Pranayama breathing after cesarean to ease pain
Official title: The Effect of Post-Caesarean Section Pranayama Breathing Exercises on Pain and Postpartum Comfort: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Run by KTO Karatay University · NCT07329309 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether pranayama breathing exercises can reduce postoperative pain and improve comfort for women after a cesarean delivery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | KTO Karatay University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Konya, Konya) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 5, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 16, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 13, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07329309 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Women who had a planned caesarean under spinal anaesthesia, report postoperative pain ≥4 on the NRS, speak Turkish, can communicate with the team, and consent to perform the breathing exercises.
✕Probably not a fit
Women who had emergency caesareans, have major pregnancy or postoperative complications, chronic pain or analgesic dependence, or who cannot tolerate or refuse the exercises are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study asks women who had a cesarean under spinal anesthesia and report pain of at least 4 on the Numerical Rating Scale to perform guided pranayama breathing exercises as the intervention; outcomes are postoperative pain and postpartum comfort. Pain and comfort will be measured with standard scales and compared between participants who perform the breathing exercises and usual care. Eligible participants must speak Turkish and be able to communicate with the research team, while emergency cesareans and significant pregnancy or postoperative complications are excluded. The protocol aims to test whether a non-pharmacological breathing technique can serve as an adjunct to usual postpartum care to reduce pain and improve early comfort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, pranayama could lower pain and improve early postpartum comfort without adding medications.
How similar studies have gone: Similar small studies of breathing techniques and yogic breathing for perioperative and childbirth-related pain have shown mixed but sometimes promising results, so the approach is not yet definitive.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Undergone a caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia * Reported a post-operative pain level of at least 4 on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) * Knowledge of Turkish * Ability to communicate effectively with the research team * Volunteer to participate in the study and provide written consent Exclusion Criteria: * Having given birth by emergency caesarean section * Presence of pregnancy complications (e.g. pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta praevia) * History of chronic pain or analgesic dependence * Requirement for admission to the intensive care unit in the early postoperative period * Need for additional surgical intervention * Development of significant intraoperative or postoperative complications * Refusal to exercise or intolerance to exercise * Failure to comply with study procedures * Withdrawal of consent * Incomplete follow-up * Development of a new medical condition during the study that could affect the results
Where it's running
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Kto Karatay University
Konya, Konya, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
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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.