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| Water birth and the risk of infection Experience after 1500 water births A. Thoeni, N. Zech, L. Moroder Pol J Gyn Invest 2004; 7(1/4):21-26 ICID: 14548 |
| IC™ Value: 3.21 |
| Background:To determine the advantages of this type of birth,the aim of our study was to analyze 1500 consecutive water births and to compare them with two other delivery positions.Material/Methods:We compared 689 primiparae deliveries in water,407 in bed,and 142 on the delivery stool over the last 7 years We evaluated duration of labor,perineal trauma,arterial cord blood pH, and postpartum maternal hemoglobin levels.We also analyzed 200 water samples taken from the bath after .lling and after delivery for pathogenous microorganisms and the possibility of ac-quiring neonatal infections.Results:Duration of the .rst stage of labor (380 vs.468 minutes)and episiotomy rate (0.40%for waterbirth, 23.3%for bed,8.4%for delivery stool)were signi .cantly reduced in primiparas with water birth compared with the other delivery positions. Nevertheless, the percentage of perineal trauma was not increased. There were no differences in the duration of the second stage (34 vs.37 minutes),and arterial cord blood pH and postpartum maternal hemoglobin levels remained unchanged. No woman having water birth required anal-gesics .Infections after water births do not occur more frequently than after traditional births.Conclusions:Our results show that water birth has a major advantages over traditional delivery methods. It is associated with a signi .cantly shorter .rst stage of labor, lower episiotomy rate, and reduced analgesic requirements than other delivery positions. Provided the women are selected appropriately and the rules of hygiene are respected, water birth is safe for the mother and neonate. |
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ICID 14548 |
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