[INMERSION IN HOT WATER: A NATURAL HELPER IN LABOUR]

The pain during the birth process is the result of a pile of physiological, psychological and socio-cultural stimulus. In our society, epidural analgesia is the most common technique used in obstetrics to relieve this pain, despite not being harmless. However, there are other complementary techniques based on methods that have demonstrated analgesic effects and they benefit of lacking adverse effects either on the mother or on the fetus. Among these methods is the immersion in warm water (WI). The aim of this review is to show the usefulness, advantages and disadvantages of WI, to make it an accessible resource for pregnant women and those who are responsible for their care.

Literature review about Water Immersion during the first and second stage of labor.

The WI as a method to relieve discomfort and pain during labor was popularized by the obstetrician Michel Odent in 7980s. The Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, among other associations, highly recommend its use during the cervical dilation period. It is benificial for the mother blood circulation, psychologically and for body mechanics; however, this use in the second stage of labor seems to be more controversial.

WI is an analgesic non-invasive, accessible and affordable. Its use is associated with lower rates of intervention by professionals and provide a more focused attention on the needs of pregnant women.