Waterbirth vs. land birth: which is better for pain relief?
NCT ID NCT07313319
First seen Jan 05, 2026 · Last updated Jun 19, 2026 · Updated 24 times
Summary
This study is testing whether giving birth in water (waterbirth) helps reduce the need for pain medication like epidurals or IV narcotics compared to giving birth on land. Researchers are enrolling 230 low-risk pregnant adults who are at least 18 years old and have a single baby in head-down position. Participants will be randomly assigned to either have the option of a waterbirth or to give birth on land, and the study will track pain relief use, labor duration, and any complications for both mother and baby.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for BIRTH are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Study contacts
-
Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
-
University of New Mexico
RECRUITINGAlbuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Waterbirth (procedure)
What this could lead to
If waterbirth is found to reduce the need for epidurals or IV narcotics, it could offer a natural pain management option during labor.
What could go wrong
This is a relatively small trial (230 people) and only includes low-risk pregnancies, so results may not apply to everyone. Waterbirth also carries rare risks like infection or umbilical cord issues.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.