I mean if sterile water helps some women why not?

True, we need better pain management during labor, that is a fact, but I don't see any harm in offering this pain management method at all, so long as it involves informed consent.

A lot of women are into all sorts of bizarre and strange pain management techniques during childbirth, especially if they want to do it naturally. Many women "visualize" calm scenes to help them. If some of those women are into sterile water, I think it should be available to them. Women deserve whatever they would like during child birth.

But it should be disclosed what sterile water is to the woman, and offered as a option, not pushed upon or insisted. Women should be told this is an option, and it can help, but if they are still feeling pain, that needs to be recognized and gas lit.

However, as a substitute for an epidural, or other pain management, absolutely not. We still need quality pain management, we need everything during child birth. Don't take away options, just add more to them. Also, offering sterile water as a solution, or the solution is not the way to think. It's a tool, and option for a mother in labor, but not the answer to the whole problem. Other ways of helping managing pain should also consistently be worked with.