The effects of mother-friendly practices on maternal and fetal outcomes: a multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION AND

OBJECTIVE

The “mother-friendly hospital” model aims to enhance care quality by avoiding unnecessary, non-evidence-based interventions and supporting natural physiological processes from early pregnancy to postpartum. This study evaluated the impact of mother-friendly hospital criteria on labor pain, maternal satisfaction, and maternal and fetal outcomes. MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This prospective study included term pregnant women delivering between February and June 2025 at Sakarya Research and Training Hospital (Group 1, with mother-friendly practices) and Ümraniye Research and Training Hospital (Group 2, without such practices). Exclusion criteria were maternal age >45 years, chronic systemic disease, preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, prolonged rupture of membranes with infection, preterm birth (<37 weeks), and small-for-gestational-age infants (<2 SD). Maternal characteristics, labor interventions, non-pharmacological methods, postpartum hemorrhage, labor duration, pain levels using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and fetal outcomes (birth weight, Apgar scores, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission) were recorded. Maternal satisfaction was assessed in the first postpartum hour using the Birth Satisfaction Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 281 women were included (Group 1: 136, Group 2: 145). Groups were similar in age, BMI, education, employment, gestational week, labor duration, and postpartum hemorrhage (p>0.05). Latent phase, active phase, and postpartum VAS scores were significantly lower in Group 1 (p<0.001). Maternal satisfaction scores were higher in Group 1 (p<0.001). NICU admissions were lower in Group 1 (2.9% vs. 9.7%, p=0.022), and first- and fifth-minute Apgar scores were higher (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Mother-friendly hospital practices emphasizing minimal intervention and physiologic support reduce labor pain, improve maternal satisfaction, and enhance neonatal outcomes. Implementing mother-friendly approaches ensures safe, high-quality, mother-centered maternity care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered. registration number NCT07514195 and date of registration 03/30/2026.