A new water birth study has been published in the December 12, 2019 issue of The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing. The study was conducted by the American Association of Birth Centers utilizing data from the organization’s members. The water birth study included 26,684 births between the years of 2012 and 2017 in both home and birth center settings. Here is an excerpt from the abstract and link for the full article.
“Of 26 684 women, those giving birth in water had more favorable outcomes including fewer prolonged first- or second-stage labors, fetal heart rate abnormalities, shoulder dystocias, genital lacerations, episiotomies, hemorrhage, or postpartum transfers. Cord avulsion occurred rarely, but it was more common among water births. Newborns born in water were less likely to require transfer to a higher level of care, be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, or experience respiratory complication. Among childbearing women of low medical risk, personal preference should drive utilization of nonpharmacologic care practices including water birth. Both land and water births have similar good outcomes within the community setting.”
