I think it really does help - on the labour/birth summary that I was discharged with, under pain relief it had "hydro immersion" so it must be legit!!

For my first labour, I used the shower sporadically, along with gas, for pain relief. I quite liked it.

For my second, it all happened much faster and I had thrown up and got a bit of muck in my hair, so I jumped in the shower to wash my hair and was in there for a good 40mins.

Got to the birth centre and said I might need some pain relief, could I try the gas or jump in the shower? Being a birth centre they were very quick to say "let's try shower first!"

I was in there for about two hours, with DH holding one nozzle on my back and me facing the other nozzle so it went on my tummy. I loved it.

When it wad time to start pushing, the MW told me to come out of the shower and I almost cried! Said I might need the gas then and she told me it was too late!

So I birthed my 10lb 11oz boy by myself!!