Glossary

Term · Getting Ready for Birth

water immersion

Also: labor in water, water labor, warm water bath in labor

Sitting or lying in warm water during labor, to ease pain and help relaxation. Different from a water birth, which is giving birth in the water.

In plain words

Water immersion is spending time in a warm tub or pool during labor. Many mothers find it eases pain, helps them relax, and lets them move more freely. It is different from a water birth, which means the baby is born in the water. Some hospitals and birth centers have tubs, and home birth providers may bring a pool. Water immersion is not right for everyone, and some providers ask you to leave the water at certain points. Whether a tub is available, and what the rules are for using it, varies by hospital and birth team.

The deeper version

Immersion in warm water reduces the perception of labor pain, possibly through hydrostatic pressure, thermal effects, and reduced response. The Cochrane review by Cluett and Burns (2017) found that immersion in water during the first stage of labor reduced use of analgesia and was not associated with increased adverse outcomes for mother or baby, though the trials were heterogeneous and of low to moderate quality. The Jones et al. Cochrane overview (2012) classified water immersion as possibly effective for pain relief. Safety concerns for water birth include infection and newborn water aspiration, which are the reason for guidance on water temperature and duration. Professional bodies, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives, support immersion in labor with appropriate protocols.

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Sources

  • Cluett ER, Burns E — Immersion in water in labour and birth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017
  • Jones L et al. — Pain management for women in labour: an overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012
  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Royal College of Midwives — Immersion in Water During Labour and Birth, joint statement No. 1, 2006

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