SAEDNEWS: Research shows that using a water pool during childbirth for low-risk pregnancies is as safe as giving birth outside of water.
According to the Society Service of Saed News, citing IRNA, one of the main concerns of pregnant mothers is the type of delivery. Beyond the choice between vaginal and cesarean delivery, the decision to have a natural birth does not end there. In recent years, natural birth has also been performed in a specific form known as water birth in many countries worldwide. This method, designed to reduce pain and complications for both mother and newborn, has recently come under scrutiny in some observations and scientific articles, with numerous researchers and physicians studying its potential risks compared to traditional (non-water) births.
One reason for such studies may be that in developed countries, physicians often recommend natural birth as the preferred method. In contrast, in Iran, cesarean delivery is readily accepted by doctors, which partly explains why the rate of cesarean births in the country is higher than natural births.
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Recent scientific studies have shown that water birth does not increase the risk of complications for the mother or newborn. Researchers at Cardiff University evaluated 73,229 low-risk pregnancies in which water pools were used during labor across 26 NHS (National Health Service) organizations in England and Wales between 2015 and 2022. The analysis examined severe maternal injuries, the number of newborns requiring antibiotics or respiratory support in neonatal units, and the number of babies who died during birth. The researchers concluded that the risks for mothers and their babies during water births are not higher than those associated with conventional births.
The Guardian reported: “Julia Sanders, Professor of Clinical Midwifery at Cardiff University and lead of the research team, stated: ‘This study shows that water birth is a safe alternative to conventional delivery.’ She added, ‘In the UK, approximately 60,000 women per year use birthing pools or baths to relieve labor pain, but some midwives and physicians were concerned that water birth might carry higher risks.’
Reports have suggested that newborns could become seriously ill or even die following water birth, while mothers might experience severe bleeding. ‘In this study, we sought to determine whether water birth with NHS midwives is as safe as conventional birth for low-risk women and their babies,’ Sanders explained.”
Peter Brocklehurst, Emeritus Professor of Women’s Health at the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, commented: “Given that 10 percent of women use water immersion for pain relief during labor, the results of this study will have positive implications for thousands of women each year. Water birth is a common practice in the UK and many other countries worldwide.”
Professor Chris Gale, a neonatal consultant at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust in London, added: “Many pediatric and neonatal specialists were concerned that water birth might pose additional risks for newborns, but this study provides convincing evidence that this is not the case for women with uncomplicated pregnancies.”
