BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Labor pain is not only influenced by individual parturients characteristics, but also by their psychological experiences and cultural, ethnic, social and environmental factors. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of shower bath on pain relief during active labor stage. METHOD: This is a controlled clinical trial of therapeutic intervention type, with 34 parturients admitted to pre-delivery for parturition process assistance, who received shower bath therapy for 30 minutes. Pain was measured by the visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: VAS has shown 80 mm before and 55 mm after therapy with pain relief of patients in active labor, with cervix dilatation of 4-5 cm. CONCLUSION: There has been significant pain intensity decrease by VAS during active labor stage, after shower bath therapy.
Labor; Pain; Pain evaluation