Fetal Images Through Virtual Reality During Labor

NCT07793136 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024/623
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 114
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Aim: This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of viewing personalized fetal images through a virtual reality (VR) headset during labor on childbirth comfort, maternal attachment, and perceived traumatic childbirth. Methods: The study will include primiparous pregnant women at 28-32 weeks of gestation who voluntarily agree to participate and provide consent for fetal image recording. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. During labor, women in the intervention group will view their own personalized fetal images accompanied by fetal heart sounds through a VR headset for at least four minutes, with the option to continue viewing if desired. The control group will receive routine intrapartum care. Data will be collected using the Pregnant Woman Descriptive Information Form, Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire, Maternal Attachment Scale, and Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale. Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including independent-samples t-test, paired-samples t-test, and chi-square test, as appropriate. Statistical significance will be set at p \< 0.05.

Conditions

Childbirth

Keywords

Childbirth comfort; maternal attachment; perceived traumatic birth; virtual reality; labor;; childbirth comfort; maternal attachment; perceived traumatic birth; virtual reality

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Maternal Attachment

  Maternal attachment will be assessed using the Maternal Attachment Scale. Higher scores indicate stronger maternal attachment.

  30 days postpartum.

• Childbirth Comfort

  Childbirth comfort will be assessed using the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ), a 9-item, 5-point Likert-type scale consisting of physical, psychospiritual, and environmental comfort subscales. Total scores range from 9 to 45, with higher scores indicating greater childbirth comfort.

  During active labor, at 8 cm cervical dilatation.

Study Arms (2)

Personalized Fetal Images Through Virtual Reality

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will view personalized fetal ultrasound images accompanied by fetal heart sounds using a virtual reality headset during the first stage of labor.

Behavioral: Virtual Reality

Routine Intrapartum Care

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group received routine intrapartum care according to the hospital protocol. No additional intervention was provided.

Interventions

Virtual Reality BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group will view personalized fetal ultrasound images recorded during routine antenatal ultrasonography using a virtual reality headset during the first stage of labor. The fetal ultrasound images will be accompanied by fetal heart sounds. The intervention will be administered when cervical dilatation reaches 4-9 cm in a quiet environment. Each viewing session will last for at least 4 minutes, and participants will be allowed to continue viewing according to their preference. The duration of VR exposure will be recorded for each participant.

Also known as: Fetal Images Through Virtual Reality

Personalized Fetal Images Through Virtual Reality

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: 18-35 years old women
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Pregnant women aged 18 years or older
• Primiparous women
• Gestational age of 28-32 weeks at the time of eligibility assessment
• Singleton pregnancy
• Able to communicate in Turkish
• Willing to participate in the study
• Able to provide written informed consent for study participation and recording of personalized fetal ultrasound images.

You may not qualify if:

• Indication for elective cesarean delivery
• Visual or hearing impairment that could interfere with the intervention
• Maternal or fetal medical complications
• Pregnancy conceived through assisted reproductive techniques

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Selcuk University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Selcuk University

Konya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc. Prof.

Model Details: This study used a randomized controlled intervention model. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention group viewed personalized fetal images accompanied by fetal heart sounds through a virtual reality headset during labor, while the control group received routine intrapartum care.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2026
• First Posted: August 28, 2026
• Study Start: January 30, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 15, 2026
• Study Completion: April 30, 2026
• Last Updated: August 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)