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

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.

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primiparous women who were expected to give birth vaginally
• Women who became pregnant spontaneously
• Women who were in the latent phase of labor upon admission
• Women who were not given oxytocin
• Women who were at term (38-42 weeks of gestation)
• Women who had a single healthy fetus in the vertex position
• Women who did not have any risk factors (such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, placenta previa, or placental abruption).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women with any complications that could cause dystocia during labor (such as contraction abnormalities birth objects, birth canal dystocia, maternal psychological dystocia)
• Who are unable to move
• Who cannot speak, read, or understand Turkish
• Who have communication problems.