Comparison of maternal and neonatal outcomes between conventional birth and water birth

Abstract

Water immersion during labor has been established as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for pain relief, while also promoting a more autonomous and relaxed childbirth experience. This method can reduce anxiety, optimize labor physiology, and enhance the perception of control through the natural stimulation of hormones such as oxytocin. The aim of this study was to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between conventional childbirth and water birth through a literature review, focusing on pain perception, the need for epidural analgesia, and the incidence of complications. A systematic search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science, including studies published in English or Spanish within the last five years. Clinical trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews that directly compared both types of birth were selected, excluding articles with poor methodology or those without full-text access. The results showed that water birth is associated with a lower need for analgesia, shorter labor duration, reduced perineal trauma, and a more positive subjective experience, with no significant differences in terms of infections, Apgar scores, or neonatal intensive care admissions. It is concluded that water birth represents a safe and beneficial alternative for low-risk pregnancies, provided that adequate infrastructure, well-defined protocols, and trained personnel are available for its safe and effective implementation.