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Table 1 Characteristics and outcomes for omen and babies who used water immersion for labour and birth

From: Getting into the water: a prospective observational study of water immersion for labour and birth at a New Zealand District Health Board

Characteristics and outcomes

 

Frequency

Percent

Caregiver in labour

 Self -employed Midwife

1406

92.7

 Core Midwife

76

5.0

 Dr. LMC/Core Midwife

35

2.3

 Total

1517

100.0

Parity

 Nulliparous

830

54.7

 Multiparous

687

45.3

 Total

1517

100.0

Place of Birth

 Tertiary Unit

1188

78.3

 Midwife-led Unit 1

164

10.8

 Midwife-led Unit 2

165

10.9

 Total

1517

100.0

Gestation at start of labour

 < 36 weeks

4

0.3

 36–376 weeks

72

4.7

 38–396 weeks

649

42.8

 40–416 weeks

782

51.5

 > 42 weeks

10

0.7

 Total

1517

100.0

Onset of Labour

 Spontaneous

1423

93.8

 Induced

93

6.1

 Missing

1

0.1

 Total

1517

100.0

Membrane Rupture

 Spontaneous

1128

74.4

 Artificial

380

25.0

 Intact

5

0.3

 Missing

4

0.3

 Total

1517

100.0

Cervical dilatation on entry to water (cm)

 0

2

0.1

 1

17

1.1

 2

47

3.1

 3

126

8.3

 4

215

14.2

 5

251

16.5

 6

167

11.0

 7

135

8.9

 8

130

8.6

 9

61

4.0

 10

69

4.5

 Missing

297

19.6

 Total

1517

100.0

 Mean = 5.6cms (SD 2.1)

No. of contractions on entry to water in 10mins

 1

3

0.2

 2

83

5.5

 3

678

44.7

 4

511

33.7

 5

44

2.9

 6

4

0.3

 Missing

194

12.8

 Total

1517

100.0

 Mean = 3.4 (SD 0.7)

Water Temperature on entry to Pool (°C)

 Below 35 degrees

18

1.2

 35–35.9

14

0.9

 36–36.9

222

14.6

 37–37.9

482

31.8

 38–38.9

346

22.8

 39–39.9

117

7.7

 Over 40 degrees

41

2.7

 Missing

277

18.3

 Total

1517

100.0

 Mean = 37.4 (SD 1.3)

Pain Relief before entry to water

 Yes

584

38.5

 No

933

61.5

 Total

1517

100.0

Pain Relief after leaving the pool

 Yes

555

36.6

 No

962

63.4

 Total

1517

100.0

Number of Vaginal Examinations

 None

1160

76.5

 1

280

18.5

 2

65

4.3

 3+

9

0.6

 Missing

3

0.2

 Total

1517

100.0

Length of 1st stage of labour (mins)

 Mean = 330 (SD 238)

Length of 2nd stage of labour (mins)

 Mean = 55 (SD 62)

Length of 3rd stage of labour (mins)

 Mean = 16 (SD 17)

Mode of Birth

 SVD OA

1250

82.4

 SVD OP

25

1.6

 Assisted delivery

143

9.4

 CS

99

6.5

 Total

1517

100.0

Birth underwater

 Yes

584

38.5

 No

933

61.5

 Total

1517

100.0

Position of mother at time of birth

 Sitting

25

1.6

 Kneeling

133

8.8

 Standing

39

2.6

 Hands and Knees

239

15.8

 Lateral

34

2.2

 Semi-reclined

632

41.7

 Lithotomy

182

12.0

 Squatting

83

5.5

 Lying flat

122

8.0

 Floating

2

0.1

 Others

2

0.1

 Missing

24

1.6

 Total

1517

100.0

Third stage management

 Active

917

60.4

 Physiological

594

39.2

 Both

6

0.4

 Total

1517

100.0

Estimated blood loss

 0–499

1322

87.1

 500–999

141

9.3

 1000–1499

26

1.7

 > 1500

13

0.9

 Missing

15

1.0

 Total

1517

100.0

Perineal and/or vaginal wall tear

 No

648

42.7

 Yes 1st degree

390

25.7

 Yes 2nd degree

415

27.4

 Yes 3rd degree

33

2.2

 Yes 4th degree

2

0.1

 Yes Graze

20

1.3

 Missing

9

0.6

 Total

1517

100.0

Episiotomy

  

 Yes

213

14.0

 No

1294

85.3

 Missing

10

0.7

 Total

1517

100.0

Suturing of Tear/Episiotomy

  

 Yes

720

47.5

 No

784

51.7

 Missing

13

0.9

 Total

1517

100.0

Apgar score at 1 min

 < 7

90

5.9

 ≥ 7

1421

93.7

 Missing

6

0.4

 Total

1517

100.0

Apgar score at 5 mins

 > 7

11

0.7

 ≥ 7

1499

98.8

 Missing

7

0.5

 Total

1517

100.0

Apgar score at 10 mins

 < 7

4

0.3

 ≥ 7

1038

68.4

 Missing

475

31.3

 Total

1517

100.0

Admission to NICU

 Yes

37

2.4

 No

1474

97.2

 Missing

6

0.4

 Total

1517

100.0