Women who opt for water births have as many complications as those who give birth on dry land.
Giving birth to a baby can involve certain difficulties, just like the place where one decides to give birth. A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan (USA) shows that women who choose to give birth in water do just as well as those who give birth on dry land. The results of their study were published on December 10 in the journal Birthday.
Researchers analyzed 397 water births and 2,025 land births from two midwifery practices. Based on the results of the analysis, there was no difference in outcomes between aquatic births and land births for neonatal intensive care admissions. In fact, postpartum hemorrhage rates were similar for both groups. from the University of Michigan and lead author of the article. They mirror what we see in international studies of water births.”
A risk-free practice for mother and child
During water birth, the mother is immersed in a tub filled with water. When they come out of their mother’s womb, babies take their first breath once they come to the surface. Contrary to what one might think, newborn babies cannot drown when they are born in water, because their lungs are already “filled with water”. In addition, babies come out of their mother’s womb, in which they have lived in liquid for several months. However, once it has risen to the surface and breathed air for the first time, the baby can no longer be submerged. “It is important not to overwhelm the babies again, emphasizes Ruth Zielinski, professor of nursing and co-author of the study. At nursing school, children are born in water, they come out almost immediately, and we are careful not to re-immerse them.”
One of the disadvantages of water birth is its difficulty in measuring the amount of blood lost in the water, so mother and baby usually leave the tub before the placenta is delivered.
Level of satisfaction unknown
However, few U.S. hospitals or birthing centers use bathtub births, due to the perceived risk to the newborn, which could be neonatal infection or cord tearing. Many women in labor use water for comfort, but not all support water birth.
The study indicates that water births are not more dangerous, but that further research is needed to understand the level of satisfaction of women giving birth in water.
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