The effect of dance and massage applied by spouses during childbirth on labor pain, comfort, and satisfaction.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of endorphin massage and dance applied by spouses during labor on labor pain, satisfaction with childbirth, postpartum comfort, and person-centered maternity care.

Materials And Methods: The sample of this randomized controlled experimental study consists of 105 pregnant women in their second childbirth (35 in the birth dance group,35 in the endorphin massage group, and 35 in the control group). The endorphin massage taught by the researcher to the pregnant women and their spouses was applied for 10 min. For the dance group, the birth dance, taught by the researcher to the pregnant women and their spouses, was performed for at least 15 min per session. The control group received routine midwifery care. Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, Birth Satisfaction Scale, Postpartum Comfort Scale, and Person Centered Maternity Care Scale.

Results: No significant difference was found in the total scores of the Person Centered Maternity Care scale between the groups. However, the communication and autonomy subscale scores of the massage group were significantly higher than those of the dance group. The total Birth Satisfaction Scale score of the dance group was significantly higher than those of the massage and control groups (133,17 ± 9,85; 125,54 ± 11,18; 122,4 ± 11,55, respectively). The VAS-2 scores of participants in the dance and massage groups were significantly lower than those in the control group after the interventions (4,83 ± 0,79; 4,69 ± 0,72, 7,89 ± 0,93, respectively).

Conclusion: The study found that dance and massage had a positive effect on postpartum comfort, person-centered maternity care, and childbirth satisfaction, and significantly reduced the average pain scores felt during labor.