The Use of White Noise and Quiet Time During Labor (White & Quiet)

The Effect of White Noise and Quiet Time Interventions During Labor on Labor Pain, Stress, and Satisfaction

Childbirth is defined as the process in which the fetus and its appendages are expelled from the uterus. The World Health Organization emphasizes that women should have a positive childbirth experience and recommends interventions that reduce pain and stress while increasing maternal satisfaction.

White noise, defined as continuous and monotonous sounds such as wave, water, or wind sounds, and quiet time, described as periods in which environmental noise is minimized, have been shown to reduce pain and stress and improve satisfaction in various patient groups. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding their effects during labor.

Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the effects of white noise and quiet time interventions applied during labor on perceived labor pain, stress levels, and childbirth satisfaction.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Labor Pain, Stress, Childbirth Satisfaction
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: White Noise Exposure; Behavioral: Quiet Time Intervention

Detailed Description

Childbirth is defined as a process in which the fetus and its appendages are expelled from the uterus. The World Health Organization emphasizes that women should have a positive childbirth experience. During childbirth, care providers are recommended to implement interventions that reduce women's pain and stress and increase satisfaction.

White noise is defined as continuous and monotonous sounds such as wave, water, and wind sounds. It has been studied in postoperative patients, infants, and neonates.

Quiet time is defined as a period in which environmental sounds are minimized. It has been studied in postpartum women, patients in acute care units, nurses working in neonatal intensive care units, and infants.

White noise and quiet time interventions have been found to be methods used to reduce pain and stress and to increase satisfaction. However, no study has been found that evaluates the effects of white noise and quiet time interventions on pain, stress, and satisfaction during the childbirth process. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the effects of white noise and quiet time interventions applied during childbirth on the level of perceived labor pain, stress level, and childbirth satisfaction.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 159

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Esenler Women's and Children's Diseases Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Pregnant women aged 18-35 years Pregnant women without a diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy Pregnant women with a gestational age between 37-42 weeks Pregnant women who will have a vaginal delivery Pregnant women in the active phase of labor Pregnant women who can speak or understand Turkish Pregnant women carrying a singleton fetus Primiparous women

Exclusion Criteria:

Pregnant women in the latent phase of labor Pregnant women with hearing impairment Pregnant women who are illiterate Pregnant women with an indication for cesarean section Multiparous women

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
White Noise Group; Participants received white noise via Bluetooth headphones during active labor at 6 cm and 8 cm cervical dilation (15 minutes each, 50-65 dB). Pain and stress were assessed using VAS, and maternal satisfaction was evaluated postpartum.	Behavioral: White Noise Exposure; Participants received white noise intervention during the active phase of labor. At 4 cm cervical dilation, informed consent was obtained and baseline assessments including Demographic Information Form, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and Visual Analogue Scale for stress were completed. Routine care was provided. At 6 cm and 8 cm cervical dilation, participants were exposed to white noise (50-65 dB) via Bluetooth headphones for 15 minutes each session. Routine monitoring and standard obstetric care were continued. After interventions, pain and stress were reassessed using VAS. At the second postpartum hour, maternal satisfaction was assessed using the Maternal Satisfaction in Childbirth Scale.
Quiet Time Group; At the beginning of the active phase (when cervical dilation was 4 cm), the participant was informed about the study and informed consent was obtained. The Demographic Information Form was completed, and pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while stress was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Routine monitoring and standard care were provided. At 6 cm cervical dilation during the active phase, quiet time was provided for 15 minutes using Polter headphones. Routine monitoring and standard care were continued. At 8 cm cervical dilation during the active phase, quiet time was again provided for 15 minutes using Polter headphones. Routine monitoring and standard care were continued. After the intervention, pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and stress was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). At the second hour postpartum, the Maternal Satisfaction in Childbirth Scale was completed.	Behavioral: Quiet Time Intervention; Participants received quiet time intervention during the active phase of labor. At 4 cm cervical dilation, informed consent was obtained and baseline assessments including Demographic Information Form, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and Visual Analogue Scale for stress were completed. Routine care was provided. At 6 cm and 8 cm cervical dilation, a quiet environment was maintained using Polter headphones for 15 minutes per session. Routine monitoring and standard obstetric care were continued. After interventions, pain and stress were reassessed using VAS. At the second postpartum hour, maternal satisfaction was assessed using the Maternal Satisfaction in Childbirth Scale.
Control Group; At the beginning of the active phase (when cervical dilation was 4 cm), the participant was informed about the study and informed consent was obtained. The Demographic Information Form was completed, and pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while stress was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Routine monitoring and standard care were provided. The participant received routine care throughout the active phase. At the end of the phase, pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and stress was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Routine care was continued. At the second hour postpartum, the Maternal Satisfaction in Childbirth Scale was completed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain level during labor	Labor pain levels will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Measurements will be performed during the latent and active phases of labor at specific cervical dilation stages (4-10 cm).	During labor, between 4-10 cm cervical dilation (latent and active phases)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 10, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 11, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): April 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 2, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: birth; White noise; Quiet time
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Labor Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025/55

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: No, individual participant data will not be shared due to privacy and ethical considerations.

Drug and device information, study documents

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