Using a Mirror in the Second Stage of Labor: Effects on Duration and Birth Experience

Impact of Using a Mirror in the Second Stage of Labor on Childbirth Duration and Experience

This study aims to investigate the impact of using a labor mirror during the second stage of labor on both the duration of labor and the mother's overall experience. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does using a labor mirror in the second stage of labor affect the duration of labor?
• Does the use of a labor mirror in the second stage of labor affect women's total birth experience scale score? To assess the effect of using a birth mirror during the second stage of labor on the duration of labor and mothers' satisfaction with labor, the researchers will give one group a birth mirror and the other group will receive normal midwifery care.
• In the second stage of labor, the birth mirror will be positioned so that the woman can see the progress of the baby as she pushes (lithotomy position).
• Within 24 hours after delivery, mothers will complete the Birth Experience Scale and an opinion form about the use of the mirror.
• The control group will not receive any intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Labor Stage, Second
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Labor Mirror

Detailed Description

Childbirth is one of the most significant experiences in a woman's life. The second stage of labor, when the cervix is fully dilated and the baby moves through the birth canal, is a crucial phase. Various techniques and tools are used during this stage to assist delivery, one of which is the labor mirror. This tool allows the mother to visually observe the perineum and monitor the progress of labor, especially in water births. Both handheld and bed-mounted options are available, usually made of acrylic, and they can have adjustable angles for better visualization.

The use of a labor mirror offers several benefits. It enables real-time monitoring of the birthing process, allowing midwives to make timely interventions. More importantly, it helps mothers feel more involved in the birth, boosting their confidence and motivation, especially when they see the baby's head. This can lead to more controlled pushing and potentially shorten the duration of labor.

In summary, the labor mirror can enhance the birth experience by allowing mothers to participate actively and by providing emotional support, which may reduce the length of the second stage of labor. However, its use is not widespread in Turkey. This study aims to investigate the impact of using a labor mirror during the second stage of labor on both the duration of labor and the mother's overall experience.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 122
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • İzmit
    • Kocaeli, İzmit, Turkey (Türkiye), 41001
      • Kocaeli University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• between 38-42 weeks of gestation,
• had a healthy fetus,
• had no perinatal and obstetric risk,
• did not have prolonged trauma,
• could understand and speak Turkish

Exclusion Criteria:

• preterm labor onset,
• premature rupture of membranes,
• epidural analgesia,
• amniotic fluid with meconium,
• fetal risk
• intervention delivery

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experiment; In the second stage of labor, the birth mirror will be used to allow the mother to see her own perineum.	Other: Labor Mirror; The labor mirror used in the second stage of labor allows the mother and midwife to observe the descent and birth of the baby during vaginal delivery and provides instant visualization of progress for the mother and midwife, especially in water births or water births
No Intervention: Control; During the birth process, she will receive routine midwifery care and no intervention will be made.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) Total Score	The Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) is a validated scale measuring women's birth experiences. It has 22 items across 4 subscales. Total score is the sum of all items converted to a 1-4 scale, yielding a range of 22-88. Higher scores indicate a more positive childbirth experience.	Within 24 hours postpartum

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Duration of the Second Stage of Labor	The duration of the second stage of labor was compared between the experimental and control groups to assess the impact of labor mirror use.	During the second stage of labor, within the birth process

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kocaeli University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 14, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 16, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 9, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms; Neoplastic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neoplasm Metastasis
• Other Study ID Numbers: Suzi-02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No