Effects of Relaxing Hydrotherapy in Third Trimester of Pregnancy

"WATSU (WaterShiatsu) is a gentle form of hydrotherapy that was established in the 1980s. The standardized 60min-intervention applied in this trial is called WATSU-Transition-Flow (Dull, 1997) and is adapted for the third trimester. The mother's abdomen is not being touched during the treatment.~The treatment takes place in a one-to-one hands-on-setting in the warm- water-therapy-pool (35°C, 95°F) of the University Hospital in Bern and consists of acupressure massage according to the Japanese massage-technique Shiatsu, in an attempt to harmonize the mother's energy-flow in the so called meridians (energy-channels) of Traditional Chinese Medicine. These meridians are also sought to be influenced by slow passive stretches of the mother's extremities. In addition, mobilization of her spine is being enhanced by gravity-free movements.~During the study, each participant in the intervention group will be treated twice with WATSU (60min treatment at day 1 and 4)."