Water births offer ‘clear benefits’ for health, according to new research mothers and their newborn babies.
The review of previous studies published by BMJ Open found that water births “significantly reduced” the use of epidural and injected opioids.
It also reduced pain and heavy bleeding after birth.
Water births were also found to result in fewer medical interventions and complications during and after delivery compared to standard care – as well as higher levels of maternal satisfaction.
During a water birth, a delivery bath is used to achieve relaxation and pain relief.
The mother leaves the pool for the birth so the newborn can get airborne to breathe, or stays in the birth pool and brings the baby to the surface to begin breathing.
The researchers wanted to compare the magnitude of care interventions required during and after delivery between the two different types of water birth, and to see if outcomes differed between a water birth and standard care without a birthing bath.
They analyzed 36 previous studies, published between 2000 and 2021, involving more than 150,000 women.
Most studies were conducted in obstetric wards.
The studies include a range of interventions and outcomes such as induced labour, artificial water breaking, epidural use; admission to intensive care and breastfeeding.
According to the study’s lead author, Dr Ethel Burns, of Oxford Brookes University, the pooled data analysis of the study results showed that a water birth, regardless of whether women give birth in or out of the pool, has “clear benefits for women” in obstetric wards – where most births take place and where medical interventions and complications are more likely than in obstetrics wards.
“Giving birth was just as safe as standard care for healthy mothers and their newborns,” she said.
“Compared to standard care, a water delivery significantly reduced the use of epidural, injected opioids, episiotomy, as well as pain and heavy bleeding after delivery.”
She also says water births “increased” maternal satisfaction and the chance of an intact perineum.
There was no difference in the number of C-sections.
“Water immersion can significantly increase the likelihood of an intact perineum and decrease episiotomy, an intervention that does not provide perineal or fetal benefit, may increase postnatal pain and anxiety, and negatively impact a woman’s birth experience,” added them to it.
The findings also show that there were more cases of umbilical cord rupture in water births.
However, the rate was still low, with rupture at 4.3 per 1,000 births in water compared to 1.3 per 1,000 births with standard care.
The researchers suggested that this may be related to the pulling on the umbilical cord when the newborn is taken out of the water.
“Water immersion offers maternal and newborn benefits when used in the obstetric setting, making water immersion a low-tech intervention to improve quality and satisfaction with care,” said Dr. burns.
‘It is an effective method to reduce pain during childbirth, without increasing the risk.’
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