HSE issues Ireland's first national guidance on birthing pools

Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) has released the nation's first clinical practice guideline for using birthing pools during labor and delivery. This initiative seeks to establish a consistent approach across all maternity facilities, encompassing both hospital and home births.

The comprehensive, 100-page guideline was developed by the HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme and approved by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It provides evidence-based standards for maternal care in birthing pools, detailing criteria for eligibility, water depth, and temperature.

Currently, the guideline supports informed choices for pregnant women, but it is restricted to healthy individuals with low-risk pregnancies. The HSE plans to potentially expand eligibility criteria in the future to include women with risk factors. Of Ireland's 19 maternity units, 12 are equipped with birthing pools, though not all currently offer water delivery services. Data indicates about half of home births involve water labor, with roughly half of those progressing to a water birth.