Abstract

Water birth has numerous advantages, including less discomfort, shorter labour times, less need for analgesics, the opportunity to shift positions during labour, and many more. Because so few people in India are aware of it, it is not as common there. Indications and contraindications, problems, alternatives, and the benefits and drawbacks of water birth are all covered in the article. Objectives: To record the practice of water immersion during labour and/or delivery (labour stages 1, 2, and 3) and evaluate the impact on the health of the mother, foetus, and newborn. To compare the results and safety of water immersion with traditional vaginal births and deliveries with epidural analgesia. Material and Methods: A comparison was made between 207 women who chose water birth and 204 women who had conventional vaginal deliveries and 191 women who had vaginal deliveries with epidural analgesia. Demographic information, the duration of the first, second, and third stages of labour, the need for an episiotomy and induction, perineal injuries, NICU requirements, apgar scores, and VAS scores were recorded. Result: Patients who had water births had shorter first stages of labour than those who had vaginal deliveries with epidural analgesia, while those who had water births had shorter second and third stages of labour than those who had traditional vaginal deliveries or vaginal deliveries with epidural analgesia. Water birth patients experienced greater perineal lacerations but required fewer induction and episiotomy. Every woman giving birth by water had lower VAS scores and a decreased need for analgesia. Regarding NICU admission, there was no difference between the groups. Both groups’ Apgar scores were similar. During the trial, neither neonatal infections nor neonatal deaths occurred.

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