Waterbirth Latest Articles and Protocols
~ Feel free to download and use these articles, protocols, literature reviews and bibliography.
~ The * in front of the articles and protocols have been furnished by Waterbirth International. Please credit accordingly.
~ Protocols have been developed as “Guidelines,” which change from time to time.
Latest Internet Research
Laboring in Water Helpful for Dystocia
(Click to view the article on this site)
Waterbirths and Tearing
(Click to view the article on this site)
Question of the Quarter: What is your favorite waterbirth story?
www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/birthingpool.asp
A Landmark in the History of Birthing Pools – by Michel Odent, MD.
www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/waterlabor.asp
How to Make a Portable Waterbirth Tub – by Melanie Moore
www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/birthtub.asp
To Order Waterbirth Guidelines: United Kingdom
www.sheilakitzinger.com/WBGLorder.htm
An International Collaboration: Water Immersion During Labor and Birth
www.sheilakitzinger.com/WaterBirth_Collab.htm
Perinatal mortality and Morbidity Among Babies Delivered in Water: Surveillance Study and Postal Survey. Ruthe E. Gilbert & Pat Tookey
bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/319/7208/483
Randomised controlled trial of labouring in water compared with standard of augmentation for management of dystocia in first stage of labour
Elizabeth R Cluett, Ruth M Pickering, senior lecturer in medical , Kathryn Getliffe,Nigel James St George Saunders
bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/328/7435/314
The Waterbirth Debate Up-To-Date Sheila Kitzinger’s letter from Europe
Birth Issues in Perinatal Care Sept 2000
Latest News on Waterbirth with Sheila Kitzinger
www.sheilakitzinger.com/News.htm#Water%20Birth
Downloads
A Comparative Study of Over 2,000 Waterbirths – Frauenfeld, Switzerland
Australian Waterbirth Editorial – A warning
Beverly Beech on Waterbirth – “It’s time we started taking labour and birth in water more seriously.”
BMJ January 2004: Cluett Study of Waterbirth as an Alternative Pain Management Strategy – Randomised controlled trial of labouring in water compared with standard of augmentation for management of dystocia in first stage of labour
Guidelines for Warm Water Immersion for Labor and Birth
Guidelines for the Use of Water in Labour and Birth – College of Midwives – British Columbia
Literature Reviews – A review of the literature prepared by Traci Elliff, CNM
MIDIRS Article – Barbara Harper wrote an interesting piece on re-evaluating the temperature of water during a waterbirth published in MIDIRS, December 2003.
Morton Plant Mease Health Care – Protocols for Water Immersion
Oregon Health and Sciences University Water Birth Guidelines
RCOG Waterbirth Guidelines – January 2001
Response Letter to 2004 Pediatrics Article: Missing the Point or Missing the Evidence – Mother says photograph of her son is misinterpreted
Spanish Protocols – Parto en agua protocolos- En Español
The Wonders of Waterbirth – In Metro-Parent Magazine, pgs 10-16
Underwater Birth and Neonatal Respiratory Distress: Letter of Response – June 2005 – Response to BMG May 2005 article (see AAP Pediatrics Arictles)
Water Exercises in Birth Pools – The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kizinger, © 2000
UK Collaborative Hospital Audit of Waterbirth – 2001 Dianne Garland (MIDIRS)
Abstracts
Austrian WB Abstract: 2003 – 265 Deliveries in a University Hospital Compared to Women of Same Age, Parity, and Gestational Age Not Birthing In Water
BJOG – A Pilot Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial (RTC) of Waterbirth
Chinese Radomized Controlled Trial on Waterbirth – A Field Report of 51 Cases
Italian Waterbirth Study: 2001 – 555 waterbirths
Israeli Waterbirth Study: 1998 – Underwater birth is now deemed an acceptable type of delivery
Otigbah – A Retrospective Comparison of Waterbirths and Conventional Vaginal Deliveries
Waterbirths and the Exposure to HIV – Abstract on HIV and Waterbirth
AAP Pediatrics Articles and Other Negative Articles
2004 Schroeter: Waterbirths: A Naked Emperor
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004
BMJ May 2005: Underwater Birth and Neonatal Respiratory Distress
Pediatrics Commentary 2005: Underwater Births
Perinatal Medical Opinion: Amos Grunebaum and Frank A. Chervenak 2004
Underwater Birth – Missing the Evidence or Missing the Point