Breathing Exercises During Labor and Maternal Outcomes

Effects of Breathing Exercises During Labor on Maternal Stress, Satisfaction, and Birth Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of guided breathing exercises applied during labor on maternal stress, pain, anxiety, birth satisfaction, and labor outcomes. Pregnant women were randomly assigned to a breathing exercise group or a routine care group. Maternal psychological outcomes and labor-related clinical outcomes were compared between groups.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress, Psychological; Anxiety; Labor Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Guided Breathing Exercises During Labor

Detailed Description

Labor is a physiological process that may be accompanied by pain, anxiety, and psychological stress, which can negatively affect birth satisfaction and labor outcomes. Non-pharmacological interventions such as breathing exercises are widely used to support women during labor.

In this randomized controlled experimental study, pregnant women admitted to the labor and delivery unit during the latent phase were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving guided breathing exercises throughout labor or a control group receiving routine intrapartum care only. Breathing exercises were applied continuously during uterine contractions until full cervical dilatation.

Maternal pain intensity, anxiety, traumatic birth perception, birth satisfaction, and labor outcomes including labor duration and obstetric interventions were assessed using validated measurement tools. The study aimed to determine whether breathing exercises could improve maternal psychological well-being, enhance birth satisfaction, and positively influence labor outcomes.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 124
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Nilgün Avcı

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women admitted to the labor and delivery unit during the latent phase
• Women planning vaginal birth
• Volunteered to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who did not speak Turkish
• Women with auditory or mental health problems

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Breathing Exercise Group; Participants received guided breathing exercises throughout labor in addition to routine intrapartum care.	Behavioral: Guided Breathing Exercises During Labor; Pregnant women were instructed and guided to perform slow, controlled breathing exercises during each uterine contraction from the latent phase until full cervical dilatation.
No Intervention: Routine Care Group; Participants received routine intrapartum care only. No breathing exercises were applied.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Birth Satisfaction	Birth satisfaction assessed using the Short Form of the Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS-R). Scores range from 0 to 40; higher scores indicate greater satisfaction.	During the fourth stage of labor (within 2 hours after birth).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Labor Pain Intensity	Pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Scores range from 0 to 10; higher scores indicate more severe pain.	Repeatedly during labor from admission to the labor unit until delivery.
Labor-Related Anxiety	Anxiety measured using the Oxford Worries About Labour Scale. Scores range from 10 to 40; higher scores indicate greater anxiety.	During the fourth stage of labor (within 2 hours after birth).
Traumatic Birth Perception	Traumatic birth perception measured using the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale. Scores range from 0 to 130; higher scores indicate greater traumatic perception.	At admission to the labor unit (baseline) and during the fourth stage of labor (within 2 hours after birth).
Fetal Heart Rate During NST	Fetal heart rate assessed from NST recordings during the monitoring session. Measured in beats per minute; normal patterns indicate better fetal well-being.	During the NST monitoring session (approximately 20 minutes, same visit).
Fetal Movement Count During NST	Number of fetal movements recorded by the mother using the event marker during NST monitoring. Higher counts indicate greater fetal activity.	During the NST monitoring session (approximately 20 minutes, same visit).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nilgun Avci

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 30, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Labor; Breathing exercises; Non-pharmacological intervention; Birth satisfaction; Intrapartum care
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Signs and Symptoms; Anxiety Disorders; Labor Pain; Stress, Psychological
• Other Study ID Numbers: Effects of Breathing Exercises

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No