For many people, the first stage of labor is a time of intense physical demand. Some women choose to use warm-water bathing during this time to manage their comfort. New data looking at 1,823 women suggests that this practice may have a specific benefit: it could lead to fewer instrumental births, which are births assisted by tools like forceps or vacuums.
While the data shows a trend toward higher satisfaction for women who bathed, the evidence is not perfectly clear. The study did not find that bathing reduced the need for pain medication or changed the rates of vaginal births, C-sections, or perineal tears. It also did not show any impact on the health of the baby or the mother's infection rates.
It is important to note that the evidence for these findings is currently considered low to very low. This is because the studies involved were not blinded and had some inconsistencies. While bathing appears safe for both mothers and babies, it does not currently have a proven effect on reducing the need for pain relief.
