Water births temporarily stopped at Jersey Hospital due to safety concerns

Water births at the Maternity Unit at Jersey General Hospital have been temporarily stopped because of safety concerns.

Calls for a review of arrangements for pregnant women opting to use birthing pools arose after a small number of recent water births resulted in babies requiring additional post-natal care.

The Department for Health say whilst it may not be connected to the birth method, an evaluation is underway and pool births are not available at this time.

Women who were scheduled to have a water birth have been advised and the Maternity Unit say they would expect to resume arrangements after the review has been completed.