I only used the shower at home, and only for about 10 mins early on and it really helped (thought I should save the hot water in case I needed it later, never got back to it), but I also found while I was at home I got a lot of relief sitting on a fit ball with a hot wheat bag pressed against my lower back. The heat made all the difference when the contractions started in my lower back. So for me, heat was fantastic and I think a hot shower would have been great. By the time I got to hospital, I was ready to push so no time to do showers or baths then.