Immersion in Water in the First Stage of Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Eckert, Kerena; Turnbull, Deborah; MacLennan, Alastair H.

doi:10.1046/j.1523-536x.2001.00084.x

Cited by 71 publications

(167 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…The positive physiological effects of hydrotherapy can facilitate the neurohormonal interactions of labour, reducing pain, and potentially facilitates the progress of labour (11,12). Water immersion may be associated with improved uterine perfusion, less painful contractions and a shorter labour with fewer interventions (13)(14)(15) sion shortens the process of labour (1,15), however some others found no significant difference for the duration of the 1st stages of labour (13,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). The present study also demonstrates that the 1st stage of labour is not shortened by immersion in water in either primigravidas or multigravidas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present study also demonstrates that the 1st stage of labour is not shortened by immersion in water in either primigravidas or multigravidas. Cammu et al, Eckert et al, Rush et al and Woodward et al provided data on analgesia and anesthesia use in their studies and found that there was a significant reduction in the incidence of analgesia and anesthesia use among women placed in water during the first stage of labour (16,17,19,20). In the present study, we have shown that VAS scores indicating the pain felt by the women were lowest among women having water birth, even lower than the women labouring with epidural analgesia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effects of immersion in water on labor, birth and newborn and comparison with epidural analgesia and conventional vaginal delivery

Mollamahmutoğlu¹,

Moraloğlu²,

Özyer³

et al. 2012

J Turkish German Gynecol Assoc

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Objective:To document the practice of labour in water, to assess the effects of water immersion during labor and/or birth (labour stages 1, 2 and 3) on maternal, fetal and neonatal wellbeing and to compare the outcomes and safety with conventional vaginal deliveries and deliveries with epidural analgesia. Material and Methods:Two-hundred and seven women electing for waterbirth (n=207) were compared with women having conventional vaginal deliveries (n=204) and vaginal deliveries with epidural analgesia (n=191). Demographic data, length of 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd stage of labor, induction and episiotomy requirements, perineal trauma, apgar scores, NICU requirements and VAS scores were noted. Results:The 1 st stage of labor was shorter in waterbirths compared with vaginal delivery with epidural analgesia but the 2 nd and 3 rd stage of labor were shortest in patients having waterbirth compared with conventional vaginal delivery and vaginal delivery with epidural analgesia. Patients having waterbirth had less requirement for induction and episiotomy but had more perineal laceration. All women having waterbirths had reduced analgesia requirements and had lower scores on VAS. There was no difference in terms of NICU admission between the groups. Apgar scores were comparable in both groups. There were no neonatal deaths or neonatal infections during the study. Conclusion:The study demonstrates the advantages of labor in water in terms of reduction in 2 nd and 3 rd stage of labor, reduction in pain and obstetric intervention such as induction or amniotomy. (J Turkish-German Gynecol Assoc 2012; 13: 45-9) Key words: Water birth, analgesia, neonatal outcome Received: 15 September, 2011 Accepted: 22 November, 2011 Amaç: Suda doğum pratiğinin dökümentasyonu ve doğum travayı ve/veya doğum eylemi (doğumun birinci, ikinci ve üçüncü evresi) sırasında maternal, fetal ve yenidoğan iyilik hali üzerine etkilerini değerlendirerek, sonuçları ve güvenirlilik açısından epidural analjezi ile vajinal doğum ve konvansiyonel vajinal doğum sonuçları ile kıyas-lanması. Gereç ve Yöntemler:Suda doğum yapan ikiyüzyedi (n=207) kadın, konvansiyonel vajinal doğum yapan (n=204) ve epidural analjezi ile vajinal doğum yapan (n=191) kadınlarla kıyaslandı. Hastaların demografik verileri, doğum eyleminin 1., 2. ve 3. evresinin uzunluğu, indüksiyon ve epizyotomi ihtiyacı, perine travması, yenidoğanın apgar skorlaması, yoğun bakım ihtiyacı ve VAS skorları değerlendirildi. Bulgular:Konvansiyonel vajinal doğum ve epidural analjezi ile vajinal doğum yapanlarla kıyaslandığında suda doğuranlarda, doğumun 1. evresi kısalmakla birlikte özellikle 2. ve 3. evrelerin çok kısalmış olduğu görüldü. Suda doğum yapan hastalarda oksitosin ihtiyacı belirgin olarak daha azdı, epizyotomi oranı da daha düşüktü fakat daha fazla perineal laserasyon saptandı. Suda doğum yapan kadınların hepsinde analjezi ihtiyacı azalmıştı ve VAS skorları düşüktü. Gruplar arasında yenidoğan yoğun bakım ihtiyacı açısından fark yoktu. Apgar skorları benzerdi. Çalışma dönemi boyunca hiç yenidoğ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of immersion in water on labor, birth and newborn and comparison with epidural analgesia and conventional vaginal delivery

Mollamahmutoğlu¹,

Moraloğlu²,

Özyer³

et al. 2012

J Turkish German Gynecol Assoc

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Statistically, water birth leads to increased relaxation and maternal satisfaction, decreased perineal trauma, decreased pain and use of pharmaceuticals, and decreased labor time (Benfield, Herman, Katz, Wilsonv, & Davis, 2001;Cluett, Pickering, Getliffe, & Saunders, 2004;Eckert, Turnbull, & MacLennan, 2001;Mackey, 2001;Rush et al, 1996;Thöni, Mussner, & Ploner, 2010).…”

Section: American Academy Of Pediatrics' Committee Commentarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth, Bath, and Beyond: The Science and Safety of Water Immersion During Labor and Birth

Harper¹

2014

J Perinat Educ

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“…Individual case reports and case series have noted complications for the mother and the neonate [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] that highlight potential risks from immersion during labor and delivery. Because the denominators are not uniformly reported, the exact incidence of complications is difficult to assess.…”

Section: Reported Complications From Immersion During Labor and Deliverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Immersion in Water During Labor and Delivery

Newborn¹

2014

Pediatrics

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Immersion in water has been suggested as a beneficial alternative for labor, delivery, or both and over the past decades has gained popularity in many parts of the world. Immersion in water during the first stage of labor may be associated with decreased pain or use of anesthesia and decreased duration of labor. However, there is no evidence that immersion in water during the first stage of labor otherwise improves perinatal outcomes, and it should not prevent or inhibit other elements of care. The safety and efficacy of immersion in water during the second stage of labor have not been established, and immersion in water during the second stage of labor has not been associated with maternal or fetal benefit. Given these facts and case reports of rare but serious adverse effects in the newborn, the practice of immersion in the second stage of labor (underwater delivery) should be considered an experimental procedure that only should be performed within the context of an appropriately designed clinical trial with informed consent. Facilities that plan to offer immersion in the first stage of labor need to establish rigorous protocols for candidate selection, maintenance and cleaning of tubs and immersion pools, infection control procedures, monitoring of mothers and fetuses at appropriate intervals while immersed, and immediately and safely moving women out of the tubs if maternal or fetal concerns develop. Pediatrics 2014;133:758-761 INTRODUCTIONImmersion in water has been suggested as a beneficial alternative for labor, delivery, or both and over the past decades has gained popularity in many parts of world. [1][2][3][4] Approximately 1% of births in the United Kingdom include at least a period of immersion, 5 and a 2006 joint statement from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Royal College of Midwives supported immersion in water during labor for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies and stated that to achieve best practice with water birth, it is necessary for organizations to provide systems and structure to support this service. 6 The prevalence of this practice in the United States is unknown, because such data are not collected as part of

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Immersion in Water in the First Stage of Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Bathing in labor confers no clear benefits for the laboring woman but may contribute to adverse effects in the neonate.

Cited by 71 publications

References 26 publications

The effects of immersion in water on labor, birth and newborn and comparison with epidural analgesia and conventional vaginal delivery

The effects of immersion in water on labor, birth and newborn and comparison with epidural analgesia and conventional vaginal delivery

Birth, Bath, and Beyond: The Science and Safety of Water Immersion During Labor and Birth

Immersion in Water During Labor and Delivery

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