The Roma birthing wheel: 1 year's clinical experience at a specialised hospital

Objective: To test the safety and practicability of spontaneous deliveries with the Roma birthing wheel (RBW). Method: The results of 1 year's clinica l experience (1.12.1995-30.11.1996) with the RBW at the Department of Obste trics and Gynecology, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, were compared with the res ults of a group of head-first deliveries before procuring the RBW. Results: Out of 1,555 births, 1,377 (89%) were spontaneous; 209 (15%) women used th e RBW. Compared with the figures before the RBW was available, the total du ration of labor was reduced by about one third; the birth canal was intact in 44% and the use of painkillers reduced by a range between 8 and 27%. Con clusions: In spontaneous births the use of the RBW definitely has advantage s, e.g. shortening of the procedure and acceptance on the part of the women ; also, safety for both mother and child remains unchanged.