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Effects of Music Therapy, Breathing Exercises, and Virtual Reality on Obstetric Recovery, Pain, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Cesarean Section

Sponsor: Selcuk University • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07551401

Registry updated: 2026-10-07

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Description

Cesarean section is a common surgical procedure performed to deliver a baby when vaginal birth may pose risks to the mother or infant. Although it is often life-saving, recovery after cesarean section is frequently associated with multiple physical and psychological challenges, including postoperative pain, delayed gastrointestinal function, reduced mobility, fatigue, and decreased overall well-being. These factors may negatively affect a woman's ability to care for her newborn, initiate breastfeeding, and adapt to the postpartum period. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in non-pharmacological interventions that can safely support postoperative recovery without causing additional side effects. Among these, music therapy, breathing exercises, and virtual reality applications have been identified as promising approaches. Music therapy may promote relaxation and reduce pain and anxiety through auditory stimulation and emotional regulation. Breathing exercises may enhance parasympathetic activity, improve oxygenation, reduce stress, and support gastrointestinal motility. Virtual reality applications, by providing immersive audiovisual experiences, may reduce pain perception, decrease anxiety, and improve overall comfort through distraction and relaxation mechanisms. Although these interventions have individually demonstrated beneficial effects in postoperative care, the existing literature is limited in directly comparing their relative effectiveness within the same study design. Furthermore, most studies have primarily focused on pain outcomes, while other important aspects of recovery, such as obstetric recovery quality and gastrointestinal symptoms, have received less attention. This randomized controlled trial aims to comparatively investigate the effects of music therapy, breathing exercises, and virtual reality application on obstetric recovery, pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms in women following cesarean section. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups or a control group receiving routine care. Standardized protocols will be applied for each intervention to ensure consistency. The primary outcomes of this study include obstetric recovery, pain intensity, and gastrointestinal symptoms. By evaluating these outcomes simultaneously, the study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of post-cesarean recovery. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based clinical practice by identifying effective, safe, and feasible non-pharmacological interventions that can be integrated into routine post-cesarean care. Ultimately, this research may help improve maternal comfort, accelerate recovery, and enhance the overall postpartum experience for women undergoing cesarean section.

Interventions

Music Therapy (Behavioral)
Participants will receive music therapy using standardized audio content delivered through wireless headphones. The intervention will be applied in two sessions at the 4th and 12th postoperative hours, each lasting 20 minutes, in a quiet and controlled environment.
Breathing Exercises (Behavioral)
Participants will perform guided breathing exercises under researcher supervision. The intervention will be conducted in two sessions at the 4th and 12th postoperative hours, each lasting 20 minutes, using slow and controlled breathing techniques.
Virtual Reality (Behavioral)
Participants will receive a virtual reality intervention using a headset to view standardized immersive audiovisual content. The intervention will be applied in two sessions at the 4th and 12th postoperative hours, each lasting 20 minutes.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged 18 years and older * Able to speak and understand Turkish * Gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks * Undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia * Able to communicate and willing to participate * No major intraoperative or early postoperative complications (within 0-12 hours), such as severe hemorrhage (\>1000 mL), anesthesia-related cardiorespiratory complications, major surgical complications, wound dehiscence, sepsis, or need for intensive care * No visual or hearing impairments * Having a live, healthy, singleton newborn Exclusion Criteria: * Passage of flatus before the intervention * Presence of any diagnosed medical condition during pregnancy * Development of maternal postpartum complications such as postpartum hemorrhage (\>1000 mL), infection, wound dehiscence, sepsis, thromboembolism, or need for intensive care * Presence of neonatal complications such as neonatal distress requiring intensive care, congenital anomalies, severe respiratory distress, infection, or perinatal mortality * History of chronic pain, gastrointestinal disease, or respiratory disease * Diagnosed and treated psychiatric disorders

Conditions

Cesarean Section Cesarean Section Pain Obstetric Recovery Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Locations

Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital — Konya, Konya, Turkey (Türkiye)

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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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