Alexander Technique on Labor Pain and Anxiety

Pain during childbirth has been described as the most severe pain women experience throughout their life course. Labor pain is a result of physiologic changes in the uterus. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods are used in the management of pain, which is a physiologic process. Nonpharmacological methods help women to feel comfortable in labor and contribute to women to have a positive birth experience by providing relaxation and reducing pain perception through cognitive, psychological and physical methods (Adil et al., 2020; Thompson et al. 2019). In addition, midwives who are with the woman during the birth process use non-pharmacological methods in an independent role in the management of labor pain, and this is also effective in alleviating the burden on current health expenditures. Alexander Technique appears as a non-pharmacologic method. In the literature, there is no study on the application of the Alexander Technique in the management of labor pain. It is assumed that the current posture and position to be provided with the Alexander Technique will be effective on pain and anxiety during the birth process. It is necessary to conduct studies on the use of the Alexander Technique in the birth process and evaluate the results.

This study will be the first study on the Alexander Technique to be applied to women in labor. The research to be conducted is planned as a randomized controlled experimental study. The population of the study consists of 68 primiparous pregnant women who applied to Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, D-Block Maternity Hospital between November 2023 and May 2024. Simple random sampling method will be used for the sample of the study. Pregnant women included in the study will be informed about the study and 'Informed Consent Form' and 'Voluntary Consent Form' will be filled. 'Personal Information Form', 'Visual Analog Scale (VAS)', 'Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS)' and 'Oxford Birth Anxiety Scale (OWLS)' will be applied to the pregnant women included in the experimental group. After the initial data is collected, the principles in the Alexander Technique will be applied when the woman's cervical dilatation is 0-4 cm. The duration of the application is approximately 15 minutes and the researcher will take an active role with the woman accompanied by a counselor during this period. The second application will be applied when the cervical dilatation is 5-7 cm and the third application will be applied when the cervical dilatation is 8-10 cm. 'Visual Analog Scale (VAS)' will be applied after each application. 'Visual Analog Scale (VAS)', 'Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS)' and 'Oxford Birth Anxiety Scale (OWLS)' will be applied at the 2nd hour after delivery.