The option of water birth challenged midwives with many years of clinical experience to unlearn old skills and adopt new practices.
Midwives reflected on the immense impact a colleagues verbal and personal behaviour could have on their confidence
Midwives confidence to support water birth was directly related to their level of confidence in supporting a natural physiological birth.
Mandatory annual education should be promoted for all midwives to inform them of current evidence that supports normal physiological birth including the option of water birth.