About the infection risk with waterbirth, use of the pool in labour. Haven't got the research to hand, but it is out there, and it reports that there is little to no risk. Certainly, at the 2 units I work out of, there are strict infection control protocols in place and one of the units uses liners in the pool. I have worked in areas where pool use is commonplace for 15 years and I have never heard of any infection occuring as a result of pool use. (I think the baths on wards are far more of an infection risk).