ireland

In 2006 water births were suspended across all maternity hospitals in Ireland due to an incident with a baby during a water birth. Women could still use water during labour as a form of pain relief but were required to come out of the pool to birth their baby.In 2020, the HSE "temporarily paused” water births (baby’s being born in a birth pool) in the public home birth service, stating there were "a small number of incidents". An inquest concluded that this was due to the death of a baby who was delivered in a birthing pool after the baby contracted an undetected Group Strep B (GSB) infection. It was then found the birthing pool itself was unlikely to be a contributing factor.

Recent changes in policy & The current situation in Irish maternity services

In 2013 some hospitals started reintroducing water births in Ireland’s maternity hospitals and others slowing following pursuit, in 2023 several more hospitals began to offer water births again. The restrictions still remain for public home births - women can labour in water and must come out of the pool to deliver their baby.

Which Hospitals in Ireland Offer Water Birth?

Hospitals in Ireland that currently offer water birth

As of 2026, the hospitals that currently have water birth as an option are:

The Coombe Hospital, Dublin - offers a dedicated birthing pool suite for both labour and birth

Wexford General Hospital - features a "Home From Home" birthing room with a, specialised pool for water births

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda - has a dedicated midwifery-led unit with active water birth facilities

National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Holles St - the labour and birthing unit have a large space that can be used for water births and also a hydrotherapy pool for water immersion therapy for labour only

Hospitals in Ireland with pools for labour only

National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Holles St - have a hydrotherapy pool for water immersion therapy for labour only if that is what you choose

Rotunda Hospital, Dublin - have a room on its own with a pool for labouring only

University Hospital Galway (UHG)

University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) - offer this in their Danu Suite

Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH)

Why availability varies between maternity units

The reason why some maternity hospitals allow labour in water and not water births is due to strict infection control protocols, staff training requirements as having a water birth requires specialised training in midwifery-led water care, and cautious, risk - averse policies regarding monitoring during labour and delivery as many hospitals this is harder to manage during a water birth. Other reasons can be due to some maternity hospitals not having the facilities for water births such as having a pool deep enough to ensure the water is over your bump at all times. Many others restrict it, citing that labouring in water provides the benefits of pain relief, but birthing on land is perceived as safer within their risk management frameworks of their maternity hospital

Who Can Have a Water Birth in Ireland?

Low-risk pregnancy criteria

In Ireland water birth and labour in water (water immersion therapy/hydrotherapy pool) require certain low risk criteria such as:

Pregnancy is between 37-42 weeks when labour beginsYou are pregnant with one baby

Baby must be in the head down position

No underlying medical conditions for the women carrying the baby and no complications during pregnancy

Spontaneous labour (not induced labour)

BMI of 35 or lower at your booking scan

A haemoglobin (Hb) level of greater than 10.0 g/dL (in full blood count results)

Sufficient mobility to easily enter and exit the pool in case of emergency

Waters must be intact or not broken for more than 18–24 hours

Baby’s heart rate must be within normal limits

When a midwife might advise leaving the pool

Concerns about baby’s heart rate

If you waters break and there is meconium present (baby has pooed)

If you develop high blood pressure or high temperature

If you start to bleed during labourIf you request stronger pain relief

If labour slows - sometimes getting out of the water might help labour speed back up

When you are delivering your placentaIf the water has been in the pool for more than 12 hours

Regular breaks to pass urineWater contamination - if the pool needs to be drained due to vomit, etc

Common medical exclusions

If you go into labour before 37 weeks or after 42 weeks of pregnancy

Diabetes

High Blood pressure

Pre-eclampsia

Epilepsy

A previous Caesarean section or a history of significant postpartum haemorrhage

Induction of labour

Multiple pregnancies (twins/triplets)

Baby is not in a head down position

Known Group B Strep

If waters  have been broken more than 18 hours

If BMI is higher than 35 at the time of your booking appointment

A history of a 3rd or 4th-degree tear

All of the above can be discussed with your Midwife or Consultant

Benefits of Water Birth

Research was done in an Irish Maternity setting between 2016 and 2019, the findings from this research found that women were more likely to have a blood loss of less that 500mls, it found a higher percentage of women who had a water birth were exclusively breastfeeding on discharge due to the calming environment which can help baby with the transition from the womb to the world as its calmer and less stressful for them - this can help with bonding with mother also. In this study women also reported a more positive birthing experience than standard care during labour and birth. Another study found that women labouring and/or birthing their baby in water did not require an epidural due to the buoyancy of the watering surrounding their bump as it helped to take the pressure off. Water helps you to be in a relaxed state and in turn allows your natural birthing hormones flow with ease and comfort thus reducing the duration of labour and the need for intervention.

Are Water Births Safe?

Research was conducted by the University of Cardiff where a water pool was used across 26 NHS hospitals between 2015 and 2022 it concluded that the risk of tears experienced by women, the number of babies requiring antibiotics or help with their breathing on the neonatal ward and the number of babies who died during birth were no higher in water births than they were out of the water. Studies in Ireland, such as at The Coombe, have investigated the safety of water births, highlighting them as a safe option when properly managed.While water births are generally considered as being safe for low risk pregnancies and there are a number of research papers to back this up - potential risks, although rare can include: neonatal water aspiration, where the baby breathes in the water, umbilical cord rupture, waterborne infections, neonatal death. Other risk factors can include the potential delay in medical intervention due to the time it takes you to get out of the water for medical intervention if it's needed.
Safety for water births are strictly monitored in the maternity system in Ireland and this begins at the initial risk assessment that is carried out during pregnancy, a midwife will be in attendance throughout the time you are in the water to monitor both you and your baby, the midwife will use a waterproof doppler to monitor baby's heart rate every 15 minutes during the first stage of labor and every 5 minutes during the second (pushing) stage. The water temperature is kept close to body temperature (around 37°C - 37.5°C) and is monitored throughout to prevent overheating, which can stress the baby. The baby is born completely under the water and then lifted smoothly to the surface, ensuring the head stays submerged until it is fully born to prevent premature breathing.Evidence from researchPotential risksHow safety is monitored in hospital settings

Water Birth vs Labouring in Water

The reason why some maternity hospitals allow labour in water and not water births is due to strict infection control protocols, staff training requirements as having a water birth requires specialised training in midwifery-led water care, and cautious, risk - averse policies regarding monitoring during labour and delivery as many hospitals this is harder to manage during a water birth. Other reasons can be due to some maternity hospitals not having the facilities for water births such as having a pool deep enough to ensure the water is over your bump at all times. Many others restrict it, citing that labouring in water provides the benefits of pain relief, but birthing on land is perceived as safer within their risk management frameworks of their maternity hospital

Planning a Water Birth in Ireland

Questions to ask your maternity hospital

Is a water birth (delivery in the pool) officially facilitated in this hospital, or is the pool for labouring only?

How many birthing pools are available, and is it a first-come, first-served basis?

If the pool is in use, is there a back-up plan or another pool available?

Do I need to officially book the pool in my birth plan? 

What are the specific inclusion/exclusion criteria for using the pool here?

Can I use the pool if I am Group B Strep (GBS) positive?

What is the policy if my waters have been broken for more than 18 hours?

How will my baby be monitored while I am in the water?

 How often will the baby's heart rate be checked? 

How is the water temperature maintained and checked? 

What are the specific reasons I would be asked to leave the pool? 

What happens immediately after the birth?

 Do I have to leave the pool to deliver the placenta?

Is skin-to-skin contact in the pool possible immediately after birthWhat pain relief is allowed while in the water?

Can I bring my own music/aromatherapy?

What should my birthing partner know about supporting me in the pool?

Are there private, en-suite facilities attached to the pool room?

Discussing options with your midwife

Start the conversation early with your midwife to let them know you are interested in having a water birth. It's important that you mention this in your birth preferences also. Have a chat with your midwife about the benefits of a water birth and how available the pool is in your maternity hospital, you can also talk about what your options are if the birthing pool is not available when you go into labour. You can also discuss the questions above with your midwife.

Birth preparation and hypnobirthing

Birth preparation is important not only for a positive birthing experience but also for you to educate yourself about your options and feel in control and involved during pregnancy, labour and birth. You do the allowing when it comes to your birth and your baby.
Hypnobirthing is a full birth preparation programme designed to leave you feeling calm, confident, and ready to welcome your baby. 
During a hypnobirthing course, you will:
Understand what’s happening in your body during labour & birth

Learn powerful tools & techniques to release fear and anxiety

Build confidence to make decisions that feel right for you and your baby

Discover how your birth partner can be the best support possible

Practice relaxation scripts to deeply connect with your baby and more

Hypnobirthing is more than just a class — it’s a complete toolkit for a positive birth, helping you trust your incredible birthing body.
By the end of the course, you’ll feel empowered, prepared, and supported — no matter how your baby’s birth unfolds.

Can You Have a Water Birth at Home in Ireland?

Home birth service overview
The HSE National Home Birth Service in Ireland provides free, safe, and regulated care for low-risk, healthy pregnancies, supported by self-employed community midwives (SECMs). Two midwives attend the birth at home, offering continuity of care. It is available to those living in Ireland, typically booked via a local maternity unit between 10–24 weeks.
Alternatively, you can engage a SECM (self-employed community midwives) privately and your antenatal, delivery and postnatal care will be provided by them. If you enter into a private arrangement with a private midwife or an SECM for a home birth that has not been approved by the HSE Designated Midwifery Officer, it is the responsibility of your midwife to have appropriate insurance cover and you should be sure that such cover is in place.


Current restrictions
At present in Ireland you can labour in the pool and will need to come out of the pool to birth your baby. This restriction was put in place in 2020 and has not yet been lifted. There is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to try and get this restriction completely lifted.
In 2020, the HSE "temporarily paused” water births (baby’s being born in a birth pool) in the public home birth service, stating there were "a small number of incidents". An inquest concluded that this was due to the death of a baby who was delivered in a birthing pool after the baby contracted an undetected Group Strep B (GSB) infection. It was then found the birthing pool itself was unlikely to be a contributing factor.

Working with community midwives

Continuity of Care: You will have regular antenatal visits (approx. 10) in your home, at least two midwives present for the birth (a standard requirement), and comprehensive postnatal care.Backup Care: If a high-risk factor develops, care is transferred to a hospital setting.Support: Midwives facilitate tailored support, including water births, and offer 24/7 coverage

Frequently Asked Questions About Water Birth in Ireland

Can you request a water birth in Irish hospitals? Yes, you need to make sure your maternity hospital facilitate water birth and if they do and you request it you are not guaranteed it will be available when you go into labour

Is water birth covered in public maternity care? Yes, water birth is completely covered and is offered free of charge

Do private hospitals offer water births in Ireland? Yes, a limited number of hospitals in Ireland offer water birth, primarily in public maternity hospitals that also facilitate private patients

Is hypnobirthing helpful for water birth? Yes, hypnobirthing is highly beneficial for water birth, acting as a perfect complement by promoting relaxation and pain management techniques. It helps women stay calm, focused, and in control, often leading to a more comfortable, empowered, and shorter labor experience.

Final Thoughts: Is Water Birth Right for You?

Deciding if a water birth is right for you involves weighing the benefits of a calmer, less painful labor against the necessity of a low-risk pregnancy and the need for flexibility if complications arise. For many, it offers an empowering, intimate experience, while others prefer the traditional setting of a hospital bed. 

A water birth may be right for you if:

You are low-risk: You have a healthy, full-term (37+ weeks) pregnancy.

You seek natural pain relief: The warm water acts as a "natural epidural" (aquadural), reducing pain perception, lowering anxiety, and lessening the need for pharmacological interventions.

You want more mobility: The buoyancy of the water allows for easier movement and upright positioning, which can shorten labor.

You prefer a calm environment: The setting is often described as private, intimate, and relaxing, reducing stress hormones.

A water birth may NOT be right for you if

Your pregnancy is high-risk: Conditions like pre-eclampsia, diabetes, active infections (e.g., Herpes), or breech presentation usually rule out a water birth.

You want an epidural: You cannot have an epidural or other systemic pain medication while in the water.

You are uncomfortable with "hands-off" delivery: Water births often involve a "hands-off" approach, where the midwife allows the baby to be born naturally into the water.

You have complications during labor: If the baby is in distress, meconium is present, or bleeding occurs, you will be asked to leave the pool.