Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/p1I6x7NGREA   Midwife-directed childbirth in a warm water-filled bathtub instead of a bed are just as safe and result in fewer vaginal tears and episiotomies.  University of Michigan obstetric nurses derive these conclusions from their comparison of 397 water births with over 2000 land births.   Those infants born in water were no more likely to require NICU admissions.  Post-delivery bleeding rates were the same for both groups.   Despite widespread use abroad, few American facilities support water birthing.  The woman may labor in a bathtub, but she is moved to a bed for delivery.     The Michigan nurses hope water birthing will spread.  It is safe, effective, and studies are underway to assess maternal satisfaction.   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191210111659.htm   #Waterbirthing #episiotomy #vaginaltears.