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Sunday, February 08, 2004Women randomised to immersion in water had a lower rate of epidural analgesia than women allocated to augmentation (47% v 66%, relative risk 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.49 to 1.01), number needed to treat for benefit (NNT) 5). They showed no difference in rates of operative delivery (49% v 50%, 0.98 (0.65 to 1.47), NNT 98), but significantly fewer received augmentation (71% v 96%, 0.74 (0.59 to 0.88), NNT 4) or any form of obstetric intervention (amniotomy, oxytocin, epidural, or operative delivery) (80% v 98%, 0.81 (0.67 to 0.92), NNT 5). More neonates of women in the water group were admitted to the neonatal unit (6 v 0, P = 0.013), but there was no difference in Apgar score, infection rates, or umbilical cord pH. The higher rate of admission to neonatal units for the water group could have been a function of the pediatricians' discomfort with water-birthed babies. Just wanted to watch them carefully to make sure they were OK. Still, the sample size was small, so it's impossible to generalize from it. Water births aren't likely to become the standard of care any time soon. Besides, how many pregnant women would feel comfortable sitting fully naked in a bath in front of all those people involved in delivering a baby? UPDATE: A reader notes: How much different would that be than what we do now? I mean, I had half a dozen people poking in my prominently displayed nether regions for 3 hours of pushing. If jumping in a bath full of water would have helped, I'd be the first one stripping me. Heck, I would have done anything to get that baby OUT. I had given up all self-consiousness after I'd been in labor at home for 30 hours (contractiosn still ony 7-10 minutes apart). By the time I got to the hospital, I was running around in a hospital gown with my rear end hanging out in front of my dad. ;) And it only got worse from there! Of course, I think water births sound silly, messy and uncomfortable but hey... We're all different, of course. But I always feel less vulnerable around strangers if I can keep at least some piece of clothing on - be at a hospital gown or a pair of socks. posted by Sydney on 2/08/2004 09:43:00 PM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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