BMJ  2005;330 (7 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7499.0-b

Underwater birth poses risks for the baby

Although underwater birth promotes natural labour and is a safe and effective form of pain management, it also poses potential risks for the baby. On page 1071, Kassim and colleagues present a case report of a full term infant weighing 3150 g born underwater from a 34 year old, healthy primigravida who had had an uneventful pregnancy. Shortly after birth the baby was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with neonatal respiratory stress. The authors believe that the problem was aspiration of the birthing pool water.

Credit: MOOSE AZIM/MOTHER & BABY PICTURE LIBRARY

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Underwater birth and neonatal respiratory distress

Zainab Kassim, Maria Sellars, and Anne Greenough
BMJ 2005 330: 1071-1072. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]