o determine the efficacy of warm showers on parturition pain and the birth experiences of women during
the first stage of labor.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Setting/Participants:
The study was conducted from July 10, 2010 to January 12, 2011 in the maternity ward of a
Taipei City regional teaching hospital, site of approximately 220 to 250 births per month. Ninety-two expectant mothers
were recruited (recruitment rate: 70.8%) and allocated by block randomization into the two arms of the study. In total,
80 women completed the trial: 41 in the control group and 39 in the experimental group.
Methods:
Participants in the experimental group received warm shower bath interventions. Each shower lasted 20
minutes. After a 5-minute full body or lower back shower, participants could spend 15 minutes directing shower water
toward any body region that felt most comfortable. Facilities allowed participants to stand and sit as desired. Water
was constantly monitored and maintained at a temperature of 37
◦
C. Participants in the control group received standard
childbirth care.
Results:
Labor pain and the birth experience were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VASP) and
the Labour Agentry Scale, respectively. After adjusting for demographic and obstetric data, experimental-group women
who participated in warm showers reported significantly lower VASP scores at 4-cm and 7-cm cervical dilations, and
higher birth experiences than the control group.
Conclusion:
Apart from the positive physical hygiene effects, warm showers are a cost-effective, convenient, easy-to-
deploy, nonpharmacological approach to pain reduction. This intervention helps women in labor to participate fully in
the birthing process, earn continuous caregiver support, feel cared for and comforted, and have a more positive overall experience.