RESEARCH

Water Birth Study Draws International Attention

Assistant professor Priscilla Hall, PhD, RN, CNM, contributed to a recent meta-analysis study on water births that is gaining far-reaching recognition.

“I would like to see water tubs in every hospital,” says assistant professor Priscilla Hall, PhD, RN, CNM.

The study – which shows that water births provide clear benefits for mothers and babies – is receiving attention from medical professionals and media sources such as “Good Morning America.”

A process of giving birth in a deep bath or birthing pool, water birth is relatively uncommon in the United States. The study’s focus on hospital-based care led to increased attention among physicians, as 98 percent of U.S. births occur in hospital settings.

A synthesis of evidence led the team to conclude that water births in an obstetric setting led to lower pain levels and reduced heavy bleeding in labor, higher satisfaction levels for mothers, and improved odds of avoiding perineal tears or lacerations.

Hall was part of a team that included primary investigator Ethel Burns, PhD, from Oxford Brookes University as well as researchers from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and King’s College in London.