EFFECTS OF INTRAPARTUM HYDROTHERAPY ON LABOR RELATED PARAMETERS

The use of birthing pools during labour is increasing in the United Ki ngdom. This is without good scientific evidence of their efficacy or s afety. To further investigate the value and safety of intrapartum hydr otherapy, an historical cohort study was performed in a District Gener al Hospital in Liverpool. The study group consisted of 100 women of lo w obstetric risk who used the birthing pool at some stage during their labours and the control group consisted of 100 women who were matched in terms of age, parity and obstetric history but laboured and delive red in air. The main outcome measures were operative delivery rates, d uration of labour, analgesic requirements, perineal trauma and Apgar s cores at 1 and 5 minutes. The results showed that nulliparas who used the birthing pool had significantly reduced operative delivery rates, a shorter second stage of labour, reduced analgesic requirements and a lower incidence of perineal trauma. In multiparas there were signific ant reductions in analgesic requirements.