Left Lateral Position vs Supine Position to Reduce Active Labor Duration

NCT07411352 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: PGO-UNAH-49-1-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 188
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effect of the left lateral decubitus position versus the supine position on the duration of the active phase of labor in nulliparous women. A total of 188 participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will be placed in the left lateral decubitus position, while the control group will remain in the supine position. Both positions will be maintained for 30-minute intervals with 5-minute rest periods, continuing until delivery. The primary outcome is the duration of the active phase of labor. Secondary outcomes include rates of cesarean section, use of oxytocin and analgesics, and maternal and neonatal complications.

Conditions

Labor Pain

Keywords

Maternal Position; Left Lateral Position; Active Phase of Labor; Randomized Controlled Trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Duration of the active phase of labor.

  The primary objective is to measure and compare the time taken to progress from the active phase to delivery between the two positioning groups.

  Time (in minutes) from the diagnosis of the active phase of labor (cervical dilation ≥6 cm) to delivery of the newborn. Within the first 24 hours after diagnosis of active phase.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Incidence of Cesarean Delivery

  From randomization until delivery (anticipated within 48 hours per participant).

• Use of Oxytocin for labor augmentation/conduction.

  From randomization until delivery.

• Incidence of maternal complications (e.g., perineal tears, hemorrhage, hypotension).

  From randomization until hospital discharge (approximately 24-48 hours postpartum).

• Neonatal status as measured by Apgar score.

  At 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth.

Study Arms (2)

Left Lateral Decubitus Position

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be placed in the left lateral decubitus position for periods of 30 minutes, interspersed with 5-minute rest periods. This cycle will continue throughout the active phase of labor until delivery.

Other: Left Lateral Decubitus Group

Supine Position Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will remain in the supine position for periods of 30 minutes, interspersed with 5-minute rest periods. This cycle will continue throughout the active phase of labor until delivery.

Other: Supine Position Group

Interventions

Left Lateral Decubitus Group OTHER

Participants will be placed in the left lateral decubitus position for periods of 30 minutes, interspersed with 5-minute rest periods. This cycle will continue throughout the active phase of labor until delivery.

Left Lateral Decubitus Position

Supine Position Group OTHER

Participants will remain in the supine position for periods of 30 minutes, interspersed with 5-minute rest periods. This cycle will continue throughout the active phase of labor until delivery.

Supine Position Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Eligibility is based on sex, not gender identity.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Signed and dated informed consent form.
• Nulliparous woman.
• Singleton pregnancy at ≥37 weeks of gestation.
• Intact amniotic membranes.
• Cephalic presentation.
• In the active phase of labor (cervical dilation ≥6 cm).
• Age ≥18 years.
• No contraindication for vaginal delivery.
• Possession of a mobile phone (for potential follow-up contact).

You may not qualify if:

• Previous uterine surgery.
• Maternal condition preventing vaginal delivery.
• Fetal anomaly.
• Premature rupture of membranes.
• Multiple pregnancy.
• Fetal demise.
• Uterine myomas.
• Maternal comorbidities (e.g., chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus type -1/2/gestational, hypothyroidism).
• Anemia.
• Age \<18 years.
• Preterm gestation (\<37 weeks).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hospital Escuela

Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán Department, 11101, Honduras

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Gupta JK, Hofmeyr GJ, Shehmar M. Position in the second stage of labour for women without epidural anaesthesia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 May 16;(5):CD002006. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002006.pub3.

  PMID: 22592681 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Labor Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Central Study Contacts

Ricardo A. Gutierrez Ramirez, MD, MSc

CONTACT

+50497546940; ricardo.gutierrez@unah.edu.hn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The groups will be labeled "AGroup" and "B Group" during data collection and tabulation. The statistician performing the analysis will be blinded to which group corresponds to which intervention until the analysis is complete.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Coordinator

Model Details: This is a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 1:1 allocation ratio. It employs a superiority framework to test the hypothesis that the left lateral decubitus position is superior to the standard supine position for reducing the duration of the active phase of labor. The design is single-blind, where the outcome assessors and data analysts are masked to group assignment. Due to the physical nature of the intervention (maternal positioning), participants and the healthcare providers implementing the position cannot be blinded. This is a single-center efficacy trial conducted in a real-world hospital labor and delivery setting.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: February 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

HO (1)