The study aimed to determine the effects of different birthing balls used at the first stage of childbirth on birth outcomes and maternal satisfaction. Randomized controlled, single-blind clinical study included a total of 180 pregnant women. The study included 3 groups (A: routine hospital care, B: spherical birthing ball, C: peanut ball). Especially spherical birthing ball, were effective in reducing labor pain and facilitating faster rate of descent of the fetal head, and they increased maternal satisfaction.
The study aimed to determine the effects of different birthing balls used at the first stage of childbirth on birth outcomes and maternal satisfaction. Randomized controlled, single-blind clinical study included a total of 180 pregnant women. The study included 3 groups (A: routine hospital care, B: spherical birthing ball, C: peanut ball). Especially spherical birthing ball, were effective in reducing labor pain and facilitating faster rate of descent of the fetal head, and they increased maternal satisfaction. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Labor pain and outcomes occurring during labor are known and expected situation. Some non-pharmacological methods are applied to ensure that birth is easy and maternal satisfaction is high. What the results of this study add? There is no studies using the peanut ball and the spherical birth ball together. In our study, it was found that both balls are effective, but the spherical birth ball is more significant. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our study suggested that the spherical birth ball had effective on birth outcomes. Future studies should be performed to investigate the effects of birth balls in the postpartum period, breastfeeding or prenatal period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
180
Birth balls to exercise
Tuğçe Sönmez
Toroslar, Mersin, Turkey (Türkiye)
Introductory Information Form
this form consists of 7 questions regarding participants' descriptive and obstetric characteristics.
Time frame: when pregnant women come to the delivery room
Visual Analogue Scale
in this scale, the participants marked the severity of their pain on a 10-cm ruler with one end stating "no pain" and the other end "worst possible pain". VAS was used to determine the severity of pain and the effectiveness of the intervention in this study.
Time frame: Latent, active and transition phase in labor
Verbal Rating Scale
This scale is based on participants' choice of word that defines their pain state
Time frame: Latent, active and transition phase of labor
Partogram
This is used starting from the active phase of labor. The progress of the labor and the health status of the baby are monitored on the partogram
Time frame: active phase of labor
Evaluation Scale for Maternal Satisfaction with Normal Delivery
This is used to assess maternal satisfaction in normal delivery. Higher total scores on the scale indicate stronger maternal satisfaction with the hospital care provided in normal delivery
Time frame: within a period of 1-4 hours postpartum
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