Hospitals in the United Kingdom have been evolving clinical guidelines for the use of water for labour and birth for over 3o years.
The protocols for operational policy that they’ve developed are widely regarded as the benchmark standard internationally.
Below a collection of guidelines and publications to help you create a water birth facility.
Clinical Guidelines – Royal Cornwall Hospital
Clinical Guidelines – Royal Worcester Hospital
Guideline for the Management of Women Requesting Immersion in Water – Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals
Operational Policy and Clinical Guidelines – Abbey Birth Centre
Birthspace: An evidence-based guide to birth environment design – Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies
Use of water for labour and birth – Hywel DDA Local health Board
Guidelines for use of pool during labour and delivery – East Cheshire NHS Trust
Guiding principles for midwifery care during normal labour – Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
Waterbirth care during labour for low risk women – Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals
Waterbirth Guidelines – Midwifery Led Unit, Wirral Hospital
Choosing a Water Birth – East and North Hertfordshire
Birthing pool use of labour and delivery – Wansbeck General Hospital
Water birth and use of water in labour guideline – Buckinghamshire Healthcare
Water for labour and birth guideline – Northern health and Social Care Trust
Immersion in water during labour and birth – NHS Forth Valley
Intrapartum care midwifery led unit – Wirral Women & Children’s Hospital
Guidelines for water birth within the hospital and at home – Dartford & Gravesham NHS
Disinfection and Sterilisation policy (infection control) – Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS FT
