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Hydrotherapy in labor
Author(s) -
Benfield Rebecca D.,
Herman JoAnne,
Katz Vern L.,
Wilson Steven P.,
Davis J. Mark
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/1098-240x(200102)24:1<57::aid-nur1007>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - hydrotherapy , medicine , anxiety , labor pain , bathing , distress , physical therapy , pregnancy , anesthesia , clinical psychology , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , genetics
Maternal anxiety and pain prolong labor and contribute to fetal distress. Hydrotherapy during labor may promote relaxation and decrease pain without the risks caused by other treatments. In this pilot study the psychophysiological effects of hydrotherapy on maternal anxiety and pain during labor were examined. Using a randomized, pretest‐posttest control group design with repeated measures, 18 term parturients were assigned to a control or an experimental group. Experimental subjects were placed in a tub of 37°C water for 1 hr during early labor. The Wilcoxon two‐sample test revealed statistically significant effects. At 15 min bathers' anxiety and pain scores were decreased compared to nonbathers. At 60 min bathers' pain scores were decreased compared to nonbathers. After 15 min of immersion, bathers had a significantly greater increase in plasma volume than nonbathers. No significant differences were found in urine catecholamines or maternal–fetal complications. The small sample limits conclusions, but the findings offer preliminary support for the therapeutic effects of bathing in labor for acute, short‐term anxiety and pain reduction. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 24, 57–67, 2001