Giving Birth based on Best Evidence

By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN of EvidenceBasedBirth.com

Is waterbirth safe? What are the benefits and risks for mothers and babies?

Yes, the available evidence shows waterbirth is safe. Babies born in the water have had similar health compared to babies born on land. Evidence: More than 28,000 waterbirths have been observed in research studies. Although most of these studies were not randomized trials, results from multiple high-quality, large studies are reassuring. Harmful effects in large studies were either non-existent or very rare.

Benefits for mothers:

Importantly, women who give birth in the water have a significant decrease or total elimination in the use of vaginal cutting with scissors (episiotomy) by their care providers.