[The two elements air and water. Introduction to the main topic "water birth"]

Alternative birth methods such as deliveries 'under water' are part of a new concept of individualized obstetrics. Two recent studies from Austria and Switzerland confirm that water deliveries offer a safe and comfortable alternative to deliveries 'in bed' in low-risk pregnancies. The retrospective or prospective observational studies, however, are not randomized studies. Equal results can only be obtained if clear guidelines are worked out and strictly obeyed.