Left-side versus lying on your back to shorten the active phase of labor
Official title: Left Lateral Position Versus Supine Position in Reducing the Duration of the Active Phase of Labor: A Randomized, Single-Blind Clinical Trial
Run by Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras · NCT07411352 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether staying on your left side instead of lying on your back shortens the active phase of labor for first-time mothers at term.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 188 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán Department) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 15, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07411352 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are nulliparous women aged 18 or older at ≥37 weeks with a singleton cephalic pregnancy, intact membranes, in active labor (cervical dilation ≥6 cm), with no contraindication to vaginal delivery.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with prior uterine surgery, multiple pregnancy, fetal anomalies or demise, maternal conditions that contraindicate vaginal delivery, preterm gestation, or other exclusion criteria are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a randomized trial enrolling 188 nulliparous women at term with a singleton cephalic pregnancy who are in active labor (≥6 cm dilation) at Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Participants are randomly assigned to remain in the left lateral decubitus position or the supine position, with positions maintained in 30-minute intervals and 5-minute rest breaks until delivery. The primary outcome is time from onset of the active phase (or start of the intervention) to delivery; secondary outcomes include cesarean section rate, use of oxytocin and analgesics, and maternal and neonatal complications. The study tests the hypothesis that the left lateral position will reduce active labor duration and potentially reduce unnecessary surgical interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, using the left lateral position could shorten the active phase of labor and may reduce the need for interventions such as cesarean delivery or increased oxytocin use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research and clinical guidelines support allowing varied maternal positions in labor and some small studies suggest position can affect labor progress, but direct randomized comparisons of left lateral versus supine are limited and results have been mixed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Signed and dated informed consent form. * Nulliparous woman. * Singleton pregnancy at ≥37 weeks of gestation. * Intact amniotic membranes. * Cephalic presentation. * In the active phase of labor (cervical dilation ≥6 cm). * Age ≥18 years. * No contraindication for vaginal delivery. * Possession of a mobile phone (for potential follow-up contact). Exclusion Criteria: * Previous uterine surgery. * Maternal condition preventing vaginal delivery. * Fetal anomaly. * Premature rupture of membranes. * Multiple pregnancy. * Fetal demise. * Uterine myomas. * Maternal comorbidities (e.g., chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus type -1/2/gestational, hypothyroidism). * Anemia. * Age \<18 years. * Preterm gestation (\<37 weeks).
Where it's running
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Hospital Escuela
Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán Department, Honduras Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ricardo A. Gutierrez Ramirez, MD, MSc
- Email: ricardo.gutierrez@unah.edu.hn
- Phone: +50497546940
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.