Healing Architecture in Birthing Rooms: A Scoping Review

AIM: The purpose of this scoping review is to map the knowledge about the multisensory birthing room regarding the birth experience and birth outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The concept of multisensory birthing rooms is relatively novel, making it relevant to explore its impact.

METHODS: Five databases were searched. The search was limited to articles in English, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. There were no time limitations. Fourteen relevant articles were identified providing knowledge about multisensory birthing rooms.

RESULTS: Eight articles focused on birth experience, six articles focused on birth outcome, and one on the organization of the maternity care. Seven of the studies identified that sensory birthing rooms have a positive impact on the birth experience and one qualitative study could not demonstrate a better overall birth experience. Five articles described an improvement for selected birth outcomes. On the other hand, a randomized controlled trial study could not demonstrate an effect on either the use of oxytocin or birth outcomes such as pain and cesarean section. The definition and description of the concept weaken the existing studies scientifically.

CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review revealed that multisensory birthing rooms have many definitions and variations in the content of the sensory exposure; therefore, it is difficult to standardize and evaluate the effect of its use. There is limited knowledge concerning the multisensory birthing room and its impact on the birth experience and the birth outcome. Multisensory birthing rooms may have a positive impact on the birth experience. Whereas there are conflicting results regarding birth outcomes.