Water births good for mum and baby too, study suggests

NOT every mother who has had one might agree, but water births provide ‘clear benefits’ for women and their newborns, with fewer complications, evidence suggests.

A water birth involves using a birthing pool to help mothers with relaxation and pain relief during labour. Sometimes the mother exits the pool for the final stages, while others remain in the pool for the birth and bring the newborn to the surface to breathe. Researchers from Oxford Brookes University analysed 36 studies involving more than 150,000 women to compare the interventions needed during and after labour between the two different types of water birth, versus standard care. They found a water birth significantly reduced the use of epidurals or injected opioids, and were linked to less pain and heavy bleeding after the birth.

A water birth also increased mothers’ satisfaction levels and decreased tearing, however there were more instances of umbilical cord breakage, the scientists said. They added that doctors should be ‘mindful’ to avoid pulling on the umbilical cord when bringing the newborn to the surface, as this could explain the increased risk of breakage.

The practice was deemed to be as safe as standard care and did not increase the rate of caesarean sections. Writing in the journal BMJ Open, the researchers said: ‘Water immersion provides benefits for the mother and newborn... making water immersion a low-tech intervention for improving quality and satisfaction with care. Water immersion is an effective method to reduce pain in labour, without increasing risk.’

The authors said further research is needed to analyse water births in a midwife-led unit or at home.

Clare Livingstone, from the Royal College of Midwives, said: ‘This is really good news for women choosing to have a water birth or thinking of having one.

‘Water births are becoming more widely available across the UK, but this isn’t the case everywhere. The challenge is to ensure this choice is open to all women.’