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Is Nipple Stimulation Effective for Inducing Labor and Acceptable to Patients, Nurses, and Providers?

NCT07588529 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 48

Last updated 2026-05-14

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

In this study the investigators will be testing the use of the Symphony PLUS® breast pump for nipple stimulation. Typically, breast pumps are used to start breast milk production and collect breast milk in patients after delivering their baby. The device uses cup-shaped pieces called flanges that are placed over the patient's nipples and then a gentle vacuum or suction is applied. The mechanical effect of the suction on the nipple is thought to cause the release of a substance called oxytocin in one's body, which encourages labor and contractions to begin. Some reasons why nipple stimulation might be better than other induction of labor methods are that it allows the patient to have more control over their induction process, it uses the patient's own oxytocin instead of synthetic (or factory-produced) oxytocin, and it may shorten the time that it takes to deliver the baby.

Conditions

  • Pregnancy
  • Induction of Labor

Interventions

OTHER

Electric breast pump for nipple stimulation

Symphony PLUS® breast pump. What distinguishes this induction of labor nipple stimulation study is how we will be applying the nipple stimulation. Many other studies exist, but they apply the stimulation in an uneven or inconsistent manner. They often do not specify how they interpret active and latent labor. Our study will be using nipple stimulation only for 2 hours per experimental participant so that we can better quantify the effect that nipple stimulation has on the labor process.

OTHER

induction of labor

Patients randomized to the control group will follow standard induction of labor protocol, which may include, but is not limited to, misoprostol, Foley catheter, and synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Brian Brost, MD · Vice Chair of Education and Innovation in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine

  • Rachel DiTeresi, MD · Clerkship Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at KUMC

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
50 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-07-31
Primary Completion
2027-12-31
Completion
2028-12-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07588529 on ClinicalTrials.gov