Dr Megan Cooper is the outgoing Manager and Midwifery Advisor for the Professional Practice Unit of the Australian College of Midwives. Prior to working with ACM, Megan had spent more than 10 years in academia and education. In 2016, she completed a PhD which critically analysed and examined policies and guidelines pertaining to water immersion for labour and birth and has since led postdoctoral studies examining women’s experiences of water use for labour and birth while assisting clinicians to implement water immersion in their respective institutions. More recently, Megan has worked with Drs Ethel Burns and Claire Feeley and the OXMATER team at Oxford Brookes University to undertake a metasynthesis and systematic review of the benefits of water immersion and in the near future, a scoping review examining caregiver’s views and experiences.

In line with a growing midwifery literature base, there has been much research examining the benefits of water immersion for labour and birth over the past 10 years. While water immersion is often viewed just as a pain relief option, there is growing evidence to suggest that the pain relieving properties of water immersion are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the associated benefits!

This webinar will provide an overview of the most recent research findings around the globe with specific focus on the multitude of benefits that water immersion provides, a discussion of the myths and realities surrounding water immersion with a particular focus on the most common concerns and how they have impacted accessibility as well as an exploration of the views, perceptions and experiences of both women and health professionals.