The birthing room intervention
The Room4Birth research project was closely linked to a project managing the planning and building of a new maternity clinic at the hospital. The new birthing room was implemented to study the effect of its design on perinatal outcomes, and to allow care providers to evaluate it prior to the start of the building process. The design process of the new birthing room was informed by previous research about healthcare environments [The hypothesis for the RCT was based on the theory that a birthing room that meets personal needs reduces stress and facilitates the release of endogenous oxytocin [The care providers had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new room for one month prior to the start of the RCT. A study midwife, an assistant nurse, and four midwife study ambassadors covering day and night shifts were recruited to inform their colleagues about how to use the room and conduct the RCT study routines. This information was also provided by the first author of the paper (LG) who, as a doctoral candidate, was regularly present at the labour ward during the first year of the study.