Showering During Labor

April 30, 2026 updated by: Nilgun Avci

Effects of Showering During Labor on Pain, Anxiety, Comfort, Satisfaction, and Labor Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study examined whether showering during labor affects pain, anxiety, comfort, satisfaction, and labor outcomes in women undergoing vaginal birth. Non-pharmacological methods are commonly used to support women during labor, and warm showering may help reduce discomfort and emotional distress during the labor process.

In this randomized controlled trial, pregnant women in active labor were assigned either to a shower group or to a control group receiving routine labor care. Women in the shower group were allowed to shower during labor under standardized conditions, while the control group received routine intrapartum care without showering. Pain and anxiety levels were assessed repeatedly during labor, while comfort and birth satisfaction were evaluated during and after birth using validated measurement tools.

The results of this study aim to contribute to evidence-based intrapartum care practices by evaluating the role of showering as a supportive intervention during labor.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

94

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34010
        • State Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Istanbul

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women admitted to the labor unit during the study period
  • Term pregnancy (37-41 weeks)
  • Planned vaginal birth
  • Cervical dilation greater than 5 cm
  • Volunteered to participate and provided informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to communicate in Turkish
  • Hearing or mental health conditions
  • Conversion from vaginal birth to cesarean section
  • Age under 18 years
  • High-risk pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, diabetes, hypertension, multiple pregnancy, placental abnormalities)
  • Use of epidural anesthesia

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Shower During Labor
Participants were allowed to shower during active labor (cervical dilation >5 cm) in a private bathroom within the labor room. Showering was permitted at the participant's preference, for at least 20 minutes per session, with water temperature maintained between 35-40°C. Safety measures were implemented, including accompaniment by a companion or researcher.
Behavioral: Showering During Labor
Participants were allowed to shower during active labor (cervical dilation >5 cm) in a private bathroom within the labor room. Showering was permitted at the participant's preference, for at least 20 minutes per session, with water temperature maintained between 35-40°C. Safety measures were implemented, including accompaniment by a companion or researcher.
No Intervention: Control: Routine Labor Care
Participants received routine intrapartum care without showering during labor.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Labor Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Every 2 hours during labor (up to 8 hours) and immediately before and after each shower session during the same labor admission.
Pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during labor.
Every 2 hours during labor (up to 8 hours) and immediately before and after each shower session during the same labor admission.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Anxiety Level During Labor
Time Frame: Every 2 hours during labor (up to 8 hours) and immediately before and after each shower session during the same labor admission.
Anxiety assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during labor.
Every 2 hours during labor (up to 8 hours) and immediately before and after each shower session during the same labor admission.
Maternal Comfort During Labor
Time Frame: At 10 minutes after the first shower session during active labor
Maternal comfort assessed using the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire.
At 10 minutes after the first shower session during active labor
Birth Satisfaction
Time Frame: 2 hours postpartum.
Birth satisfaction assessed using the Birth Satisfaction Scale.
2 hours postpartum.
Duration of Labor
Time Frame: From admission to the labor unit until delivery.
Total duration of labor measured in hours, obtained from clinical records.
From admission to the labor unit until delivery.
Mode of Delivery
Time Frame: At delivery.
Type of delivery (vaginal or cesarean) recorded from clinical records.
At delivery.
Use of Obstetric Interventions
Time Frame: During labor and recorded at delivery.
Use of obstetric interventions (e.g., induction, augmentation, episiotomy) recorded from clinical records.
During labor and recorded at delivery.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Nilgun Avci

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 30, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

August 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 30, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Showering During Labor

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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