Randomized controlled trial on the effect of the peanut ball devices on the duration of active labor, labor pain and comfort

TL;DR

This study found that using a peanut ball during labor can reduce pain and increase comfort without affecting labor duration.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence that peanut ball use during labor reduces pain and increases comfort.

Findings

Peanut ball use significantly reduced labor pain during active and transition phases.

Peanut ball increased physical and psychospiritual comfort during childbirth.

No significant difference in labor duration between groups.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of peanut ball usage on labor pain birth comfort, and length of childbirth among pregnant women during childbirth.

This randomized controlled trial included both primiparous groups, each of which was divided into intervention and control groups. 102 pregnant women were enrolled and randomized into the peanut ball group (PG: 51) and control groups (CG: 51). Experimental-group women used peanut balls during labor of active and transition phase. After the cervical dilatation reached 4 cm, the pregnant women in the PG performed peanut ball exercises, adhering to the peanut ball guide created by the researcher. Control-group women standard midwifery care for the same period as the experimental group. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Birth Comfort Scale (BCS), and the Partograph were used to measure outcomes.

The process of dilation, effacement, and descent of the fetal head showed statistically significant differences between both groups after intervention (p<0.05). However, the length of childbirth was similar between both groups. The birth pain scores of the pregnant women in the PG were significantly lower and increased physical and psychospiritual comfort at birth (p<0.05).

It was determined that the use of peanut ball by pregnant women during labor does not affect the length of childbirth, reduce labor pain, and increase physical and psychospiritual comfort.

The study was retrospectively registered in National Library of Medicine Clinical Trials Registry (Date: 12.16.2023 Ref: NCT06200688).

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-026-08720-2.

Peanut ball reduces labor pain during the active phase, transition phase, and second stage of labor.

Peanut ball application increased the physical and psychospiritual comfort level of birth.

The findings obtained from this study emphasize that the peanut ball is an alternative method that can be easily used during labor to reduce labor pain and have positive labor.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-026-08720-2.

Figures