Meditation in Early Labor: Impact on Self-Efficacy and Childbirth Fear in First-Time Mothers

Aim-Introduction: The feeling of uncertainty about what will happen during labor, and the mother's perception of inadequacy regarding childbirth, can lead to anxiety and stress in some pregnant women, resulting in fear of childbirth and avoidance behaviors. This study was conducted to examine whether there are significant differences in childbirth self-efficacy and fear of childbirth between primiparous pregnant women who practiced meditation and those who did not during the first stage of labor. Materials and Methods: This experimental study is planned to be conducted between 01.04.2025 and 01.08.2025 with a total of 60 pregnant women (30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group) who applied to the delivery unit of a tertiary hospital in Turkey and were in the first stage of labor. After informing the pregnant women about the study and the procedures to be implemented, written informed consent was obtained from those who agreed to participate. Subsequently, the pre-tests of the relevant scales and the data collection form were administered. The relaxation meditation during childbirth was applied to the experimental group, followed by the post-tests of the same scales. Data were collected using the "Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory Short Form" and the "Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) Version A." Descriptive statistics and hypothesis tests will be used for data analysis.