Standing vs. Squatting Positions During Labor

February 2, 2026 updated by: Nilgun Avci, Biruni University

The Effect of Standing and Squatting Positions During the First Stage of Labor on Birth Process, Birth Comfort, and Perceived Traumatic Birth Experience Among Multiparous Women

Background: Maternal position during labor is a key non-pharmacological strategy that supports physiological birth and women's active participation in the childbirth process. Although upright positions have been associated with favorable labor outcomes compared with supine positions, evidence directly comparing different upright positions-particularly in relation to maternal birth experience and perceived traumatic birth-remains limited.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of standing and squatting positions during the first stage of labor on the birth process, birth comfort, pain intensity, and perceived traumatic birth experience among multiparous women.

Methods: This study was conducted using a comparative interventional design. A total of 82 multiparous women were included and allocated to either the standing group (n=41) or the squatting group (n=41) during labor. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Labor Comfort Scale, and the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale. Outcomes were assessed during labor and within the first two hours postpartum. Statistical analyses included comparative and correlation analyses.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

82

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Multiparous women aged ≥18 years
  • Gestational age between 38 and 42 weeks
  • Singleton pregnancy with cephalic presentation
  • Cervical dilatation ≥4 cm at admission
  • Low-risk pregnancy
  • Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Multiple pregnancy
  • Presentation anomalies
  • High-risk pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta-related complications)
  • Fetal distress or known fetal anomalies
  • Any medical or obstetric condition requiring restricted mobility during labor

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Standing Position Group
Participants assigned to this group followed a standing position-based labor management approach during the first stage of labor.
Behavioral: Standing Position During Labor
Women were encouraged to remain standing or to walk during contraction-related pain episodes throughout the first stage of labor under midwife supervision.
Experimental: Squatting Position Group
Participants assigned to this group followed a squatting position-based labor management approach during the first stage of labor.
Behavioral: Squatting Position During Labor
Women were encouraged to assume the squatting position during contractions during the first stage of labor, supported by a birthing ball or bed rails according to preference.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total Labor Duration
Time Frame: From active labor onset (cervical dilatation ≥4 cm) to delivery
Total duration of labor measured in hours.
From active labor onset (cervical dilatation ≥4 cm) to delivery
Birth Duration
Time Frame: From the active phase of labor to birth
Duration of the birth process measured in minutes.
From the active phase of labor to birth

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Biruni University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

October 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 2, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Standing vs. Squatting Positio

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

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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