Water Births

The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recently released a committee opinion on the safety of water births. (Read it here) This opinion was met with some concern from the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) who say “the document has the potential to introduce inappropriate fear about the safety of water birth for families, providers, facility administrators, insurers, and others who want to make informed decisions regarding immersion in water for labor and birth.” The AABC have collected and analyzed 3998 water births and the outcomes over the period of January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010 and have found the following:

• Rates of postpartum and neonatal transfer from the birth center, and neonatal procedures were low for the sample in general, and were slightly lower for births in water when compared to non-water births.  This has been reported elsewhere.1

• This suggests that if labor is not progressing smoothly, women were unlikely to give birth in water and speaks to the importance of anticipatory and skilled water birth providers.

• Rates of newborn transfer to a hospital were lower following water birth (1.5%) than non-water birth (2.8%)

• Rates of adverse newborn outcomes (5 minute APGAR < 7, respiratory issues, presence of infection and NICU admission) were each below 1.0% in the water birth sample.  The total rate of any respiratory issues was 1.6% in the babies born in water and 2.0% in those not born in water.

• There were no incidences of pneumonia, sepsis or other respiratory infection following water birth and there were no reports of ruptured umbilical cords or newborns breathing water into their lungs associated with birth underwater.

• Midwives practicing in birth centers are trained, anticipatory water birth providers, so data generated by midwifery care provides the most accurate view of the safety of water birth.
  
  

They concluded that “water birth, with careful selection criteria and experienced providers, does not negatively affect mothers or newborns.”

As with all aspects of pregnancy, labor and birth, make sure you:

• Talk with your Midwife/OBGYN
• Talk with your spouse/partner
• Read, research, educate yourself
• Make a decision for YOU and YOUR BABY.
  
  Read the complete responses from AABC - AABC Position Statement – Immersion in Water during Labor and Birth