Breathing Exercises Guided by Student Midwives During Labor

NCT07357246 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 2026-SS1919B012324751
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of breathing exercises applied under the guidance of student midwives during labor on labor pain, labor duration, and birth satisfaction. The intervention group received structured breathing exercises guided by student midwives throughout labor, while the control group received routine intrapartum care. Outcomes were assessed during labor and in the early postpartum period

Conditions

Labor Pain and to Reduce Pain; Childbirth; Normal Labor

Keywords

Breathing Exercises; Labor Pain; Student Midwives; Birth Satisfaction; Labor Duration; Midwifery Care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Labor pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (0-10)

  Labor pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst pain imaginable." The outcome will be the VAS score reported by the participant at each assessment time point.

  At admission to the labor ward (baseline) and at cervical dilatation of 6-7 cm.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Birth satisfaction measured by the Birth Satisfaction Scale Revised (BSS-R)

  Within the first 24 hours postpartum

Study Arms (2)

Breathing Exercises Guided by Student Midwives

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive structured breathing exercises in addition to routine intrapartum care. The breathing exercises will be guided by trained student midwives from admission to the labor ward until birth. The intervention will include slow-paced breathing, patterned breathing during contractions, and relaxation-focused breathing between contractions, with continuous guidance and encouragement provided according to a standardized protocol.

Behavioral: Guided Breathing Exercises During Labor

Routine Intrapartum Care

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will receive routine intrapartum care according to the standard clinical protocols of the maternity hospital. Routine care includes regular maternal and fetal monitoring, clinical assessment by midwives and obstetric staff, support during labor as per standard practice, and medical or obstetric interventions if clinically indicated. No structured breathing exercise program will be provided.

Other: Routine Intrapartum Care

Interventions

Guided Breathing Exercises During Labor BEHAVIORAL

Structured breathing exercises delivered and monitored by student midwives during labor.

Breathing Exercises Guided by Student Midwives

Routine Intrapartum Care OTHER

Standard intrapartum care provided according to hospital protocols.

Routine Intrapartum Care

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Women aged 18 years and older
• Term pregnancy (≥37 weeks of gestation)
• Singleton pregnancy
• Planning vaginal birth
• In the active phase of labor
• Able to communicate and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• High-risk pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, placenta previa, severe medical complications)
• Multiple pregnancy
• Planned cesarean section
• Use of pharmacological pain relief at admission (e.g., epidural analgesia)
• Known fetal anomalies
• Inability to participate in breathing exercises

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Antalya Bilim University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Antalya

Antalya, 07190, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Labor Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Seda Serhatlioglu, Doctorate

  Antalya Bilim Üniversitesi

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 2, 2026
• First Posted: January 21, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 3, 2025
• Study Completion: March 15, 2025
• Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)