The Effect of Showering During Labour on Perceived Labour Pain, Parenting Behaviour and Birth Memory: A Randomised...

This randomised controlled experimental study examined the impact of warm showers during labour on perceived pain, parenting behaviour and birth memory.

This randomised controlled experimental study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05529823) was conducted with 81 primiparous pregnant women, assigned to either the experimental group (n:41) or the control group (n:40). 'Visual Analog Scale', 'Postpartum Parenting Behavior Scale' and 'Birth Memory and Recall Questionnaire' were used to collect the data. In the experimental group, participants received warm showers at the onset of the active phase and during the transition phase of labour, whereas the control group received standard care.

The experimental and control groups were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, interventions and medications administered during labour. The pain scores of both groups before the application were similar, while the pain score of the experimental group after both applications was found to be statistically lower compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Postpartum Parenting Behavior Scale scores did not differ between groups. In the Birth Memory and Recall Questionnaire, the control group had higher scores in the emotional memory and involuntary recall sub-dimensions, whereas the experimental group had higher scores in the sensory memory sub-dimension (p < 0.05).

Warm showers during labour reduced perceived labour pain and positively influenced birth memory but had no effect on postpartum parenting behaviour.