Introduction

The actual number of underwater births occurring in this country is unknown at present because many are conducted as part of a home birth. It is estimated that there are approximately 25 000 home births occurring each year in the United States. According to a published account of underwater birth practice in America, about 250 hospitals and 70% of all birth centers support water birth (here referred to as underwater birth).

This statistic refers to the practice of actually delivering the baby under water, which is different from the concept of water labor (also called hydrotherapy or water immersion during the first stage of labor). Although spawned by the growth in popularity of natural and alternative medicine, it appears that underwater births are occurring in many institutions absent mainstream validation as a safe obstetrical practice.