Does giving birth in a “birth environment room” versus a standard birth room lower augmentation of labor? – Results from a randomized controlled trial

Lorentzen, Iben Prentow; Andersen, Charlotte Sander; Jensen, Henriette Svenstrup; Fogsgaard, Ann; Foureur, Maralyn; Lauszus, Finn Friis; Nøhr, Ellen Aagaard

doi:10.1016/j.eurox.2021.100125

Cited by 9 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…It has been shown that specially designed hospital birthing rooms offering a sense of familiarity and different multisensory attributes can reduce women’s requirements of epidural analgesia during labor (Goldkuhl, Gyllensten et al, 2022) and lower caesarean birth rates (Wronding et al, 2019). However, these birth environments are in many trials implemented in settings with several other confounding factors related to the organizational model of care, such as continuity of carer, which is known to positively affect birth outcomes (Hodnett et al, 2012; Lorentzen et al, 2021).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Birthing Room Design on Maternal Childbirth Experience: Results From the Room4Birth Randomized Trial

Goldkuhl

Gyllensten

Begley

et al. 2022

HERD

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Objective: To study the effect of the birthing room design on nulliparous women’s childbirth experience up to 1 year after birth. Background: Although it is known that the birth environment can support or hinder birth processes, the impact of the birthing room design on maternal childbirth experience over time is insufficiently studied. Methods: The Room4Birth randomized controlled trial was conducted at a labor ward in Sweden. Nulliparous women in active stage of spontaneous labor were randomized ( n = 406) to either a regular birthing room ( n = 202) or a new birthing room designed with more person-centered considerations ( n = 204). Childbirth experiences were measured 2 hr, 3 months, and 12 months after birth by using a Visual Analogue Scale of Overall Childbirth Experience (VAS-OCE), the Fear of Birth Scale (FOBS), and the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ2). Results: Women randomized to the new room had a more positive childbirth experience reported on the VAS-OCE 3 months ( p = .002) and 12 months ( p = .021) after birth compared to women randomized to a regular room. Women in the new room also scored higher in the total CEQ2 score ( p = .039) and within the CEQ2 subdomain own capacity after 3 months ( p = .028). The remaining CEQ2 domains and the FOBS scores did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: These findings show that a birthing room offering more possibilities to change features and functions in the room according to personal needs and requirements, positively affects the childbirth experience of nulliparous women 3 and 12 months after they have given birth.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Birthing Room Design on Maternal Childbirth Experience: Results From the Room4Birth Randomized Trial

Goldkuhl

Gyllensten

Begley

et al. 2022

HERD

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“…In a randomized trial Lorentzen et al 45 found little difference in clinical outcomes in a “sensory” room versus a “standard” room (here spectral levels were not specifically reported). They found that birthing in the specially designed physical birth environment did not lower augmentation of labor rates.…”

Section: Further Review Of Studies: Impact Of Color and Light On Birthmentioning

confidence: 95%

Color, light, and birth space design: An integrative review

Balabanoff

2023

Color Research & Application

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This integrative review sought knowledge across a broad spectrum of literature concerning the role of color and light in maternity environments. Today it is acknowledged that the clinical nature of birth spaces is detrimental to maintaining normal physiological birth rates. Significantly, “clinical” spaces are often described as white, pale, monochromatic, and/or overlit. Attempts to make maternity settings more “home‐like” have promoted use of “warm” or “soft” colors. Ambience or spatial atmosphere is known to impact birth hormones, affecting labor commencement and progress. Today, efforts to improve birth spaces include “sensory rooms” (offering pain distraction via dark spaces and illuminated color elements); programmable colored light installations; and immersive image projections. Yet, as this paper shows, there is little specific study of the physical and psychological impact of color and light within birth settings. However, there are significant findings on colored light's impact upon birth processes, including the contraindication of bright blue light. And there is valuable knowledge embedded in old and new literature from diverse disciplines. This review thus exposes the strong need for further research and literature focused directly on how color and light in birth environment design impact birth experience for all involved. It is clear that environmental color and light need to be taken seriously as potent interrelated environmental factors that are directly implicated in the health and wellness of mothers and their infants during labor and birth. Thus, it is crucial to bring deeper awareness and comprehensive knowledge into use by designers, developers and managers of birth spaces.

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“…These interventions also included the provision of items designed to help pregnant women move freely, as well as clean bathroom facilities, including tubs and showers, in the birthing room. 6,13,14,21,22 Demedicalization of the birth environment Interventions used to demedicalize the birth environment involved not placing the bed in the center of the room, concealing medical equipment, 13,18,21 and having care personnel wear regular clothing as opposed to scrubs or surgical gowns. 24…”

Section: Hominessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13,14,16 Numerous studies have compared the effects of demedicalized birth environments and those of conventional, medicalized labor environments on postpartum satisfaction and experiences. 1,15,16,18,19,20,21,22 In the included studies, images of natural scenery, homey atmospheres, and the provision of accommodations for family members were also associated with increased postpartum breastfeeding rates. Numerous studies have revealed that environmental interventions are positively correlated with postpartum satisfaction, self-confidence, and intention to return to the same environment to give birth in the future.…”

Section: Accommodations For Birth Partnersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Birth environment interventions and outcomes: A scoping review

Chen,

Pan,

et al. 2023

Birth

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BackgroundThe physical environments in which women give birth can contribute positively to meeting both physiologic and psychosocial needs during labor. Most studies on the labor and delivery processes have focused on mitigating pain and providing psychological support. Fewer have explored the influence of the physical birth environment. In this study, we performed a scoping review to compile and examine qualitative and quantitative studies related to the characteristics of physical birth environments and their effects on labor outcomes.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases from inception to May 2022. A total of 13 studies met the criteria for inclusion in our review. Two reviewers screened the titles and full‐text articles and extracted data from the included studies. We used summary statistics and narrative summaries to describe the study characteristics, intervention implementation guidelines, intervention selection and tailoring rationale, and intervention effects.ResultsIn previous research, several elements of birth environments have been shown to provide physical and psychological support to birthing people and to improve outcomes related to the experience of care and pain management. We identified five main themes in the included studies: (1) “hominess;” (2) whether spaces are comfortable for activity; (3) demedicalization of the birth environment; (4) accommodations for birth partners; and (5) providing women with a sense of control over their birth environment.ConclusionsBirth environments should be designed to promote positive birthing experiences, both physiologically and psychologically. Facilities and those who manage them can improve the experiences and outcomes of service users by modifying or designing spaces that are “homey,” comfortable for activity, demedicalized, and include natural elements. In addition, policies that allow the birthing person to control her own environment are key to promoting positive outcomes and satisfaction with the birth experience.

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Does giving birth in a “birth environment room” versus a standard birth room lower augmentation of labor? – Results from a randomized controlled trial

Cited by 9 publications

References 28 publications

Impact of Birthing Room Design on Maternal Childbirth Experience: Results From the Room4Birth Randomized Trial

Impact of Birthing Room Design on Maternal Childbirth Experience: Results From the Room4Birth Randomized Trial

Color, light, and birth space design: An integrative review

Birth environment interventions and outcomes: A scoping review

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