title: [Pros and cons of water birth].
abstract: Women choose more and more often to deliver in water and expect the hospital to offer this method of giving birth. If we critically look at the data in the literature, we can conclude that it is safe to offer water delivery to any woman who belongs to a low-risk population. However, we have to add that no prospective randomized studies on this topic have been published so far. Thus, women may deliver in water if they wish, but the professionals working in the delivery room have to follow the guidelines and the usual safety standards of the particular clinic in order to avoid any unnecessary risks.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Geburtshilfe und Schwangerschaftsmedizin, Universitätsfrauenklinik Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R Zanetti
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Dällenbach
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maertens
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hösli
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water