Showering During Labor

Nilgun Avci94 enrolled

Overview

This study examined whether showering during labor affects pain, anxiety, comfort, satisfaction, and labor outcomes in women undergoing vaginal birth. Non-pharmacological methods are commonly used to support women during labor, and warm showering may help reduce discomfort and emotional distress during the labor process. In this randomized controlled trial, pregnant women in active labor were assigned either to a shower group or to a control group receiving routine labor care. Women in the shower group were allowed to shower during labor under standardized conditions, while the control group received routine intrapartum care without showering. Pain and anxiety levels were assessed repeatedly during labor, while comfort and birth satisfaction were evaluated during and after birth using validated measurement tools. The results of this study aim to contribute to evidence-based intrapartum care practices by evaluating the role of showering as a supportive intervention during labor.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Labor Childbirth

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Women admitted to the labor unit during the study period * Term pregnancy (37-41 weeks) * Planned vaginal birth * Cervical dilation greater than 5 cm * Volunteered to participate and provided informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to communicate in Turkish * Hearing or mental health conditions * Conversion from vaginal birth to cesarean section * Age under 18 years * High-risk pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, diabetes, hypertension, multiple pregnancy, placental abnormalities) * Use of epidural anesthesia

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Labor Pain Intensity

Pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during labor.

Time frame: Every 2 hours during labor (up to 8 hours) and immediately before and after each shower session during the same labor admission.

Secondary Outcomes

Anxiety Level During Labor

Anxiety assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during labor.

Time frame: Every 2 hours during labor (up to 8 hours) and immediately before and after each shower session during the same labor admission.

Maternal Comfort During Labor

Maternal comfort assessed using the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire.

Time frame: At 10 minutes after the first shower session during active labor

Birth Satisfaction

Birth satisfaction assessed using the Birth Satisfaction Scale.

Time frame: 2 hours postpartum.

Duration of Labor

Total duration of labor measured in hours, obtained from clinical records.

Time frame: From admission to the labor unit until delivery.

Mode of Delivery

Type of delivery (vaginal or cesarean) recorded from clinical records.

Time frame: At delivery.

Use of Obstetric Interventions

Use of obstetric interventions (e.g., induction, augmentation, episiotomy) recorded from clinical records.

Time frame: During labor and recorded at delivery.