Nature images can influence the labor experience in positive ways, with benefits for both mother and babyThe aim of this study was to determine if exposure to nature images would improve women’s labor and delivery experience. Previous research grounding this study suggests that the physical environment plays a role in how women experience labor, and that women’s bodies tend to perform better during labor when they feel more relaxed and comfortable. Additional research indicates that positive distractions can influence numerous clinical and behavioral outcomes for patients in acute care settings. The use of biophilic imagery (nature images which elicit positive feelings) was used in this study as a positive distraction.
This study was conducted at a family birth center located at a major university involving two groups of women. The women were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The 24 women in the experimental group were given the opportunity to view positive images of nature on a TV screen during their labor experience. The twenty-six women in the control group were not given this same option. With this arrangement, the researchers could compare women’s experiences of labor while in the presence of nature images with those who were not exposed to nature images.
Women in both groups completed two questionnaires after delivery. One questionnaire collected information about each participants’ age, level of education, ethnicity, and number of previous childbirths. The second questionnaire, adapted from the Quality of Care From the Patient’s Perspective (QPP), focused on the women’s labor experience. Medical records were used to collect additional information including labor duration, vital signs, pain relief, and Apgar score. Apgar score is a screen of infant health immediately after birth.
Women in the experimental group had higher scores on the QPP, lower heart rates, and higher Apgar scores than women in the control group. Longer nature watching times were also associated with higher QPP scores. The higher QPP scores for the women who watched nature imagery suggests higher satisfaction with their labor experiences. The difference in Apgar scores between the experimental and control group was statistically significant, with the higher scores in the experimental group suggesting healthier babies. These findings indicate that nature images can influence the labor experience in positive ways, with benefits for both mother and baby.
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