jacuzzi use during labor

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Specializes in ob.

Does anyone out there use jacuzzis for pain management during labor? If so, what is your hospitals policies reguarding its use? We will be moving into a new facility in late summer equiped with jacuzzis and no one on staff has worked in a facility that has used them before. We are in the process of writing policies at this time and would appreciate any input you all could give.:confused:

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I would check out the website of Waterbirth International (www.waterbirth.org). They promote water birth as opposed to just water labor but I am sure you will find some good evidence-based info and resources.

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Specializes in L&D and OB-GYN office.

I hope your facility actually gets to use them. The hospital where I delivered both of my kids had jacuzzi's in the LDR's, but the nurses said they rarely got used because the MD's didn't like them. The MD's wanted continuous fetal monitoring which (according to them) could not be done while in a jacuzzi. I was told a few of the doctors would allow it only if labor was not being induced and membranes were not ruptured yet. They would allow a pt to get into the jacuzzi, away from the EFM, for short intervals (no more than 15 min) up until transition. The major teaching hospital where I worked had jacuzzi's, but they did not get used because according to the staff and MD's the jacuzzi heads were not able to be cleaned properly and they did not want to risk infection. Not sure if that was a valid concern or not.

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Specializes in ob.

Our Drs are the ones who are really pushing for the jucuzzi's. It seem if it is up to them we will be using them. They say ROM is not a contraindicator for use. As far as the cleaning goes, the ones we are getting are medical grade and do not allow the water to circulate into the jets somehow. That was a concern of ours also. Our staff is somewhat apprehensive about using them but we just need to establish some guidelines and I think we will be ok. I know a hot shower really seems to help relax alot women. I dont know how many times I have had a pt in the shower at 2-4 cm and came out 7-8cm an hour later.

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Our Drs are the ones who are really pushing for the jucuzzi's. It seem if it is up to them we will be using them. They say ROM is not a contraindicator for use. As far as the cleaning goes, the ones we are getting are medical grade and do not allow the water to circulate into the jets somehow. That was a concern of ours also. Our staff is somewhat apprehensive about using them but we just need to establish some guidelines and I think we will be ok. I know a hot shower really seems to help relax alot women. I dont know how many times I have had a pt in the shower at 2-4 cm and came out 7-8cm an hour later.

A lot of places consider ROM a contraindication but it really isn't. I don't usually have a problem with my lady parts filling with water in the swimming pool, bathtub, etc. Nor do laboring women. In fact there is considerable medical evidence to show that. Plus I think if we are doing cervical checks in labor we may as well allow water labor with ROM! It's amazing that your drs are pushing for it! Lucky patients!

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

I was a doula for many years before becoming a nurse. Many of the women I have been with in labor have used the whirlpool and almost all of them love it. Most say it decreased pain by 50%. In the midwest city where I live, moms are usually allowed to use it even with ROM. One got new telemetry monitoring a few years ago that will work in the water but can't turn on the whirlpool jets or it won't track. Most moms don't care about the jets anyway. I have seen many women who were not progressing make a lot of progress in a short time in the whirlpool.

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Specializes in L&D.

My hospital doesn't have a specific protocol about the temperature of the water, but many places do. I think the waterbirth website mentioned earlier may give you some information on that. As women sit in the hot water, they become accustomed to it and tend to keep getting it hotter. If you don't have a specific temperature in a policy, it's at least a good idea to check the temp and not let the woman get it too hot. If the baby starts getting taachy, it's probably because it's getting hot and it's time for mom to get out and cool off.

Check with the manufacturer of the tubs for a specific cleaning protocol and run it thru infection control.

Our moms with ruptured membranes are allowed to use it and we don't have any increased infection rate.

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we use jacuzzi's all the time, and as a matter of fact we have 13 birthing rooms and all but one have a jacuzzi in it. We also have 6 midwives that practice and they do a good number of water births. Some of our doctors have even done a few water births. None of our docs are opposed to the mom being in the jacuzzi during labor unless she is induced or have other problems that need continous fetal monitoring. It is not a contraindication for ROM. I have seen huge changes in moms that can get in the tub during labor. It is a benefit and really does help with the pain of labor. I would encourage you to get as much info as you can, because it is a godsend to laboring moms.

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I manage a 12 bed L/D unit and we use our jacuzzi's for labor. We can use our corometrics for Cont. EFM in the water in labor so even our Pitocin patients can use them. We do not have a policy but typically only intact patients use them. 1 MD is letting her ruptured patients use them. Patients do not deliver in our tubs because of the mess. We do have a strict cleaning protocol. I hope this helps.

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I manage a 12 bed L/D unit and we use our jacuzzi's for labor. We can use our corometrics for Cont. EFM in the water in labor so even our Pitocin patients can use them. We do not have a policy but typically only intact patients use them. 1 MD is letting her ruptured patients use them. Patients do not deliver in our tubs because of the mess. We do have a strict cleaning protocol. I hope this helps.

Have you seen many waterbirths? I ask because I think the mess is so much less than a land birth. Use a fish net for the big stuff and let everything else go down the drain. Just curious if you tried it and had problems? It seems many people feel the opposite.

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I have seen many water births, and they are less messy than beds. The biggest problem is that if the tub doesn't get cleaned right away, and things dry in there. So we have learned to clean out the tubs as soon as the mom gets out and back into bed. We do not deliver the placenta in the water unless it can't be helped. Most moms are able to get up after delivery and walk back to bed for placenta and if any suturing that needs to be done. Which is usually minimal with a water birth.

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I have seen many water births, and they are less messy than beds. The biggest problem is that if the tub doesn't get cleaned right away, and things dry in there. So we have learned to clean out the tubs as soon as the mom gets out and back into bed. We do not deliver the placenta in the water unless it can't be helped. Most moms are able to get up after delivery and walk back to bed for placenta and if any suturing that needs to be done. Which is usually minimal with a water birth.

Ahh, I see. Birth soup can be a little gross if it isn't fresh;)

I am still dreaming about your facility where your docs are pushing water labor while I am trying to get my ruptured patients able to ambulate!

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