The Effect of Foot Bath on Birth Pain and Birth Comfort

Plain-language summary

Although childbirth is seen as a natural, happy, meaningful and universal experience, women are often faced with severe pain, discomfort and a sensory state that can be overwhelming. There are two ways to reduce labour pain: pharmacological (drugs) and non-pharmacological (non-drug methods). Non-pharmacological methods, in particular, attempt to relieve pain by addressing emotional, cognitive, behavioural and socio-cultural dimensions. These methods provide relief and reduce the perception of pain. One of the non-pharmacological methods used to reduce labour pain is footbaths. Footbaths are widely used as a nurse/midwife intervention in many countries. Footbathing is a simple technique used to induce a sense of comfort and relaxation. It involves gently immersing the patient's legs and feet (below the knees) in a basin of warm water. Local heat treatments are generally safe and are considered an effective form of complementary medicine. In its simplest form it means "a tool to be part of supportive care, promoting peace, positive emotions, comfort, satisfaction and enjoyment". The mechanisms responsible for the effects of footbathing are not fully understood, but soaking the feet in warm water and stimulating the sense of touch through massage or washing can reduce sympathetic nerve activity, thereby reducing pain and increasing comfort. In other words, reducing pain during labour means providing support and comfort to the woman. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of a foot bath applied in the first stage of labour on labour pain and comfort in nulliparous women.

Who can participate

What they're measuring

Trial details