Waterbirthing Pool - Esperance Health Campus

In response to a growing call from the Esperance community, the Mt Burdett Foundation, through its Esperance Community Advisory Committee, is proud to support a transformative upgrade to local maternity services—a purpose-designed birthing pool at Esperance Health Campus (EHC).

With funding, the new water birth pool will enable more women to access safe, evidence-based water birthing options close to home, without having to travel hundreds of kilometres to other facilities.

In 2023, Esperance women courageously voiced their need for improved birth experiences, particularly calling for access to water births, a practice shown to reduce labour pain, shorten delivery time, and improve maternal satisfaction.

While EHC already had standard-sized baths that meet basic waterbirth regulations, they are restrictive, cannot accommodate a partner, and are unsuitable for many women due to size or mobility. The new, UK-manufactured birthing pool will offer:

• Freedom of movement during labour and birth

• Space for partners to be present in the pool

• Support seating and calming lighting for a positive, safe environment

  
  

The new pool is designed to integrate seamlessly into the current birthing suite layout, with Esperance Health Campus funding the installation. Meanwhile, two waterbirth-competent midwives will train other staff, ensuring safe, policy-aligned implementation across the maternity team.

“This project is about giving women real choices during one of the most important experiences of their lives,” says Margaret Smillie, Operations Manager at EHC. “It also sends a clear message that we’re listening to our community and evolving to meet its needs.”

The pool is expected to benefit 60–70 women directly each year, with broader positive impacts across maternal and infant health outcomes. Offering water births locally not only improves access and comfort for expectant mothers, but also helps:

• Attract and retain qualified midwives

• Reduce pressure on metro health services

• Lower risk of medical interventions, including postpartum complications

  
  

The birthing pool project is one of several recent EHC initiatives aimed at enhancing maternal and neonatal outcomes, including the introduction of a visiting midwifery service, which has already received overwhelmingly positive feedback.

The Mt Burdett Foundation’s Esperance Community Advisory Committee plays a critical role in identifying and supporting grassroots initiatives like this one, projects that are deeply aligned with the Foundation’s mission in healthcare and human capacity building.

Learn more about local funding opportunities from the Esperance Community Advisory Committee on the Mt Burdett Foundation website https://www.mtburdettfoundation.org.au/esperance