The Effect of Hydrotherapy Application on Pain During Birth and Postpartum Fatigue and Comfort

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of hydrotherapy applied during labour on pain felt at birth, postpartum fatigue and comfort, and person-centred maternity care.

The sample of this randomized controlled experimental study consisted of 80 pregnant women (40 in the experimental group and 40 in the control group) who would give a birth for the second time. The experimental group was given a shower twice with water at 32°C-37°C in the desired position for 20 min when the dilation was 4-5 cm and 6-8 cm. The control group was given routine care. Data were collected with a descriptive information form and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before the birth and with the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue (VASF), the Postpartum Comfort Scale (PCS), and the Person-Centred Maternity Care Scale (PCMCS) following the birth. Pearson's χ² test, independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data, and the confidence interval was evaluated at p < 0.05.

The labour times, VAS values and VASF scores of the hydrotherapy group were significantly lower than those of the control group (VAS: 6.98 ± 1.46; 9.45 ± 0.68; VASF: 59.43 ± 36.33; 76.47 ± 26.91, respectively). The hydrotherapy group had significantly higher 1st- and 5th-minute Apgar scores, postpartum comfort scores and PCMCS scores than the control group (PCS: 138.4 ± 15.62; 135.35 ± 10.84; PCMCS: 59.35 ± 5.32; 58.55 ± 4.11, respectively).

It was determined that hydrotherapy application shortened labour time, had a positive effect on newborn Apgar scores, relieved pain felt during birth, reduced postpartum fatigue, increased postpartum comfort and had a positive effect on person-centred maternal care.