Can a warm wet towel take the edge off labor pain?
NCT ID NCT07808840
First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers at Sakarya University are testing whether draping a warm, wet towel over a laboring woman's head and shoulders while a gentle stream of water runs through it can ease pain, improve comfort, and lower anxiety. The trial enrolls 60 first-time mothers in the active phase of labor and randomly assigns them to receive the wet towel method plus routine care or routine care alone. Participants rate their pain, comfort, and anxiety before and after the intervention using standard questionnaires.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a warm wet towel with a slow stream of water applied to the head and shoulders during labor
- What this could lead to
- If it helps, this simple, low-cost technique could give laboring women and delivery units an easy comfort option that needs no drugs or special equipment.
- What could go wrong
- The study is small, with 60 first-time mothers at one hospital, so results may not hold for other women or settings. Pain and anxiety scores rely on self-reporting, which can shift with mood and expectations.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Aug 2026
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 45 years
- Sex
-
Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women admitted to the delivery room for childbirth * Pregnant women without any risks * Pregnant women with sufficient language proficiency to communicate effectively * Women experiencing their first pregnancy Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women admitted for a planned cesarean section * Pregnant women who do not agree to participate in the study
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Comfort are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Sakarya Training and Research Hospital
Adapazarı, Sakarya, 54050, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a Parent's lap tame dental fear in toddlers?
- A mirror in the delivery room: could it reduce Post-Birth pain and lift mood?
- A gentle forehead touch during labor: could it reduce pain and anxiety?
- A Mother's lullaby may be as powerful as medicine for Post-Surgery pain in toddlers
- Can a smarter epidural pump reduce leg weakness during labor?
- Can a traditional cloth ease labor pain and speed up birth?