1. Make your booking here on the website (please only contact the pool hire coordinator if you have issues with the online booking system or do not have access to it).
   
2. When making your booking, select your estimated due date (EDD) from the calendar. Your booking starts three weeks before your EDD – the hire system will automatically calculate two or three weeks (depending on whether you’ve chosen to hire from 37 or 38 weeks) before your EDD and this is what will be shown on your booking and invoice.
   
3. Payment is expected within 72 hours of making the booking, even if your hire does not start for several months. You may make special payment arrangements with the pool coordinator to pay later than this or divide the full amount up into several smaller payments. If you wish to do this, please contact the pool hire coordinator before making a booking.
   
4. Once we have received and confirmed your payment, you will receive a confirmation email.
   
5. A week before your hire is due to start, you will receive an email reminder. Then is a good time to contact the pool hire coordinator to arrange pickup of your pool, although you can schedule pickup any time before your pool hire starts. Please note that pools cannot be picked up before your booking start date unless special arrangements are made and only if the pool is available early.
   
6. The pool coordinator will make specific arrangements with you for a day, time and place for pool pickup. Also, see “Pool Pickup & Return” for general information on the pool pickup and return locations (and days/times). IMPORTANT: Pool pickup must be arranged and confirmed by the pool hire coordinator BEFORE picking up the pool please.
   
7. You, or the person picking up the pool for you, will pick the pool up from the arranged location. Included will be the pool, single-use liner, filling hose, tap fittings, instructions and any necessary accessories such as air pump (for inflatable pools).
   You will also receive a copy of the pool instructions, hire contract and tips by email. Please contact the pool hire coordinator if you do not receive this email.
   
   All people who handle the pool or will potentially handle the pool (such as people present at your birth) MUST read the pool instructions and pool hire contract please.
   
8. Once you have the pool, we recommend you and your birth partner(s) do a trial run. At a minimum, this should be erecting the pool to get a thorough understanding of how the pool is set up.
   The single-use birth pool liner MUST be used at all times.
   It is recommended that you also fill the pool to see how well your hot water cylinder or water heating method fills the pool. See also the Ten Steps To Success tips included in the email sent when the pool is picked up.
   Should you find any issues with the pool or equipment, please contact the pool hire coordinator ASAP!
   
9. Once you have birthed your baby, the pool should be cleaned, dried and packed up in the same tidy way you received it. This includes the filling hose and accessories. The single-use liner is not returned.
   You, or the person in charge of returning the pool, then contacts the pool hire coordinator to arrange the return of the pool back to the pool hire coordinator. Drop off MUST be confirmed by the pool coordinator BEFORE returning the pool. Please do not drop off the pool to any location without the pool hire coordinator confirming first!
   
10. Once the pool is returned, the pool coordinator will inspect the pool and then organise bond refund if the pool is clean, tidy and undamaged or contact you should anything be amiss. The bond refund requires a second bank signatory to authorise the payment. Please note we try to do this in as timely fashion as possible, but as it requires two people to action, this can take up to seven days. Once the refund has been actioned, it is usually refunded to your account within a working day. Some banks may take longer. If you do not receive your bond refund within 14 days of receiving the bond refund email, please contact the pool hire coordinator.