NCT07031635

Hydrotherapy in Labor: Outcomes for Pain, Birth, and Breastfeeding

The Effect of Hydrotherapy During Labor on Labor Pain, Duration of Labor, Birth Affectivity, and Breastfeeding

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (actual)
• Sponsor: Selcuk University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 49 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Warm showers are increasingly gaining attention for their positive impact on labor, yet studies on this topic in Turkey remain limited. No previous research has simultaneously evaluated the effects of warm showers on labor pain, duration, emotional state, and breastfeeding. As a simple, economical, accessible, and side-effect-free method, warm showers represent a practical and safe non-pharmacological option for pain relief and comfort during labor. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hydrotherapy on labor pain, duration, breastfeeding, and emotional experience during childbirth.

Detailed description

Childbirth is an unforgettable and unique experience for women. However, labor can sometimes be painful, challenging, and anxiety-inducing. Severe labor pain can negatively affect a woman's sense of control during labor, causing stress that may impact the health of the mother, fetus, and newborn. Traumatic birth experiences may hinder maternal-infant bonding and breastfeeding. Factors such as delivery method, medical interventions, pain, and fatigue can delay the initiation of breastfeeding and complicate the mother's adjustment to her new role. In supportive, intervention-free birth environments, the need for analgesia and oxytocin is reduced, episiotomy rates are lower, maternal emotional experiences improve, and breastfeeding is initiated earlier. In this context, non-pharmacological methods such as warm showers offer significant advantages during labor. Being easily accessible, economical, and free of side effects, warm showers help relax muscles, improve circulation, reduce labor pain, and support a more positive maternal approach to the birth process. They ease fear and stress, promote comfort, and increase birth satisfaction. Studies indicate that pregnant women find warm showers soothing and often prefer them over analgesics. However, studies in Turkey on this subject are limited, and comprehensive research evaluating the combined effects of warm showers on labor pain, duration, emotional state, and breastfeeding is lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effects of hydrotherapy during labor on these outcomes.

Conditions

• Pregnancy
• Latent Phase

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Hydrotherapy (Warm Shower)	Pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the intervention group received a warm shower once cervical dilation reached 5 cm. Based on their preference, participants either stood or sat during the 30-minute shower.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-07-01
• Primary completion: 2025-01-01
• Completion: 2025-01-01
• First posted: 2025-06-22
• Last updated: 2025-07-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)