Despite widespread and increasing use of immersion in water during lab
or, birth, or both in many different countries, no reliable informatio
n is available about its advantages, hazards, and resource implication
s. We describe the development of immersion in water during labor and
birth, the current use of this form of care in the United Kingdom, the
research that has been conducted to date, and possible strategies for
future research. Three approaches to research are suggested: a survey
of existing practice, a randomized controlled trial, and a confidenti
al register of serious adverse events.