title: Hydrotherapy during labor. An example of developing a practice policy.
abstract: Warm water has been used for centuries to treat many painful ailments. In perinatal clinical practice, hydrotherapy is being used to increase relaxation and decrease pain during labor. This article summarizes clinical studies evaluating hydrotherapy during labor, describing the current evidence which supports hydrotherapy as an effective method for managing intrapartal pain. The article also describes the process by which an institution established an evidence-based practice policy for the use of hydrotherapy in labor.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis Community College, Missouri, USA. tesch4@aol.com
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Teschendorf
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000592:standards; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D059408:Pain Management; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy