Largest Ever Waterbirth Study
Examining 17,500+ waterbirths
Matched control of 17,500+ land births
Key findings:
Waterbirth finds it is neither as harmful as some current guidelines suggest, nor as benign as some proponents claim.
Outcomes per 5000 women and birthing people who birth in water:
3 will develop a uterine infection.
In the same 5000 women and birthing people who birth in water, expect:
- 30 fewer postpartum hemorrhages
- 4 fewer severe perineal lacerations
- 14 fewer hospital admissions in the first 6 weeks
Outcomes per 5000 infants born underwater:
10 will have an umbilical cord avulsion.
In the same 5000 neonates born in water, expect:
- 6 fewer cases of respiratory distress syndrome
- 10 fewer hospital admissions in the first 6 wk
Importantly, there was no difference in the number of neonatal deaths between babies born underwater and those born on land.
(now available open source - view only)
Citation:
Bovbjerg, M.L., Cheyney, M. and Caughey, A.B. (2021), Maternal and neonatal outcomes following waterbirth: a cohort study of 17,530 waterbirths and 17,530 propensity score-matched land births. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17009
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