The use of water has long been used by women the world over for labour pain. When a labouring woman immerses herself in a bath (or stands under the shower), the overwhelming response is usually a sigh of 'aahhh'. The warm water can help soothe, calm and relax the woman's body, and is often referred to by midwives as a 'natural epidural'.
A deep bath can assist women struggling with a long and difficult labour, sometimes help them to progress in their labours, without resorting to an
oxytocin drip, or relax them if anxious. Many women appreciate the privacy a bath can give them, and their increased ability to achieve various comfortable positions in the bath.
Showers can help most women release tension, and soothe tired shoulder and back muscles, as the water falls down and over the woman's body. Some women like the 'protectiveness' of the confined shower space, feeling more comfortable in releasing their birthing sounds to express their pain. Various positions can also be adapted for use in the shower to assist with the pain.
You may use a deep bath as a means of pain relief towards the end of the 1st stage and into 2nd stage of the labour. The warm water can surround the genital area and help the perineum to soften and stretch up, as well as reducing pain sensations as the baby's head crowns. You may prefer to use the bath up till this point and then stand up to deliver the baby out of the water.
You may wish to read more on the use of water during labour in
water birth.