Doctors' Groups Warn Against Underwater Births | WPN World People News

Using a birthing pool during the early stages of labor can provide some benefits to women. However, giving birth underwater may put newborns at risk for serious health problems, according to a statement issued by two major medical organizations.

Many labor and delivery units are equipped with tubs to be used by laboring women, and immersion in water for relaxation and pain relief is appealing to some.

But it is important to recognize that laboring in water is not the same as delivering underwater. Laboring in water may offer some potential benefits, but delivering underwater does not seem to have clear advantages, and the risk of rare but serious consequences to a delivering baby's health is something women and providers should all be aware of.

According to the ACOG/AAP statement, potential problems associated with underwater delivery include an increased risk of infection in the mother and baby, difficulty controlling the baby's body temperature, greater risk of umbilical cord damage, breathing problems caused by the baby inhaling water and possible seizures or asphyxiation of the baby after birth.

Hospitals or birth centers that offer water immersion in the first stage of labor should take a number of steps to protect the health and safety of the baby.

These measures include strict guidelines for selecting eligible women, proper cleaning and maintenance of tubs and immersion pools, following infection-control procedures, regular monitoring of women while immersed and removing women from tubs if there are any concerns about them or their babies.

Underwater delivery should be performed only in properly designed clinical trials and with the parents' informed consent.

"Certainly, there needs to be some clear protocols about who are candidates for this type of delivery, as well as strict guidelines for maintenance of these pools in terms of infections, cleanliness and patient selection," expert said.

while laboring in a tub until the woman is fully dilated and ready to being pushing may have some benefits, the actual delivery underwater has no benefit to the baby -- with potential serious risks.

Source: HealthDay News