CompletedNot Applicable

Standing vs. Squatting Positions During Labor

Turkey (Türkiye)82 participantsStarted 2025-06-01

Plain-language summary

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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

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

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

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Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Total Labor Duration

Timeframe: From active labor onset (cervical dilatation ≥4 cm) to delivery

Birth Duration

Timeframe: From the active phase of labor to birth

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07383181

SponsorBiruni University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-10-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Labor Position and Maternal Birth Experience trials