The effect of peanut ball use on labor memory, labor satisfaction, delivery length, and neonatal APGAR score: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of using peanut balls during labor-on-labor memory, labor satisfaction, labor length, and neonatal APGAR scores. Methods: This randomized, controlled, single-blind trial was conducted in 140 primiparous pregnant women (peanut ball group n = 70, control group n = 70) who delivered between January 2023 and March 2024. The study was conducted in the Obstetrics Clinic of a Medical Faculty Hospital in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey. Pregnant women in the peanut ball group were instructed to perform movements with the peanut ball after cervical dilation reached 5 cm. The control group received only standard intrapartum midwifery care. Data were collected by personal information form, labor and postpartum follow-up form (APGAR score, etc.), Birth Memory and Recall Scale, and Birth Satisfaction Scales. Results: It was determined that the birth memory and recall memories of the pregnant women in the peanut ball group were more positive and their birth satisfaction was higher than the pregnant women in the control group (p < 0.001). The 1st minute APGAR scores (8.3 ± 0.6) and 5th minute APGAR scores (9.2 ± 0.7) of the newborns of the peanut ball group were higher than the 1st minute APGAR scores (7.8 ± 0.7) and 5th minute APGAR scores (8.5 ± 0.7) of the newborns of the control group (p < 0.001). The duration of the first stage (209.3 ± 38.6) and second stage (27.4 ± 13.7) of labor in the peanut ball group was shorter than the duration of the first stage (250.3 ± 54.6) and second stage (32.3 ± 11.3) of labor in the control group (p < 0.001, p = 0.021, respectively). Conclusion: This study found that peanut ball application positively affected women’s labor memory and recall, and increased labor satisfaction. In addition, we found that peanut ball application increased neonatal APGAR scores and shortened the duration of the first and second stages of labor. Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06387680).