Η βύθιση στο νερό κατά την διάρκεια του τοκετού είναι πολύ βοηθητική κι αποτελεί ένα εξαιρετικό μέσο ανακούφισης και χαλάρωσης στην ενεργητική φάση του τοκετού (φάση πολύ δυνατών συστολών). Προκειμένου να μειώνονται οι πιθανοί κίνδυνοι για την μητέρα και το έμβρυο, υπάρχουν κάποιες κατευθυντήριες γραμμές (guidelines).
Προϋποθέσεις για βύθιση στο νερό και τοκετό στο νερό:
GUIDELINES FOR WATER IMMERSION AND WATER BIRTH, Arizona Department of Health Services, November 2016
Guideline for the Management of Women Requesting Immersion in Water for Active Labour and/or Birth, NHS, June 2020
Arizona Administrative Code Article 1. Licensing of Midwifery, http://apps.azsos.gov
Harper B., – Water birth International (2006). Guideline for a Safe Water Birth. http://www.waterbirth.org
Cluett, E., & Burns, E. Immersion In Water In Pregnancy, Labor, And Birth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev., 317-317. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
Evidence on the Safety of Water birth. http://evidencebasedbirth.com/waterbirth
Demirel G., Moraloglu O., Celik I.H., Erdeve O., Mollamahmutoglu L., Oguz S.S., Uras N., Dilmen U., (2013) "The effects of water birth on neonatal outcomes: a five-year result of a referral tertiary centre". European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 17:1395-1398.
Guideline for Use of Water during Labour and Birth. Worcestershire NHS.
Gilbert, R., & Tookey, P. (1999). Perinatal mortality and morbidity among babies delivered in water. British Medical Journal, 319, 183-7. Retrieved from http://www.bmj.com
Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-care Facilities: Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. CDC Healthcare. www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/guidelines/
Harding, C., Munro, J., & Jokinen, M. (2012). Evidence Based Guidelines for Midwifery-Led Care in Labour: Immersion in Water for Labour and Birth.
Royal College of Midwives. 17 Ingelby RM, J. (2014). Water birth Guideline: The use of the pool during labour and delivery. East Cheshire NHS.