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NCT Number: NCT07357246

Breathing Exercises Guided by Student Midwives During Labor

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

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Key information

Conditions

Labor Pain and to Reduce Pain Childbirth Labor Pain Neurologic Manifestations Normal Labor Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Antalya

Antalya, 07190, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study is designed to evaluate the effect of a midwifery-led intervention on labor pain intensity and birth satisfaction among women giving birth vaginally. The study will be conducted as a controlled clinical study in a maternity hospital setting. Eligible pregnant women who are admitted to the labor ward and meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate and will provide informed consent prior to enrollment.

The study aims to determine whether the midwifery-led intervention is associated with reduced labor pain intensity and improved birth satisfaction compared to routine care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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

Exclusion criteria

  • 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

Treatment and study plan

Guided Breathing Exercises During Labor

Behavioral

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

Routine Intrapartum Care

Other

Standard intrapartum care provided according to hospital protocols.

Primary outcomes

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

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

    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.

Secondary outcomes

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

    Time frame: Within the first 24 hours postpartum

    Birth satisfaction will be assessed using the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R), a 10-item scale with total scores ranging from 0 to 40, where higher scores indicate greater birth satisfaction.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Antalya Bilim University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Breathing Exercises Applied Under the Guidance of Student Midwives During Birth on Labor Pain, Labor Duration and Birth Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: BREATH

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 21, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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