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Safety and underwater birth—what every risk manager should know
Author(s) -
Veltman Larry,
Doherty Diane
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of healthcare risk management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.221
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 2040-0861
pISSN - 1074-4797
DOI - 10.1002/jhrm.21106
Subject(s) - underwater , need to know , business , computer science , computer security , geology , oceanography
Underwater birthing has become a popular birth practice in some areas of the country. Although many of these deliveries occur in a home birth setting, the practice has also been implemented in hospitals and birthing centers. There is continued controversy about the risks and benefits of underwater birthing (as opposed to hydrotherapy during labor), and many risk managers are unaware of these potential risks and benefits. The purpose of this article is to review the significant risks and benefits of underwater birthing, to review relevant literature and several Professional Organizations' Position Statements regarding underwater birthing, and to provide a safety checklist for hospital risk managers who wish to consider adding underwater birthing to their current scope of perinatal care.