Reiki for breastfeeding, pain, and comfort after cesarean
THE EFFECT OF REIKI APPLIED DURING THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD ON BREASTFEEDING, PAIN, AND COMFORT IN WOMEN WHO DELIVERED BY CESAREAN SECTION
This will test whether Reiki given to women after a cesarean helps with breastfeeding, reduces pain, and improves comfort in the weeks after delivery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 99 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Samsun) |
| Trial ID | NCT07447609 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial compares a Reiki group, a sham‑Reiki group (hands placed by a person without Reiki training), and a standard‑care control group. Participants receive six Reiki sessions total: three one‑on‑one sessions during the hospital stay and three remote sessions in postpartum weeks 2–4. Validated scales for pain, comfort, breastfeeding self‑efficacy, and perceived milk supply will be measured before and after sessions to capture both physiological and psychosocial outcomes. The trial enrolls women who had term cesarean deliveries under spinal anesthesia with healthy newborns rooming‑in.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Women aged 18 or older who had a term cesarean under spinal anesthesia, are literate in Turkish, have a healthy baby rooming‑in, and are not using lactation‑promoting medications would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Women with major postpartum complications (preeclampsia, active hemorrhage, sepsis), very preterm births, newborns requiring NICU care, excessive sedation, or a strongly negative attitude toward Reiki are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, Reiki could provide a low‑risk, non‑drug option to reduce postoperative pain and improve comfort and breastfeeding success after cesarean birth.
How similar studies have performed: Small trials and observational studies have reported benefits of Reiki for postoperative pain and anxiety, but high‑quality randomized evidence is limited and mixed.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Mothers aged 18 and over, * Literate in Turkish, * Non-smoker, non-drug user, * Gave birth by cesarean section at term, * Baby with them after birth, * Not using any breast milk-increasing medication, vitamins, or supplements, * Baby's birth weight between 2500-4000 grams, * Baby's Apgar score at least seven points at 1 and 5 minutes, * Having had a cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, * Those who agree to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Preeclampsia/eclampsia, active postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis/fever ≥38°C, * Need for intensive care, * Birth before 37 weeks, * Serious neonatal problems, * Baby arriving at the ward after mother (follow-up in neonatal intensive care unit without hospitalization after birth), * Excessive sedation due to analgesia, * Communication difficulties, * Markedly negative attitude towards Reiki.
Where this trial is running
Samsun
- Samsun Sehir Hastanesi — Samsun, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Gozde G Cakmak, specialist nurse, phd student
- Email: gzdnzm@gmail.com
- Phone: +905553603460
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.