PregnancyNCT07895186
Effect of Birthing Stool Use During Labor on Birth Comfort, Perceived Support and Control
A study testing birth stool in people with Pregnancy and Pregnancy - Labor Monitoring, run by Uskudar University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study was planned to determine the effect of using a birthing stool during labor on birth comfort, perceived support and control during labor in primiparous pregnant women. H1: Primiparous pregnant women who use a drape during labor have higher birth comfort compared to those who do not. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Pregnancy, Pregnancy - Labor Monitoring
- What is being tested?
- birth stool
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2025to 1 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Primiparous pregnant women
- Between 37-42 weeks of gestation
- The primary presentation
- Having at least a primary school diploma
- Cervical dilation of 6 cm
- The pregnant woman's consent to participate in the study
- The pregnant woman's pelvic measurements are suitable for delivery
Who cannot join
- Having any physical or mental disability.
- The pregnant woman refusing to participate in the study.
- Maternal hypertension.
- Having any neurological or psychiatric illness/using medication.
- Having an anomaly detected in the tests.
- Having a condition that would prevent sitting on a birth stool (hip dislocation, etc.).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This study was planned to determine the effect of using a birthing stool during labor on birth comfort, perceived support and control during labor in primiparous pregnant women.
H1: Primiparous pregnant women who use a drape during labor have higher birth comfort compared to those who do not.
H2: Primiparous pregnant women who use a drape during labor have higher levels of birth control and support compared to those who do not.
H3: Primiparous pregnant women who use a drape during labor have shorter labor durations compared to those who do not.
Read the detailed description
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women be supported in choosing their desired and comfortable positions, including upright positions during labor and delivery, but emphasizes that certain positions should not be forced on pregnant women .
In all upright positions, the effect of gravity increases, and fetal descent occurs more effectively. Upright positions increase pressure on the cervix, facilitating dilation and effacement. Oxytocin synthesis also increases with impulse stimulation. Upright positions used during labor promote strong and effective uterine contractions and effective maternal pushing. Upright positions are known to reduce the rate of operative births and perineal trauma, while also increasing maternal satisfaction . The main reason for supporting the use of upright positions during labor is the effect of gravity, which, in addition to changing the angulation of the maternal pelvis, contributes to fetal vaginal descent.
Mothers' birth experiences indicate their level of satisfaction with the process. Comfort is defined as meeting personal needs, providing relaxation, and facilitating coping. Satisfaction, on the other hand, refers to the provision of all necessary items and the fulfillment of all expectations and desires.An upright birthing position is also beneficial for the pregnant woman's cardiac output, which normally increases during labor and promotes good fetal circulation . For centuries, women worldwide have been experiencing spontaneous labor, using some form of upright position during labor, and are often supported for this purpose. The mother's position during labor is crucial for a healthier birth for both mother and baby .An upright birthing position is also beneficial for the pregnant woman's cardiac output, which normally increases during labor and promotes good fetal circulation . For centuries, women worldwide have been experiencing spontaneous labor, using some form of upright position during labor, and are often supported for this purpose. The mother's position during labor is crucial for a healthier birth for both mother and baby.Various upright positions can be achieved by squatting using bricks, stones, a pile of sand, or a birthing stool, kneeling, or squatting while holding onto furniture, poles, hanging ropes, or knotted pieces of cloth. Engelmann observed that women uninfluenced by Western culture tried to avoid the supine position and changed positions at will. He encouraged the use of positions that women spontaneously adopted to ensure naturalness during labor
- Conditions
- Pregnancy, Pregnancy - Labor Monitoring
- Being tested
- birth stool
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
birth stoolOther
The birth stool used in the study will calculate the active phase of pregnant women.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | The researcher will meet the pregnant woman and then provide the intervention group with pre-procedural information about the birth process and the stool. The researcher will explain the importance of sitting exercises on the birthing stool to the pregnant women. Afterward, when the pregnant woman reaches 6 cm dilation during a period when she is mobile and not undergoing a non-stress test (NST), she will be seated on the birthing stool with the researcher for a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 20 minutes. A companion will be allowed to be present during labor monitoring. Based on the randomization, the intervention and control groups will be determined independently by the midwife who will be working with the pregnant women in the study. The pregnant women will continue to perform their routine showering and Pilates ball exercises, and will be seated on the birthing stool with the researcher. Receives: Other: birth stool |
| control group | No intervention | The researcher will meet the pregnant woman and then provide information about the labor process and the study. Pregnant women in this group will be admitted to the labor center without any intervention by the researcher. Based on the randomization, the intervention and control groups will be determined independently by the midwife who will be working with the pregnant women in the study. The birth stool exercise for both the intervention and control groups will be administered by the same midwife. Pregnant women in this group will be able to perform exercises such as showering, exercising with a Pilates ball, and walking, which are part of our labor monitoring routine, during the time they are not being monitored for NST. A companion will be allowed to accompany the pregnant woman during labor monitoring. The researcher will record the pregnant woman's bedtime, active phase time, and labor time in Appendix 4, the Labor Monitoring Form, and calculate the labor duration |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Birth Comfort Scale total score
Birth comfort will be assessed using the Birth Comfort Scale. The total score obtained from the scale will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Higher scores on the scale indicate greater thermal comfort.
Measured: At 8 cm cervical dilation, approximately 2 hours on average after the onset of the active phase of labor.
Duration of the active phase of labor (minutes)
The duration of the active phase of labor will be measured in minutes, defined as the time elapsed from the onset of the active phase until cervical dilation reaches 10 cm. The duration of the active phase will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Lower values indicate a shorter active phase duration.
Measured: From 6 cm cervical dilation until completion of childbirth, assessed over an average of approximately 3.9 hours.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Total score of the Perceived Support and Control in Childbirth Scale
Perceived support and control during childbirth will be assessed using the Perceived Support and Control in Childbirth Scale. The total scores obtained from the scale will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived support and control.
Measured: Once immediately after childbirth, during the postpartum period.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Oct 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2025
- Primary completion1 Jan 2026
- Study completion1 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for PregnancyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Arzu Akdemir, Study director, Uskudar Universty
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07895186
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TSMINU/2025-86
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: all IPD collected during the trial, IPD used in publishing the results
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Birthing Stool Use During Labor on Birth Comfort, Perceived Support and Control
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07895186
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TSMINU/2025-86
- Conditions
- Pregnancy, Pregnancy - Labor Monitoring
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study was planned to determine the effect of using a birthing stool during labor on birth comfort, perceived support and control during labor in primiparous pregnant women.
H1: Primiparous pregnant women who use a drape during labor have higher birth comfort compared to those who do not.
H2: Primiparous pregnant women who use a drape during labor have higher levels of birth control and support compared to those who do not.
H3: Primiparous pregnant women who use a drape during labor have shorter labor durations compared to those who do not.
Detailed description
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women be supported in choosing their desired and comfortable positions, including upright positions during labor and delivery, but emphasizes that certain positions should not be forced on pregnant women .
In all upright positions, the effect of gravity increases, and fetal descent occurs more effectively. Upright positions increase pressure on the cervix, facilitating dilation and effacement. Oxytocin synthesis also increases with impulse stimulation. Upright positions used during labor promote strong and effective uterine contractions and effective maternal pushing. Upright positions are known to reduce the rate of operative births and perineal trauma, while also increasing maternal satisfaction . The main reason for supporting the use of upright positions during labor is the effect of gravity, which, in addition to changing the angulation of the maternal pelvis, contributes to fetal vaginal descent.
Mothers' birth experiences indicate their level of satisfaction with the process. Comfort is defined as meeting personal needs, providing relaxation, and facilitating coping. Satisfaction, on the other hand, refers to the provision of all necessary items and the fulfillment of all expectations and desires.An upright birthing position is also beneficial for the pregnant woman's cardiac output, which normally increases during labor and promotes good fetal circulation . For centuries, women worldwide have been experiencing spontaneous labor, using some form of upright position during labor, and are often supported for this purpose. The mother's position during labor is crucial for a healthier birth for both mother and baby .An upright birthing position is also beneficial for the pregnant woman's cardiac output, which normally increases during labor and promotes good fetal circulation . For centuries, women worldwide have been experiencing spontaneous labor, using some form of upright position during labor, and are often supported for this purpose. The mother's position during labor is crucial for a healthier birth for both mother and baby.Various upright positions can be achieved by squatting using bricks, stones, a pile of sand, or a birthing stool, kneeling, or squatting while holding onto furniture, poles, hanging ropes, or knotted pieces of cloth. Engelmann observed that women uninfluenced by Western culture tried to avoid the supine position and changed positions at will. He encouraged the use of positions that women spontaneously adopted to ensure naturalness during labor
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (care provider, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| intervention group | Experimental | Other: birth stoolThe researcher will meet the pregnant woman and then provide the intervention group with pre-procedural information about the birth process and the stool. The researcher will explain the importance of sitting exercises on the birthing stool to the pregnant women. Afterward, when the pregnant woman reaches 6 cm dilation during a period when she is mobile and not undergoing a non-stress test (NST), she will be seated on the birthing stool with the researcher for a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 20 minutes. A companion will be allowed to be present during labor monitoring. Based on the randomization, the intervention and control groups will be determined independently by the midwife who will be working with the pregnant women in the study. The pregnant women will continue to perform their routine showering and Pilates ball exercises, and will be seated on the birthing stool with the researcher. |
| control group | No intervention | –The researcher will meet the pregnant woman and then provide information about the labor process and the study. Pregnant women in this group will be admitted to the labor center without any intervention by the researcher. Based on the randomization, the intervention and control groups will be determined independently by the midwife who will be working with the pregnant women in the study. The birth stool exercise for both the intervention and control groups will be administered by the same midwife. Pregnant women in this group will be able to perform exercises such as showering, exercising with a Pilates ball, and walking, which are part of our labor monitoring routine, during the time they are not being monitored for NST. A companion will be allowed to accompany the pregnant woman during labor monitoring. The researcher will record the pregnant woman's bedtime, active phase time, and labor time in Appendix 4, the Labor Monitoring Form, and calculate the labor duration |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Primiparous pregnant women
- Between 37-42 weeks of gestation
- The primary presentation
- Having at least a primary school diploma
- Cervical dilation of 6 cm
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Having any physical or mental disability.
- The pregnant woman refusing to participate in the study.
- Maternal hypertension.
- Having any neurological or psychiatric illness/using medication.
- Having an anomaly detected in the tests.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| birth stoolThe birth stool used in the study will calculate the active phase of pregnant women. | Other | intervention group |
Primary outcome
Birth Comfort Scale total score
Time frame: At 8 cm cervical dilation, approximately 2 hours on average after the onset of the active phase of labor.
Birth comfort will be assessed using the Birth Comfort Scale. The total score obtained from the scale will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Higher scores on the scale indicate greater thermal comfort.
Duration of the active phase of labor (minutes)
Time frame: From 6 cm cervical dilation until completion of childbirth, assessed over an average of approximately 3.9 hours.
The duration of the active phase of labor will be measured in minutes, defined as the time elapsed from the onset of the active phase until cervical dilation reaches 10 cm. The duration of the active phase will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Lower values indicate a shorter active phase duration.
1 secondary outcome
Total score of the Perceived Support and Control in Childbirth Scale
Time frame: Once immediately after childbirth, during the postpartum period.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2026.
- pubmed,dergiparkLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. all IPD collected during the trial, IPD used in publishing the results
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Arzu Akdemir study director
Uskudar Universty
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing birth stool in people with Pregnancy and Pregnancy - Labor Monitoring, run by Uskudar University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Birth Comfort Scale total score (time frame: At 8 cm cervical dilation, approximately 2 hours on average after the onset of the active phase of labor.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2026.