Study Identifies the Risk of Underwater Births

Delivering babies in water to escape labor pain can cause infections in mother and child, according to recent findings.

Underwater birth has been in vogue for a long time. Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found evidence challenging the notions of safety of the procedure. These procedures are mostly to minimize labor pain and usage of pain killers but no benefits to the mother have so far been identified. 

Tonse Raju, the chief of Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development was involved in drafting of the guidelines and said, "There are rare risks associated with water births, especially if the baby is actually delivered in the water. Mothers should be aware of these risks," reports Live Science.

The findings report underwater births can cause a number of problems like damage to the umbilical cord, infection from dirty pool water, breathing problems in children by inhaling pool water, serious hemorrhages and even drowning.  Dr Raju warned, water contamination due to presence of stool poses a number of risks for the new born child who can contract respiratory infections after inhaling fecal matter.   

Their study noted 12 percent of children who were delivered by water births were admitted to intensive care units. 

Hospitals and healthcare center are recommended to follow certain protocols by monitoring patients during the birthing procedure, regularly checking temperature, safety standards and keeping the tubs clean.

The new guidelines read, "Given these facts and case reports of rare but serious adverse effects in the newborn, the practice of immersion in the second stage of labor - underwater delivery - should be considered an experimental procedure that should only be performed within the context of an appropriately designed clinical trial with informed consent," reports the Almagest.

More information is available in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

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