Hydrotherapy Study on Childbirth

Researchers at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. University of Liverpool, United Kingdom have confirmed earlier research findings that hydrotherapy is extremely beneficial for pregnant mother-to-be during labour.

The use of birthing pools (luring labour is increasing in the United Kingdom, and researchers felt the need to establish whether this was justified by investigating the value and safety of hydrotherapy as a birthing aid.

The study was performed in a District General Hospital in Liverpool where a group of 100 women of low obstetric risk used the birthing pool at some stage (luring their labour’s and a control group of 100 women were matched in terms of age, parity and obstetric history hut laboured and delivered without the use of a birthing pool.

The main outcome measures were operative delivery rates, duration of labour, analgesic requirements. perineal trauma and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes.

The results showed that those women who used the birthing pool had significantly reduced operative delivery rates, a shorter second stage of labour, reduced analgesic requirements and a lower incidence of perineal trauma. The women who used the birthing pool also required significantly less analgesic aid.

The report concluded that hydrotherapy during labour significantly aids the labour process, minimises the use of analgesic medications md should he considered as a safe and effective birthing aid.

Aird IA; Luckas MJ; Buckett WM; Bousfield P. Effects of intrapartum hydrotherapy on labour related parameters. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol (Australia) May 1997, 37 (2) p137-42