Table 2.
Characteristics and outcomes for women and babies who used water immersion for labour and birth by place of birth
| Characteristics and outcomes by place of birth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tertiary maternity unit | Midwife-led unit 1 | Midwife-led unit 2 | Total | |
| Caregiver in labour | ||||
| Self -employed Midwife | 1077 | 164 | 165 | 1406 |
| Core Midwife | 76 | 0 | 0 | 76 |
| Dr. LMC/Core Midwife | 35 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Parity | ||||
| Nulliparous | 704 | 67 | 59 | 830 |
| Multiparous | 484 | 97 | 106 | 687 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Gestation at start of labour | ||||
| < 36 weeks | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 36–376 weeks | 48 | 10 | 14 | 72 |
| 38–396 weeks | 502 | 75 | 72 | 649 |
| 40–416 weeks | 624 | 79 | 79 | 782 |
| > 42 weeks | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Onset of Labour | ||||
| Spontaneous | 1095 | 163 | 165 | 1423 |
| Induced | 92 | 1 | 0 | 93 |
| Total | 1187 | 164 | 165 | 1516 |
| Membrane Rupture | ||||
| Spontaneous | 844 | 130 | 154 | 1128 |
| Artificial | 337 | 32 | 11 | 380 |
| Intact | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 1185 | 163 | 165 | 1513 |
| Pain Relief before entry to water | ||||
| Yes | 493 | 54 | 37 | 584 |
| No | 695 | 110 | 128 | 933 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Pain Relief after leaving the pool | ||||
| Yes | 503 | 26 | 26 | 555 |
| No | 685 | 138 | 139 | 962 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Length of 1st stage of labour (mins) | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 352 (249) | 266 (202) | 234 (138) | |
| Length of 2nd stage of labour (mins) | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 62 (66) | 22.4 (24) | 27 (30) | |
| Length of 3rd stage of labour (mins) | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 15 (16) | 22 (24) | 19 (14) | |
| Mode of Birth | ||||
| SVD OA | 927 | 164 | 159 | 1250 |
| SVD OP | 19 | 0 | 6 | 25 |
| Assisted delivery | 143 | 0 | 0 | 143 |
| CS | 99 | 0 | 0 | 99 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Birth underwater | ||||
| Yes | 370 | 106 | 108 | 584 |
| No | 818 | 58 | 57 | 933 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Position of mother at time of birth | ||||
| Sitting | 15 | 3 | 7 | 25 |
| Kneeling | 81 | 17 | 35 | 133 |
| Standing | 28 | 5 | 6 | 39 |
| Hands and Knees | 162 | 49 | 28 | 239 |
| Lateral | 21 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
| Semi-reclined | 517 | 73 | 42 | 632 |
| Lithotomy | 178 | 4 | 0 | 182 |
| Squatting | 44 | 10 | 29 | 83 |
| Lying flat | 117 | 1 | 4 | 122 |
| Floating | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Others | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 1166 | 162 | 165 | 1493 |
| Third stage management | ||||
| Active | 775 | 60 | 82 | 917 |
| Physiological | 409 | 103 | 82 | 594 |
| Both | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Total | 1188 | 164 | 165 | 1517 |
| Estimated blood loss | ||||
| 0–499 | 1011 | 157 | 154 | 1322 |
| 500–999 | 131 | 3 | 7 | 141 |
| 1000–1499 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| > 1500 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| Total | 1177 | 162 | 163 | 1502 |
| Perineal and/or vaginal wall tear | ||||
| No | 492 | 74 | 82 | 648 |
| Yes 1st degree | 281 | 55 | 54 | 390 |
| Yes 2nd degree | 358 | 32 | 25 | 415 |
| Yes 3rd degree | 31 | 1 | 1 | 33 |
| Yes 4th degree | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Yes Graze | 16 | 2 | 2 | 20 |
| Total | 1180 | 164 | 164 | 1508 |
| Episiotomy | ||||
| Yes | 206 | 5 | 2 | 213 |
| No | 978 | 157 | 159 | 1294 |
| Total | 1184 | 162 | 161 | 1507 |
| Suturing of Tear/Episiotomy | ||||
| Yes | 613 | 56 | 51 | 720 |
| No | 565 | 107 | 112 | 784 |
| Total | 1178 | 163 | 163 | 1504 |
| Apgar score at 1 min | ||||
| < 7 | 79 | 8 | 3 | 90 |
| ≥ 7 | 1104 | 155 | 162 | 1421 |
| Total | 1183 | 163 | 165 | 1511 |
| Apgar score at 5 mins | ||||
| > 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| ≥ 7 | 1172 | 162 | 165 | 1499 |
| Total | 1182 | 163 | 165 | 1510 |
| Apgar score at 10 mins | ||||
| < 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ≥ 7 | 859 | 116 | 67 | 1042 |
| Total | 859 | 116 | 67 | 1042 |
| Admission to NICU | ||||
| Yes | 36 | 0 | 1 | 37 |
| No | 1148 | 163 | 163 | 1474 |
| Total | 1184 | 163 | 164 | 1511 |