Benefits of Hydrotherapy in Labour. A Bibliographic Review

Abstract

Introduction

The growing demand of pregnant women to achieve a delivery as physiological as possible has led to a decrease in interventional techniques and consequently a rise in the search for alternative techniques for the relief of pain during labor, among which we can highlight hydrotherapy.

Objectives

To describe the effectiveness of the use of hydrotherapy in relation to the perception of pain during labor.

Methodology

Bibliographic review using the databases PubMed, Cuiden, Cuidatge, Cochrane Library and CINHAL.

Results

A total of 17 articles have been included: 13 original articles and 4 bibliographic reviews. In addition to this, the Clinical Practice Guideline on Normal Birth Care has been used. The articles refer to the maternal and perinatal results of the use of hydrotherapy in the dilatation phase and the expulsive phase, as well as the perceptions of midwives, nurses and pregnant women of its use.

Conclusions

The use of the hydrotherapy during the dilation phase of labor decreases the perception of pain and the use of pharmacological measures. However, the safety and efficacy of immersion in water in the expulsive phase have not been established and no benefits have been associated for the mother or the foetus.