Effect of Dance on Labor Pain in Primiparous Women

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of labor dance on labor pain in primiparous women. Primiparous women admitted for vaginal birth to seven hospitals of a university affiliated private hospital group in Istanbul, Turkiye, were randomly assigned to a labor dance group or a routine care group. Women in the dance group danced to music of their choice at 30 minute intervals from 4 cm cervical dilatation until full dilatation, using movements intended to widen the pelvic diameters, in addition to routine intrapartum care. Labor pain was measured with a Visual Analogue Scale at 4 cm dilatation and repeatedly until full dilatation. Cervical dilatation and the duration of the active phase of labor were recorded.