Pondicherry Journal of Nursing

Register      Login

VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 4 ( October-December, 2021 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

An Overview of Water Birth and Its Benefits

Chandraleka Ravi

Keywords : Labor pain, Primigravid, Water birth

Citation Information : Ravi C. An Overview of Water Birth and Its Benefits. 2021; 14 (4):91-93.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10084-13120

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 08-02-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Birth is a dynamic process and joyful process where every woman who is pregnant will definitely undergo the delivery process. The process of delivery will be normal, Cesarean section, vacuum, and forceps methods. Most of the mothers who are all undergone for normal spontaneous vaginal delivery process will get an episiotomy wound, especially the primigravid mothers. Some mothers may develop complications like irregular shape of the perineal region, pain, and wound infection. In that, many women need different birthing methods which will lower the labor pain and complications. Water birth is an emerging alternative method of delivery process with fewer complications. In water birth, there is no need for performance of episiotomy even for primigravid mothers. Because of less awareness among people, the practice of water birth was not popular. Training will be provided for the midwives to conduct an efficient water birth for the pregnant mothers, and the students will be educated and practiced in their study period itself. Further research studies are required to bring out the water birth into practice.


HTML PDF Share
  1. The American College of Ostetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion. 679. Summary: immersion in water during labor and delivery. Obstet Gynecol 2016;128(5):1198–1199. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001765.
  2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Immersion in water during labor and delivery. Pediatrics 2014;133(4):758–761. DOI: 10.1542/Peds.2013-3794.
  3. Cluett ER, Burns E. Immersion in water in labour and birth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009;2:CD000111. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000111.pub3.
  4. Richmond H. Women's experience of waterbirth. Pract Midwife 2003;6(3):26–31. PMID: 12677840.
  5. Mollamahmutoğlu L, Moraloğlu O, Ozyer S, Su FA, Karayalçın R, Hançerlioğlu N, et al. The effects of immersion in water on labor, birth and newborn and comparison with epidural analgesia and conventional vaginal delivery. J Turk German Gynecol Assoc 2012;13(1):45–49. DOI: 10.5152/jtgga.2012.03.
  6. Snapp C, Stapleton SR, Wright J, Niemczyk NA, Jolles D. The experience of land and water birth within the American Association of Birth Centers Perinatal Data Registry, 2012–2017. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2020;34(1):16–26. DOI: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000450.
  7. Ulfsdottir H, Saltvedt S, Georgsson S. Comparative study about characteristics and outcomes of waterbirth with those of spontaneous vaginal delivery in Sweden. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2018;97(3):341–348. DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13286.
  8. Lewis L, Hauck YL, Crichton C, Barnes C, Poletti C, Overing H, et al. The perceptions and experiences of women who achieved and did not achieve a waterbirth in Australia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018;18(1):23. DOI: 10.1186/s 12884-017-1637-5.
  9. Arizona Department of Health Services. Guidelines for water immersion and water birth. 2016. p. 8.
  10. Spragne A. Water labour, water birth: a guide to the use of water during childbirth: a guide to the use of water during pregnancy labour and birth. 4th ed. 2011.
  11. Avery MD. Supporting a physiologic approach to pregnancy and birth: a practical Guide. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing; 2013.
  12. Dahlen HG, Dowling H, Tracy M, Schmied V, Tracy S. Maternal and perinatal outcomes amongst low risk women giving birth in water compared to six birth positions on land. A descriptive cross sectional study in a birth center over 12 years. Midwifery 2013;29(7):759–764. DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2012.07.002.
  13. Harper B. In deep: seven secrets of successful waterbirth. Essentially MIDIRS 2012;3(5):32–37.
  14. Schafer R. Umbilical cord avulsion in waterbirth. J Midwifery Women Health 2014;59(1):91–94. DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.12157.
  15. What hydrotherapy does during pregnancy and labor. What to expect. Available from: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy-and-hydrotherapy.aspx [Accessed October 10, 2021].
  16. Hydrotherapy treatment, benefits, types & contraindications. HomeCEUConnection. 2018. Available from: https://www.homeceuconnection.com/blog/hydrotherapy-treatment-benefits-types-contraindications/.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.