Water birth is an alternative to normal birth that has many benefits for women and for the newborn, as we have told you on other occasions, and that is why many women choose it to give birth to their babies.
However, the use of this method is not without controversy, and it has been described cases of babies with significant problems to be born in this way. The last one happened a few weeks ago, and the cause is most logical: the time the water was prepared for childbirth was excessive.
Is it really positive to give birth in water?
Yes, really. That's what the studies say. In fact, globally, analyzing a large number of births, it is considered to be a sure way to give birth.
To give you an idea, they say that babies born in the water have 64% less income at birth, 25% less hospital admissions in the first weeks and 31% less income in the NICU.
In addition, in the case of women, water birth means 35% less income after childbirth, 28% fewer hospitalizations in the first 6 weeks, although 11% more risk of genital trauma.
But is dangerous?
It is not clear. Four years ago a new review of studies conducted by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) concluded that water birth should be discouraged. because of the risk involved in the lives of some newborns.
Apparently, some (few) cases of infants who arrived "a little in a hurry" had been described and at birth they made an aspiration in the water, putting them at serious risk.
Since then, these medical societies advise dilation in water, but not childbirth, precisely to avoid that risk.
And what happened this time?
It happened in Canada and the news was soon disseminated, to warn of the risks of water birth. However, it is a complication that probably would not have happened if things had been done with a little common sense.
Apparently, the creature's mother decided to give birth at home with a midwife at home, and they opted for a water birth. Everything went well, until at eight days the girl began to have a high fever, was irritable and had other important symptoms. She was admitted to the hospital, where she ended up in the neonatal ICU, victim of a sepsis that almost ended his life.
After five weeks connected to a respirator, in antibiotic treatment, the little girl managed to leave and is already at home with her family.
The water had been prepared for days
And what happened in this case? Well, what water was prepared in the bathtub days before delivery, so that the day of delivery was already at a good temperature and ready. The problem is that you cannot have still water at a good temperature for days, because it is contaminated and the risk of infection is evident.
The baby was affected by an infection by Legionella Y Pseudomonas, and the consequence is what we have just told.
Thus, the problem was not so much that the baby was born in or out of the water, but that he did in waters in poor health, and that is why the authors of an article talking about this case emphasize that adequate disinfection of the bathtubs and the pipes used to fill them is carried out, and that the water is filled for childbirth, and not days before
Even so, they warn that they do not know what risks the use of certain chemicals for the hygiene of that facility, as well as to treat water, can entail for a newborn, and therefore adhere to the ACOG recommendation: expand in water yes, give birth, better off.
Photos | iStock
In Babies and more | Water birth, yes or no ?, This water birth has gone viral because it is calm and exciting at the same time, The bathtub before delivery favors birth
