Effect of Pelvic Rocking and Spherical Birth Ball Interventions on Delivery Outcomes among Primigravidas

El-Kurdy, Rania; Gomaa, Mona Mohamed; Shiba, Hoda Ali Ahmed; Abdelmenem, Ekbal Ebrahim

doi:10.21608/ejnsr.2025.409617.1463

Effect of Pelvic Rocking and Spherical Birth Ball Interventions on Delivery Outcomes among Primigravidas

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Woman’s Health and Midwifery Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt.

² Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt.

³ Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ejnsr.2025.409617.1463

Abstract

Background: Empowering primigravidas through pelvic rocking and birth ball utilization offers dual benefits
by reducing unnecessary childbirth medicalization while improving delivery outcomes and birth experiences. This study
aimed to investigate the effect of pelvic rocking and spherical birth ball interventions on delivery outcomes among
primigravidas. Study Design: The study adopted a quasi-experimental posttest nonequivalent control group design.
Study Sample: A convenience sample of 150 primigravidas was recruited. Study Setting: The labor and delivery unit of
Tanta University Hospital and El-Menshawy Hospital in Tanta City, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt, served as the sites for
the study. Study Tools: Four tools were used to collect data: a structured interviewing questionnaire, a Partograph, a
numerical rating scale for pain, and the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised. Results: Post-intervention, the study group
showed a significantly shorter mean duration of the first and second stages of labor compared to the control group (9.3 ±
0.8 hours vs. 14.9 ± 2.2 hours, p < 0.001 and 36.0 ± 7.2 minutes vs. 91.8 ± 14.3 minutes, p < 0.001). Pain intensity scores
were significantly lower in the study group (4.4 ± 1.3) than in the control group (8.2 ± 1.1, p < 0.001). Moreover, birth
satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the study group (35.0 ± 4.6) than in the control group (27.2 ± 3.5, p <
0.001). Conclusion: Primigravidas receiving the pelvic rocking and birth ball interventions showed a significantly shorter
mean duration of labor, lower mean labor pain intensity scores, and higher mean birth satisfaction scores than those
receiving routine care. Recommendation: Integrate pelvic rocking and birth ball interventions into antenatal education
programs to increase awareness of their benefits among primigravidas.

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