Effects of Hot Sacral Massage and Shower Application With Partner Support on Labor

NCT07165405 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 12/32
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study was designed to determine the effect of warm sacral massage with cherry pits and showering with partner support on perceived labor pain, birth experience, and birth comfort. A total of 150 pregnant women, 50 in each group, were planned to be included in the study. Volunteers who agreed to participate in the study were expected to have spontaneous vaginal delivery, with an ultrasound-estimated fetal weight between 2500-4000 grams, a single fetus in cephalic presentation, at term (between 37-42 weeks of gestation), in the active phase of labor (4 cm cervical dilation), primiparous women who did not receive analgesia or anesthesia during the first stage of labor and who did not have any skin disease or open wound that would prevent massage or showering. Pregnant women participating in the study will be randomly divided into three groups. The massage group will receive massage twice during the first stage of labor for at least 20 minutes, either standing or sitting, using a bag filled with cherry pits on the sacral region (the lumbar region including your tailbone). Pregnant women in the shower group will receive a shower with water at a temperature between 32-37°C for at least 20 minutes twice during the first stage of labor, either standing or sitting with partner support, according to their preference. Pregnant women in the control group will not receive any intervention other than the routine hospital protocol (midwifery care). After providing information about the study to the pregnant women, written informed consent will be obtained. The pain scale (VAS) will be administered to women in the shower group, massage group, and control group by a midwife working in the delivery room who is not involved in the study. The VAS will be administered four times during labor to pregnant women in the massage group and shower group, and four times to pregnant women in the control group. Before transfer to the ward after delivery, all participants in the groups will be administered the "Birth Experience Scale (BES) and Birth Comfort Scale (BCS)" by a midwife who is not involved in the study and is working in the delivery room that day.

Conditions

Pain; Experience; Comfort

Keywords

labor pain; birth experience; postpartum comfort; sacral massage; shower application

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• visual analog scale

  labour pain

  Before the shower and massage at 4-5 cm dilation, After the shower and massage at 4-5 cm dilation, Before the shower and massage at 6-8 cm dilation, After the shower and massage at 6-8 cm dilation. Control group: at 4-5 cm dilation and 6-8 cm dilation

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Childbirth Experience Questionnaire

  Before the transfer from the delivery room to the maternity ward after birth

• Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire

  Before the transfer from the delivery room to the maternity ward after birth

Study Arms (3)

Showering with Partner Support

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive a shower administered by their partner on their back, abdomen, or entire body while standing or sitting, with the water temperature maintained between 32-37°C (the woman's preferred temperature will be applied) for at least 20 minutes upon admission to the labor room (when dilation is 4-5 cm). This will be performed under the observation of the researcher midwife. The application will be repeated when dilation reaches 7-8 cm.

Other: Shower

Hot Sacral Massage Group Made with Cherry Pits

EXPERIMENTAL

Sacral Massage Application will be performed using 20x20 cm pouches filled with cherry pits. Like the shower application, massage will be performed upon admission to the delivery room (when dilation is 4-5 cm) and repeated when dilation reaches 7-8 cm. Unless the pregnant woman requests otherwise, massage will be performed while she is in the left lateral position.

Other: Massage

Control Group

OTHER

Participants in this group will not receive any treatment beyond the routine hospital protocol (midwifery care).

Other: Midwifery Care

Interventions

Shower OTHER

Participants in this group will receive a shower administered by their partner on their back, abdomen, or entire body while standing or sitting, with the water temperature maintained between 32-37°C (the woman's preferred temperature will be applied) for at least 20 minutes upon admission to the labor room (when dilation is 4-5 cm). This will be performed under the observation of the researcher midwife. The application will be repeated when dilation reaches 7-8 cm.

Showering with Partner Support

Massage OTHER

Sacral Massage Application will be performed using 20x20 cm pouches filled with cherry pits. Like the shower application, massage will be performed upon admission to the delivery room (when dilation is 4-5 cm) and repeated when dilation reaches 7-8 cm. Unless the pregnant woman requests otherwise, massage will be performed while she is in the left lateral position.

Hot Sacral Massage Group Made with Cherry Pits

Midwifery Care OTHER

Care provided by a midwife in the delivery room

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Pregnant women
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Expectation of spontaneous vaginal delivery
• Estimated fetal weight between 2500-4000 grams by ultrasound
• Single fetus and cephalic presentation,
• Term pregnancy (between 37-42 weeks of gestation)
• Being in the active phase of labor (cervical dilation of 4 cm)
• No analgesia or anesthesia used during the first stage of labor,
• No skin disease or open wound preventing massage or showering

You may not qualify if:

• Having undergone infertility treatment,
• Delivery by cesarean section for any reason during labor,
• Being multiparous
• Having any systemic, chronic, or neurological disease (Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Thyroid disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, etc.)
• Regular medication use due to any illness,
• Active psychiatric treatment (pharmacotherapy/psychotherapy),
• Any induction that may affect uterine contractions and dilation,
• Any pregnancy complications (such as placenta previa, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, oligohydramnios, and polyhydramnios)
• Interventional delivery (forceps, vacuum)
• Any problem that hinders communication (such as not knowing Turkish, hearing, speech, and comprehension disorders)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa

Istanbul, Büyükçekmece, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain; Labor Pain

Interventions

Massage

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Central Study Contacts

Neriman Güdücü, PhD.

CONTACT

+905548327328; nerimanteker@windowslive.com

Buket Hasmili, Master Student

CONTACT

+905437269413; bukethasmili@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2025
• First Posted: September 10, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2025
• Study Completion: September 30, 2025
• Last Updated: September 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)