NCT07313319

Trial of Underwater Birth

Trial of Underwater Birth: A Randomized Control Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 230 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of New Mexico · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Evaluate maternal perinatal outcomes in adult low-risk laboring people randomized to waterbirth compared to those randomized to birth on land.

Detailed description

The proposed randomized control trial will be approached as a pilot study to explore or test (if sample size permits) our hypotheses. Primary outcome: Use of epidural anesthesia during labor and vaginal birth. Secondary outcomes: Use of IV narcotics in labor, duration of active labor, mode of delivery, composite maternal adverse outcomes (see below), use of intermittent auscultation (IA), composite neonatal adverse outcomes (see below), United States Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (US-BSS-R), use of epidural analgesia during labor (full intention-to-treat analysis).

Conditions

• Birth

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Waterbirth	Those who remain eligible will have an inflatable birthing tub set up in their room and available for them to use as desired. Waterbirth will be performed in adherence to the following protocol endorsed by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-05-01
• Primary completion: 2028-03-01
• Completion: 2028-12-01
• First posted: 2025-12-31
• Last updated: 2026-04-06