Objective To examine the birth outcomes for women and babies following water immersion for labour only, or for labour and birth. Participants A cohort of low-risk women who used water immersion; gave birth in water and 90 laboured only in water. A control group of low-risk women who received standard care. Methods Logistic regression analyses examined associations between water immersion and birth outcomes adjusting for confounders.
A validated Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was completed. Results Compared with standard care, women who chose water immersion had no significant difference in perineal tears There was no significant difference in NNU admissions 3.
Conclusions Women choosing water immersion for labour or birth were no more likely to experience adverse birth outcomes than women receiving standard care and rated their birth experiences more highly. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways. This study had a prospective design with clearly defined inclusion criteria and an appropriately selected comparison group. A novel aspect of the study was the use of a research framework to support organisational change in the context of resistance to a less medicalised approach to childbirth.
A large-scale randomised controlled trial would provide a more robust answer to the research question but is likely to be challenging. The management of childbirth has become increasingly risk averse worldwide, with the primary focus being on prevention of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality irrespective of risk status. However, there is an increasing drive in recent years from service users, researchers and policy makers to embrace a more physiological approach to labour and birth, recognising the potential benefits in terms of safe, high quality care that offers women choice and an enhanced birth experience.
A pool room was opened on the labour ward in and a water birth WB service commenced in Of the 19 maternity units in the ROI, five have a birthing pool but the Coombe is currently the only unit offering women the option of WB.
