Water Birth Research and Resources

Health Committee Report

"We recommend that all hospitals make it their policy to make full provision whenever possible for women to choose the position which they prefer for labour and birth with the option of a birthing pool where this is practicable.'"Winterton, N. House of Commons Health Committee, Second Report -

Maternity Services, 23 February 1992.

Contents

1. Reviews and audits

o Beake, S. Waterbirth: A Literature Review. Practising Midwife, Vol. 3, No 2, Feb 2000. Pg 12.

o Brown, L. The Tide Has Turned: audit of waterbirth. BJM Supplement on Waterbirth. British Journal of Midwifery, Vol. 6, No. 4, April 1998.

o Nikodem, V.C. Immersion in water during pregnancy, labour and birth. (Most recent amendment, June 1997). The Cochrane Library, Oxford - 1998, issue 1.

o Garland, D. & Jones, K. Waterbirth: Updating the Evidence. British Journal of Midwifery, June 1997, Vol. 5, No.6. pp. 368 - 373.

o Campbell, K. The Water Birth Debate: A Brief Review. B.C. Midwife. Spring 1998, Vol. 4 No1, pp19 - 21

2. Surveys

o Garcia, J. Labour and birth in water in England and Wales: a report of a survey. National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.

o Alderdice, F., Renfrew, M., Marchant, S., Ashurst, H., Hughes, P., Berridge, G., Garcia, J. The national waterbirth study. Research and the Midwife Conference Proceedings, Manchester. Research and the Midwife 1996, pp 18-22.

o Alderdice, F., Renfrew, M., Marchant, S., Ashurst, H., Hughes, P., Berridge, G.,

Garcia, J. Labour and birth in water in England and Wales: a report of a survey. BJM Supplement on Water Births. British Journal of Midwifery, July 1995, Vol.3, No. 7. pp. 375-382.

3. Perinatal mortality and morbidity

o Gilbert, R., Tookey, P. Perinatal mortality and morbidity amond babies delivered in water: surveillance study and postal survey. BMJ, Vol 319, 21 August 1999. pp 483-487.

o Floyd, L. Research Update: Perinatal mortality and morbidity among babies delivered in water. The Practising Midwife, March 2000. Vol. 3 No. 3. pg. 43.

4. Clinical overviews

o Hartley, J. The use of water during labour and birth. RCM Midwives Journal, December 1998, Vol. 1. No. 12. pp 344-345.

o Harris, K.T. Hydrotherapy: An Alternative Method for Relieving Labor Pain. Mother Baby Journal. Vol. 4, No 5. September 1999.

5. Pioneers

o Odent, M. Birth under water. The Lancet. December 24/31, 1983. pp 1476-1477

o Harper, B. Why Waterbirth. Exerpt from Gentle Birth Choices. Revised Jan. 1999.

6. Risk of fetal hyperthermia

o Charles, C. Fetal hyperthermia risk from warm water immersion. British Journal of Midwifery, March 1998, Vol 6, no 3. pp 152-156

7. Hormaones / when to enter the pool

o Odent, M. Use of water during labour – updated recommendations. MIDIRS, Midwifery Digest, March 1998, vol 8, no1. pp. 68-69.

o Odent, M. Can water immersion stop labor? Journal of Nurse-Midwifery, Vol 42, No 5. September/October 1997. pp 414-416.

o Eriksson, M., Mattsson, L-A., Ladfors, L. Early or late bath during the first stage of labour: a randomised study of 200 women. Midwifery, Vol 13, no 3, Sept 1997, pp 146-148.

o Boulvain, M., and Wesel, S. Neurobiochemistry of immersion in warm water during labor: the secretion of endorphins, cortisol and prolactin. Fedor-Freybergh, P., Vogal, V. (Editors), Prenatal and perinatal psychology and Medicine. New York. Parthenon, 1988. pp 431-438

8. Asphyxia and infection(hospital studies)

o Kingsley, A., Hutter. S., Green, N., Speirs, G. Waterbirths: regional audit of infection control practises. Journal of Hospital Infection (1999), Vol 41, pp 155-157.

o Forde, C., Creighton, S., Batty, A., Hawdon, J., Summers-Ma, S., Ridgway, G. Labour and delivery in the birthing pool. British Journal of Midwifery, March 1999. Vol .7 No 3. pp165-171.

o Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Resuscitation of Babies at Birth. BMJ Publishing Group, 1997, London.

9. Dive reflex

o Johnson, P. Birth under water – to breathe or not to breathe. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol 103, no 3, March 1996. pp 202-208

o Letter: Birth under water – to breathe or not to breathe. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest (Jun 1997) 7:2. pg 201.

o Eldering, G.,Selke, K. Water Birth - a possible mode of delivery? Water Birth Unplugged, Books for Midwives Press 1996.

10. Midwifery practise

o Odent, M. Why labouring women don’t need support. Mothering, Fall 1996. pp 46-50.

o Warren, C. Why should I do vaginal examinations? The Practising Midwife, June 1999. Vol 2, No 6. pp 12-13.

o Anderson, T. Umbilical cords and underwater birth. The Practising Midwife. February 2000. Vol 3, no. 2. p.12.

o Keane, H. The Water Birth Experience - A Supervisor's Perspective. Midwives January 1995.

pp 9 - 11

11. Hepatitis and HIV issues

o No hepatitis or HIV test, no water birth. News - Modern Midwife. October 1995. p5

12. Midwifery resources

o Water proof fetal heart monitors

o Midirs . Reference list from research database. The use of water and underwater birth. (L20) May 2000.

13. Legal issues for midwives

o Street, D. Water births: client choice versus legal implications. Nursing Times,

November 5, 1997. Vol 93, no 45.

o Reid, T. Delivery Dilemna. Nursing Times, March 2, Volume 90. no 9. 1994. pp 16

o Carlisle, D. A mother’s right to choose? Nursing Times, March 30, Vol 90, no 30. 1994.

o Maxwell, B. Water and Birth - Legal Implications. Hunter Valley Midwive's Association Journal. June 1997. Vol.5, No 3. pp16 - 19.14. ARTICLES

o Beech, B. Water Birth – a passing fad? Modern Midwife. May 1997, Vol 7 no 5. pp11-14.

o Kitzinger, S. Is waterbirth dangerous? Birth, September 1995. Vol 22, no 3. pp 172-173.

o Robinson, J. Safer out of the water? The politics of pool use. British Journal of Midwifery, February 1996, Vol 4, No 2. pp100 - 101

15. Position statements

o United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. Position Statement on Waterbirths. Annexe 1 to Registrar’s Letter 16/1994. 6 October 1994.

o The Royal College of Midwives. The use of water during birth. Position Paper No.1, June 1994.

o The National Childbirth Trust. NCT says labour and birth in water good for mothers. NCT Press Release 31 March 1995.

16. Protocols and guidelines

o Birth Unit - Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth

o Edgeware Birth Centre

17. Research in progress

o Birthing Pool Study. Pilot study at Princess Anne Hospital, Southhampton to see how effective the pool is for first time mothers in slow labour

18. Web sites

o Yahoo UK and Ireland Search

Reviews and audits

So Beake, S. Waterbirth: A Literature Review. Practising Midwife, Vol.3, No 2, Feb 2000. Pg 12.

o Brown, L. The Tide Has Turned: audit of waterbirth. BJM Supplement on Waterbirth. British Journal of Midwifery, Vol. 6, No. 4, April 1998.

o Nikodemn, V.C. Immersion in water during pregnancy, labour and birth. (Most recent amendment, June 1997). The Cochrane Library, Oxford - 1998, issue 1.

o Garland, D. & Jones, K. Waterbirth: Updating the Evidence. British Journal of Midwifery, June 1997, Vol. 5, No.6. Pp. 368 - 373.

o Campbell, K. The Water Birth Debate: A Brief Review. B.C. Midwife. Spring 1998, Vol. 4 No1, pp19 - 21

Surveys

o Alderdice, F., Renfrew, M., Marchant, S., Ashurst, H., Hughes, P., Berridge, G.,

Garcia, J. Labour and birth in water in England and Wales: a report of a survey. National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.

o Alderdice, F., Renfrew, M., Marchant, S., Ashurst, H., Hughes, P., Berridge, G.,

Garcia, J. The national waterbirth study. Research and the Midwife Conference Proceedings 199?, Manchester. Research and the Midwife 1996, pp 18-22.

o Alderdice, F., Renfrew, M., Marchant, S., Ashurst, H., Hughes, P., Berridge, G.,

Garcia, J. Labour and birth in water in England and Wales: a report of a survey. BJM Supplement on Water Births. British Journal of Midwifery, July 1995, Vol.3, No. 7. pp. 375-382.

Perinatal mortality and morbidity

o Gilbert, R., Tookey, P. Perinatal mortality and morbidity amond babies delivered in water: surveillance study and postal survey. BMJ, Vol 319, 21 August 1999. pp 483-487.

o Floyd, L. Research Update: Perinatal mortality and morbidity among babies delivered in water. The Practising Midwife, March 2000. Vol. 3 No. 3. pg. 43.

Clinical overview

o Hartley, J. The use of water during labour and birth. RCM Midwives Journal, December 1998, Vol. 1. No. 12. pp 344-345.

o Harris, K.T. Hydrotherapy: An Alternative Method for Relieving Labor Pain. Mother Baby Journal. Vol. 4, No 5. September 1999.PIONEERSo Odent, M. Birth under water. The Lancet, December 24/31, 1983. pp 1476-1477o Harper, B. Why Waterbirth. Exerpt from Gentle Birth Choices. Revised Jan. 1999.

Risk of hyperthermia

o Charles, C. Fetal hyperthermia risk from warm water immersion. British Journal of Midwifery, March 1998, Vol 6, no 3. pp 152-156.

Hormones / when to enter the pool

o Odent, M. Use of water during labour – updated recommendations. MIDIRS, Midwifery Digest, March 1998, vol 8, no1. pp. 68-69.

o Odent, M. Can water immersion stop labor? Journal of Nurse-Midwifery, Vol 42, No 5. September/October 1997. pp 414-416.

o Eriksson, M., Mattsson, L-A., Ladfors, L. Early or late bath during the first stage of labour: a randomised study of 200 women. Midwifery, Vol 13, no 3, September 1997. pp 146-148.

o Boulvain, M., and Wesel, S. Neurobiochemistry of immersion in warm water during labor: the secretion of endorphins, cortisol and prolactin. Fedor-Freybergh, P., Vogal, V. (Editors), Prenatal and perinatal psychology and Medicine. New York. Parthenon, 1988. pp 431-438

Asphyxia and infection

(Hospital Studies)o Kingsley, A., Hutter. S., Green, N., Speirs, G. Waterbirths: regional audit ofinfection control practises. Journal of Hospital Infection (1999), Vol 41, pp 155-157.

o Forde, C., Creighton, S., Batty, A., Hawdon, J., Summers-Ma, S., Ridgway, G. Labour and delivery in the birthing pool. British Journal of Midwifery, March 1999. Vol 7 No 3. pp165-171.o Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Resuscitation of Babies at Birth. BMJ Publishing Group, 1997. London.

Dive reflex

o Johnson, P. Birth under water – to breathe or not to breathe. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol 103, no 3, March 1996. pp 202-208.

o Letter: Birth under water – to breathe or not to breathe. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest (Jun 1997) 7:2. pg 201.

o Eldering, G.,Selke, K. Water Birth - a possible mode of delivery? Water Birth Unplugged, Books for Midwives Press 1996.

Midwifery practise

o Odent, M. Why labouring women don’t need support. Mothering, Fall 1996. pp 46-50.

o Warren, C. Why should I do vaginal examinations? The Practising Midwife, June 1999. Vol 2, No 6. pp 12-13.

o Anderson, T. Umbilical cords and underwater birth. The Practising Midwife. February 2000. Vol 3, no. 2. p.12.

o Keane, H. The Water Birth Experience - A Supervisor's Perspective. Midwives January 1995. pp 9 - 11

Hepatitis and HIV issues

o No hepatitis or HIV test, no water birth. News - Modern Midwife. October 1995. p5

Midwifery resources

o Waterproof foetal heart monitors

o Midirs . Reference list from research database. The use of water and underwater birth. (L20) May 2000.

Legal issues for midwives

o Street, D. Water births: client choice versus legal implications. Nursing Times, November 5, 1997. Vol 93, no 45.

o Reid, T. Delivery Dilemna. Nursing Times, March 2, Volume 90. no 9. 1994.

pp 16

o Carlisle, D. A mother’s right to choose? Nursing Times, March 30, Voil 90, no 30. 1994.

o Maxwell, B. Water and Birth - Legal Implications. Hunter Valley Midwive's Association Journal. June 1997. Vol.5, No 3. pp16 - 19.

Articles

o Beech, B. Water Birth – a passing fad? Modern Midwife. May 1997, Vol 7 no 5. pp 11-14.

o Kitzinger, S. Is waterbirth dangerous? Birth, September 1995. Vol 22, no 3. pp 172-173.

o Robinson, J. Safer out of the water? The politics of pool use. British Journal of Midwifery, February 1996, Vol 4, No 2. pp100 - 101

Position statements

o United Kingdom Central Council for nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. Position Statement on Waterbirths. Annexe 1 to Registrar’s Letter 16/1994. 6 October 1994.

o The Royal College of Midwives. The use of water during birth. Position Paper No.1, June 1994.

o The National Childbirth Trust. NCT says labour and birth in water good for mothers. NCT Press Release 31 March 1995.

Protocols and guidelines

o Birth Unit - Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth

o Edgeware Birth Centre

Research in progress

o Birthing Pool Study. Pilot study at Princess Anne Hospital, Southhampton to see how effective the pool is for first time mothers in slow labour

Web sites

o Yahoo UK and Ireland Search

This inspirational video features the birth experiences of three women at home and in hospital. The mothers and midwives involved are interviewed and the film is introduced by Janet Balaskas.

by Janet Balaskas and Amy Hardie - Running time 45 minutes.

Clinical guidelines for a hospital with water birth pool facility
by Janet Balaskas

A free practical booklet for midwives. It gives guidance on the safe use of water birth pools. Ideal for midwives who do not have much clinical experience in this method of delivery or wish to increase their knowledge. Updated regularly the contents are based on protocols from units with a large experience of water birth and feedback from mothers and midwives.