Effect of Warm Sacral Massage Using Cherry Pits and Partner-Assisted Shower on Labor Pain, Birth Experience, and Comfort in Pregnant Women

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effects of warm sacral massage using cherry pits and partner-supported showering on perceived labor pain, birth experience, and comfort during childbirth. The study involves 150 pregnant women divided into three groups to compare these interventions with standard midwifery care. Participants are primiparous women in active labor at term with a single fetus in cephalic presentation and no analgesia used during labor. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups the shower group receives a partner-administered shower on the back, abdomen, or whole body twice during labor with water between 32-37C the massage group receives sacral massage with cherry pit-filled pouches twice during labor and the control group receives routine hospital midwifery care without additional interventions. Each intervention occurs at specific cervical dilation points 4-5 cm and 7-8 cm and lasts about 20 minutes. During labor, vital signs and pain levels using the Visual Analog Scale are monitored multiple times by midwives not involved in the study. After delivery and before transfer to the maternity ward, all participants complete the Birth Experience Scale and Birth Comfort Scale. The study tracks maternal comfort, pain perception, and birth experience to assess the impact of these supportive interventions during labor.

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