WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO A WATER BIRTH?

 

The Evidence on: Waterbirth,

In a recent review of seven randomized trials with 2615 participants looking at water immersion during birth found that laboring in water posed no extra risks to mother (Shaw-Battista 2017) or baby and helped to relieve pain, with less use of pain medication (epidurals and spinals). Mothers who labored and birthed in water had less anxiety, shorter births, better fetal positioning in the pelvis, less augmentation of labor, had more freedom of movement,  a higher rate of normal vaginal birth, no excess blood loss, intact perineum and were more satisfied overall with their birthing experience.

OUTCOME: Physiologic Labor and Birth.  Meaning: a normal vaginal birth