Effects of Mint-Flavored Chewing Gum on Childbirth

Objective: Managing pain and anxiety during childbirth is important for the health of themother and baby, as well as for the positive birth experience. Midwives support women incoping with pain and anxiety during the birth process by utilizing non‐pharmacologicalmethods. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of chewing mint gum duringlabor on the birth pain and state anxiety levels of primiparous pregnant women.Materials and Methods: The research was conducted in a randomized controlled experimentaldesign. The sample of the study consisted of 106 primiparous pregnant women who were inthe process of labor and met the inclusion criteria of the study. The participants weredivided into two groups: 53 in the intervention group and 53 in the control group.Pregnant women in the intervention group were made to chew mint‐flavored sugar‐free gumfor at least 20 minutes during labor, while routine midwifery care was applied topregnant women in the control group. In both groups, birth pain and state anxiety levelswere evaluated. The measurements were taken during the 4‐5 cm, 6‐7 cm, and 8‐9 cmcervical dilatation periods of labor.