Underwater Birth: Missing the Evidence or Missing the Point?

Abstract

We read with interest the case reports and discussion regarding the potential complications of underwater birth1,2 because we have had 4 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit after underwater birth and have been concerned regarding the cause-and-effect relationship. Our first case was a 37-week-gestation male infant (born in a hospital tub) who developed respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilatory support. Although water inhalation was suspected, his discharge diagnosis was respiratory distress syndrome. Our second case was a male infant, (born at home in a bathtub) who developed seizures at ∼8 hours of age. A serum sodium level of 128 was treated but continued to fall, at 12 hours of age the serum sodium was 125. His discharge diagnosis was probable water intoxication after underwater birth. Our third case, a female infant, (born underwater in a hospital tub) was diagnosed on day 2 of life with Shone’s complex, manifested in this case as absence of left lung and left kidney, and a left-sided cardiac …