Effect of Multi-Sensory Interventions on Labor Pain, Comfort, and Birth Satisfaction

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether different multi-sensory methods can help lower labor pain and improve comfort and birth satisfaction among pregnant women giving birth vaginally.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Do supportive methods such as massage, lavender aromatherapy, Turkish makam music, or aquarium visual stimulation help women feel less labor pain compared to standard care?

Do these methods increase women's comfort and satisfaction during labor?

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of five groups:

Sacral massage group - will receive 10-minute sacral massages three times during labor.

Lavender aromatherapy group - will inhale lavender essential oil through a diffuser for 20 minutes, three times during labor.

Music therapy group - will listen to Turkish makam music (Rehavi or Nihavend) for 20 minutes, three times during labor.

Visual stimulation group - will watch a live aquarium image continuously during active labor.

Control group - will receive standard maternity care only.

All participants will give informed consent and receive care in the obstetrics unit of Kütahya City Hospital, Türkiye.

Researchers will measure:

Labor pain intensity at 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-10 cm cervical dilatation using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Comfort level at 8-9 cm using the Comfort Characteristics Questionnaire (CCQ).

Birth satisfaction about 2 hours after delivery using the Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS).

Labor duration will also be recorded.

This study will help determine which sensory methods are most effective and comfortable for pregnant women, and may guide supportive care practices during childbirth.