Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies
Introduction: Water birth, involving immersion in water during childbirth, has gained popularity for its potential benefits, such as pain relief and comfort. While widely practiced in some countries, concerns regarding its safety, particularly for neonates, remain. This paper explores the mater...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Quality in Sport |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/57158 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832590703728787456 |
|---|---|
| author | Julia Górny Alicja Kapciak Katarzyna Naja Jakub Zwardoń Artur Hawajski Natalia Jankowska Oliwia Kamieniecka Adrianna Świerzyńska Weronika Mazur Natalia Pawelec |
| author_facet | Julia Górny Alicja Kapciak Katarzyna Naja Jakub Zwardoń Artur Hawajski Natalia Jankowska Oliwia Kamieniecka Adrianna Świerzyńska Weronika Mazur Natalia Pawelec |
| author_sort | Julia Górny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction:
Water birth, involving immersion in water during childbirth, has gained popularity for its potential benefits, such as pain relief and comfort. While widely practiced in some countries, concerns regarding its safety, particularly for neonates, remain. This paper explores the maternal and fetal benefits and risks associated with water birth, as well as the epidemiological trends, medical protocols, and legal considerations.
Aim of Study:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes of water immersion and water birth, focusing on the safety, efficacy, and factors influencing its adoption in different populations.
Material and methods:
A comprehensive review of the literature on water birth including its benefits, risks and controversies was performed using the PubMed database.
Results and Conclusions:
Water immersion during labor is associated with significant maternal benefits, including reduced pain and anxiety, shorter labor, and fewer pharmacological interventions. Water birth, however, carries potential risks, such as neonatal respiratory complications and infections, although studies generally report no significant differences in neonatal outcomes compared to land birth. Epidemiological trends show higher water birth rates among women aged 30–39, while socioeconomic factors, such as deprivation, are linked to lower rates. Water birth has been shown to reduce the incidence of severe perineal tears and postpartum hemorrhage. While promising, the practice requires careful adherence to medical protocols to ensure safety, with further research needed to fully establish its long-term benefits and risks.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-024a1df7c6ad4866ac8a7fc6c2bc994f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-024a1df7c6ad4866ac8a7fc6c2bc994f2025-01-23T08:24:42ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-01-013710.12775/QS.2025.37.57158Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and ControversiesJulia Górny0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5363-1590Alicja Kapciak1https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0655-8820Katarzyna Naja2https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6513-6984Jakub Zwardoń3https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3944-2943Artur Hawajski4https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7592-2114Natalia Jankowska5https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3618-6247Oliwia Kamieniecka6https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1660-2735Adrianna Świerzyńska7https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1451-3009Weronika Mazur8https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4347-4077Natalia Pawelec9https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3478-9350Mazovian "Bródnowski" Hospital, Ludwika Kondratowicza 8, 03-242 Warsaw, PolandNational Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, PolandMedical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, PolandMedical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, PolandUniversity of Technology and Humanities in Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, PolandUniversity of Technology and Humanities in Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, PolandMedical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, PolandUniversity of Technology and Humanities in Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, PolandUniversity of Technology and Humanities in Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, PolandUniversity of Technology and Humanities in Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, Poland Introduction: Water birth, involving immersion in water during childbirth, has gained popularity for its potential benefits, such as pain relief and comfort. While widely practiced in some countries, concerns regarding its safety, particularly for neonates, remain. This paper explores the maternal and fetal benefits and risks associated with water birth, as well as the epidemiological trends, medical protocols, and legal considerations. Aim of Study: The aim of this study is to evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes of water immersion and water birth, focusing on the safety, efficacy, and factors influencing its adoption in different populations. Material and methods: A comprehensive review of the literature on water birth including its benefits, risks and controversies was performed using the PubMed database. Results and Conclusions: Water immersion during labor is associated with significant maternal benefits, including reduced pain and anxiety, shorter labor, and fewer pharmacological interventions. Water birth, however, carries potential risks, such as neonatal respiratory complications and infections, although studies generally report no significant differences in neonatal outcomes compared to land birth. Epidemiological trends show higher water birth rates among women aged 30–39, while socioeconomic factors, such as deprivation, are linked to lower rates. Water birth has been shown to reduce the incidence of severe perineal tears and postpartum hemorrhage. While promising, the practice requires careful adherence to medical protocols to ensure safety, with further research needed to fully establish its long-term benefits and risks. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/57158water birthpregnancynewborn |
| spellingShingle | Julia Górny Alicja Kapciak Katarzyna Naja Jakub Zwardoń Artur Hawajski Natalia Jankowska Oliwia Kamieniecka Adrianna Świerzyńska Weronika Mazur Natalia Pawelec Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies Quality in Sport water birth pregnancy newborn |
| title | Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies |
| title_full | Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies |
| title_fullStr | Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies |
| title_short | Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies |
| title_sort | water birth benefits risks and controversies |
| topic | water birth pregnancy newborn |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/57158 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliagorny waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT alicjakapciak waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT katarzynanaja waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT jakubzwardon waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT arturhawajski waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT nataliajankowska waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT oliwiakamieniecka waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT adriannaswierzynska waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT weronikamazur waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies AT nataliapawelec waterbirthbenefitsrisksandcontroversies |