Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42591025›Full record

SynthesisJapan journal of nursing science : JJNS2026

Effect of Bathing for Pain Relief During the First Stage of Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kayo Ueda, Yukiko Honda, Yuko Masuzawa, Mai Takeshita, Rie Toyomoto, Kumiko Adachi, Hiromi Eto, Yuriko Usui, Rieko Fukuzawa, Tomoko Nishino

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Japan journal of nursing science : JJNS, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kayo UedaDepartment of Reproductive Health, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki-city, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7986-2441
Yukiko HondaDepartment of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Yuko MasuzawaFaculty of Nursing, Niigata College of Nursing, Joetsu, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4629-2371
Mai TakeshitaDepartment of Implementation Science in Public Health, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1850-6301
Rie ToyomotoDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Kumiko AdachiDepartment of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-Ku, Japan.
Hiromi EtoDepartment of Reproductive Health, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki-city, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2652-4000
Yuriko UsuiDivision of Health Sciences and Nursing, Department of Midwifery and Women's Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6224-5391
Rieko FukuzawaMaternal Nursing & Midwifery, Nagano College of Nursing, Komagane, Japan.
Tomoko NishinoSchool of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan.

Funding

the Japan Academy of Midwifery, Tokyo, Japan
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo evaluate the benefits and harms of bathing during the first stage of labor among healthy women with uncomplicated singleton cephalic pregnancies at ≥ 36 weeks' gestation.

methodsRandomized controlled trials comparing warm-water bathing during the first stage of labor with no bathing were included. MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CENTRAL, and Ichu-shi Web (updated to December 2024) were searched for English- and Japanese-language studies. Two reviewers independently assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 1.0 tool, and evidence certainty was appraised with GRADE. Random-effects meta-analyses reported risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences with 95% prediction intervals (PIs), and I

resultsNine studies from eight countries (1994-2018; n = 1823) met inclusion criteria. Bathing did not significantly affect regional analgesia use (RR 0.91, 95% PI 0.82-1.01; I

conclusionsEvidence certainty was low to very low because of risk of bias, imprecision, lack of blinding, and limited woman-reported outcomes. Bathing appears safe for mothers and infants and may reduce instrumental delivery, but a clear analgesic-sparing effect was not shown. Implementation should ensure tub hygiene, water temperature regulation, and regular maternal and fetal monitoring.

trial registrationRegister name: Effect of Bathing for Pain Relief During the First Stage of Labor: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/J9GTS.

Indexed as

BathsLabor Stage, FirstPain ManagementFemaleHumansPregnancybathingfirst stage of labormeta‐analysispain reliefrisk ratiosystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42591025
PMCPMC13470138

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.