Effect of Water Immersion on Labor Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Water immersion during labor is increasingly being used in different medical facilities worldwide.                                                                                                                          Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of water immersion during the first stage of labor on labor outcomes.                                                                                                           Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out from January to October 2015, in the labor and delivery ward of Khaleej‑e Fars Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran. In total, 180 women were randomly allocated to a control group to receive routine care services and to an experimental group to receive water immersion during labor along with routine care services. The midwifery staff of the study setting regularly assessed uterine contractions, performed vaginal examinations, and monitored fetal heart rate. The length of the active phase of labor was measured in minutes as primary outcome. The independent‑sample t and Chi‑square tests were performed for data analysis. Results: The length of the active phase of labor in the experimental group was significantly greater than the control group (232.95 ± 20.76 vs. 165.81 ± 22.76 min; P < 0.001). Moreover, satisfaction with birth experience was significantly higher among women in the experimental group. However, no statistically significant between‑group differences were observed in terms of the length of the second stage of labor, mode of delivery, the rate of hospitalization in neonatal intensive care unit, and 1‑ and 5‑min Apgar scores (P > 0.05).                                                                                            Conclusions: Water immersion during labor significantly prolongs the first stage of labor and significantly improves parturient women’s satisfaction with the birth experience.