15 Metre Food Grade Hose - Made in the UK

Also available in 5 and 10 metre lengths.

 - Food grade hose.
 - Braided for strength. 
 - anti kink properties. 
 - Phthalates, Lead and Cadmium free. 
 - fits all standard size tap adaptors and submersible emptying pumps.
 - Hose has 1/2" 12mm bore and is suitable for use with most standard fittings inc click lock.
 - Conforms to the following standards ISO5774, BS 6066:1981 and BS EN ISO 6224:1997.
 - Manufactured in the UK.

We recommend that you use a new hose to fill your birth pool with water to avoid potential contamination.

This is the hose recommended for use with water birth and in used by a number of NHS units, birth centres and independent midwives. 

Beware of cheaper hoses, they may not be of a Food Grade standard or made in the UK. Cheaper hoses may result in contamination of your birthing water.

Why Phthalates Free?

"Pregnant women should avoid additives called phthalates found in common household products, according to US researchers, who found evidence that the substances may reduce childrens IQ.

Children whose mothers had the highest levels of phthalates had IQs on average seven points below those whose mothers had the lowest. The 328 women from inner-city New York who took part in the study had levels of phthalates in urine measured in the last weeks of pregnancy. IQs of the children were tested at seven years old.

While the study was purely observational and cannot prove that phthalates caused the childrens lower IQs, the research team said pregnant women might still want to avoid the additives as a precaution.

People, and especially pregnant women, should try to reduce their exposure to phthalates, and we as investigators follow the same advice that we give, said Pam Factor-Litvak, an epidemiologist at Columbia University in New York.

We advise them to avoid microwaving food in plastic. We ask them to avoid scented products, including cleaning products, air fresheners, and scented personal care products, because phthalates hold scent. And we ask them to avoid the use of plastics that are labelled 3, 6, or 7, because of the chemicals they contain.

We also advise them to store food in glass containers rather than plastic ones, she said. Although we didnt measure phthalate levels earlier in pregnancy, I think its prudent to take this advice throughout the entire pregnancy.

Phthalates interfere with hormones, but the study is the first to suggest they might affect IQs."

(The Guardian 2014). Read the full article here.

Is Lead Harmful?

"The government advises that people should minimise their exposure to lead from all sources"

(www.unitedutilities.com)

"Lead poisons people. It is especially bad for children.
If lead gets into a child's body, it could cause: