As early as 1993 all maternity centers in England and Wales were providing facilities to support the use of water for labor and birth, with approximately half of these centers having specially designed birthing pools. Mackey notes that globally, more than 150000 water births have occurred between 1985 and 1999; and, as water birth continues, these older data likely offer just a glimpse of the true total numbers of woman opting for this birth choice.
Many women are expressing a wish for more autonomy in their birth experiences, and some are choosing to use water immersion during labor and birth