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

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

Interventions

OTHER

Shower

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

Massage

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

Midwifery Care

Care provided by a midwife in the delivery room

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-02-01

Primary Completion

2025-09-30

Completion

2025-09-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations