Trial of Underwater Birth

Conditions

Waterbirth — PROCEDURE
Those who remain eligible will have an inflatable birthing tub set up in their room and available for them to use as desired. Waterbirth will be performed in adherence to the following protocol endorsed by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Evaluate maternal perinatal outcomes in adult low-risk laboring people randomized to waterbirth compared to those randomized to birth on land.

No Intervention: Land Birth
Study subjects enrolled in the land birth cohort of this study will receive care as usual on labor and delivery. There will be no changes to their intrapartum care including their ability to use water as a form of pain relief during labor (Stage 1 water immersion) if deemed appropriate by their care team. Land birth participants who use water for pain relief will be assisted out of the water prior to second stage (pushing) as is currently routine on UNMH Labor and Delivery.
Experimental: Waterbirth
Subjects enrolled in the waterbirth cohort will be assessed for continued eligibility at time of admission to labor and delivery and continuously during labor. Those who remain eligible will have an inflatable birthing tub set up in their room and available for them to use as desired. Waterbirth will be performed in adherence to the following protocol endorsed by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Epidural Anesthesia [ Time Frame: Labor and delivery ]

Facility	City	State	ZIP	Site coordinators
University of New Mexico	Albuquerque	New Mexico	87131	Family Planning Research [email protected] 505-205-4118

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