Authors: Stark, Mary Ann; Rudell, Barb¹; Haus, George²

Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, Volume 37, Number 1, January/February 2008 , pp. 116-122(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Objective: 

To observe and describe the positions and movements women choose while immersed in water during the first stage of labor. Design: 

Descriptive, observational pilot study. Setting: 

A rural community hospital that provided hydrotherapy in labor. Participants: 

Women (N = 7) who intended to use hydrotherapy in labor were recruited prenatally from a midwife-managed practice. Measures: 

For 15 minutes of each hour during the first stage of labor, position and movements of the participants were observed and recorded on a laptop computer. The observational tool was developed for this study from a review of the literature and interviews with nursing experts; 435 observations were recorded. Women were free to choose when and how long to use hydrotherapy and had no restriction on their positions and movements. Results: 

Only 3 of the 7 participants labored in the tub. Women demonstrated a greater range of positions and movements in the tub than in bed, both throughout labor and during late first-stage labor (7-10 cm of dilatation). Women had more contractions and made more rhythmic movements while in the tub than in bed. Conclusions: 

Hydrotherapy may encourage upright positions and movements that facilitate labor progress and coping, helping women avoid unnecessary interventions.

Keywords: Comfort; Coping; Hydrotherapy; Labor; Labor pain; Movement; Normal birth; Positions; Water birth

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2007.00212.x

Affiliations: 1: CNM, MSN is in private practice at Shoreline Women's Health in South Haven, MI 2: PhD, is an associate professor at the College of Education, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Publication date: 2008-01-01

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