Comparison 2. Immersion in water versus no immersion during second stage of labour.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mode of birth (spontaneous vaginal birth)	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.96, 1.08]
2 Mode of birth (instrumental vaginal births)	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.0 [0.06, 15.62]
3 Mode of birth (caesarean section)	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.01, 8.02]
4 Perinatal deaths	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.0 [0.12, 72.20]
5 Admission to neonatal intensive care unit	2	291	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.38, 1.59]
6 Neonate temperature	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 Temperature less than 36.2 degrees C at birth	1	109	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.98 [0.30, 3.20]
6.2 Temperature greater than 37.5 degrees C at birth	1	109	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.62 [0.73, 9.35]
7 Fever reported in first week	1	171	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.53 [0.10, 2.82]
8 Postpartum haemorrhage more than 500 mL	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.14 [0.01, 2.71]
9 Duration of second stage (minutes)	2	291	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.83 [‐8.18, 4.52]
10 Perineal trauma (episiotomy)	1	119	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.17, 3.15]
11 Perineal trauma (second degree tear)	1	119	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.16 [0.57, 2.38]
12 Experience of moderate to severe pain	1	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.06 [0.73, 1.53]
12.1 Ordinal description as moderate to severe	1	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.06 [0.73, 1.53]
13 Preference for care in subsequent labour (Does not wish to use bath next birth)	1	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.57 [0.22, 1.47]
14 Satisfied with labour	1	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.24 [0.07, 0.80]
14.1 Little or not satisfied with coping experience	1	117	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.24 [0.07, 0.80]
15 Presence of meconium‐stained liquor	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.4 [0.47, 4.17]
16 Apgar score less than seven (five minutes)	1	119	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	4.92 [0.24, 100.31]
17 Mean Apgar at five minutes	1	171	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.10 [‐0.22, 0.02]
18 Umbilical artery pH less than 7.20	1	116	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.45, 1.75]