Women who use water immersion during labour and birth experience better maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to those who receive epidural anesthesia, according to a study led by midwife Soledad Carreguí, in collaboration with researchers from the La Plana Health Department (Castelló) and the Departments of Computer Languages and Systems and Nursing at the Universitat Jaume I.
The main findings indicate that water immersion is associated with a higher likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth, a lower probability of vacuum-assisted delivery, and shorter dilation and expulsion times. For newborns, water use —compared with epidural analgesia—was linked to a reduced need for respiratory support and fewer neonatal admissions. A higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge was also observed, particularly among first-time mothers.
In recent years, there has been growing social and scientific concern about promoting more physiological births and avoiding, whenever possible, excessive interventions and medicalization. According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Health, all hospitals currently offer epidural analgesia —the most effective method for pain relief during labour— and 61.97% of women choose this option. In Spain, however, only 16.5% of hospitals in the National Health System have birthing pools, and just 5% allow birth to take place in water.
