Self-operated home ultrasound for pre-labor pushing training: a proof-of-concept study.
5 affiliations
- 1Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center - Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinski St., Petach Tikva, 4941492, Israel. [email protected].
- 2Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. [email protected].
- 3Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center - Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinski St., Petach Tikva, 4941492, Israel.
- 4Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- 5Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of self-operated home ultrasound for visual biofeedback training among nulliparous women, enabling visualization of fetal head descent and practice of second-stage pushing prior to labor.Methods
This was a prospective feasibility study conducted within the framework of an ongoing randomized controlled trial. Term nulliparous women at 37-41 weeks' gestation underwent an in-hospital transperineal ultrasound session with visual biofeedback, including real-time assessment of the angle of progression. Participants were subsequently instructed to perform home training using a self-operated handheld ultrasound device. Ultrasound clips were recorded and reviewed offline. Feasibility outcomes included session completion rates, proportion of interpretable clips, and successful acquisition of AoP measurements. Acceptability was assessed through open-ended feedback and participants' reported willingness to recommend the intervention.Results
Thirty women were enrolled, of whom 25 (83%) completed at least one home training session. A total of 96 home sessions were recorded (median 3 per participant, IQR 1.0-Ff.0, range 0-10), of which 88 (92%) were interpretable for AoP analysis. Coached pushing efforts during home training resulted in measurable changes in AoP (mean ΔAoP 14.4° ± 8.8°). No device-related adverse events were reported.Conclusion
Self-operated home transperineal ultrasound for visual biofeedback is feasible, safe, and well accepted for pre-labor pushing training. Participants were able to acquire interpretable images and engage effectively with the biofeedback process. These findings support further evaluation of this approach in larger studies assessing its impact on labor outcomes and its integration into telemedicine-based prenatal care.
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BibTeX
@article{hendin2026selfoperated,
title = {{Self-operated home ultrasound for pre-labor pushing training: a proof-of-concept study.}},
author = {Natav Hendin and Amit Shachak and Dorit Asher and Roni Yoeli-Bik and Eran Hadar and Yael Benyamini and Sharon Perlman},
journal = {BMC pregnancy and childbirth},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12884-026-09649-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958513},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Self-operated home ultrasound for pre-labor pushing training: a proof-of-concept study.
AU - Natav Hendin
AU - Amit Shachak
AU - Dorit Asher
AU - Roni Yoeli-Bik
AU - Eran Hadar
AU - Yael Benyamini
AU - Sharon Perlman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/22
JO - BMC pregnancy and childbirth
DO - 10.1186/s12884-026-09649-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958513
AB - Objective To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of self-operated home ultrasound for visual biofeedback training among nulliparous women, enabling visualization of fetal head descent and practice of second-stage pushing prior to labor.Methods This was a prospective feasibility study conducted within the framework of an ongoing randomized controlled trial. Term nulliparous women at 37-41 weeks' gestation underwent an in-hospital transperineal ultrasound session with visual biofeedback, including real-time assessment of the angle of progression. Participants were subsequently instructed to perform home training using a self-operated handheld ultrasound device. Ultrasound clips were recorded and reviewed offline. Feasibility outcomes included session completion rates, proportion of interpretable clips, and successful acquisition of AoP measurements. Acceptability was assessed through open-ended feedback and participants' reported willingness to recommend the intervention.Results Thirty women were enrolled, of whom 25 (83%) completed at least one home training session. A total of 96 home sessions were recorded (median 3 per participant, IQR 1.0-Ff.0, range 0-10), of which 88 (92%) were interpretable for AoP analysis. Coached pushing efforts during home training resulted in measurable changes in AoP (mean ΔAoP 14.4° ± 8.8°). No device-related adverse events were reported.Conclusion Self-operated home transperineal ultrasound for visual biofeedback is feasible, safe, and well accepted for pre-labor pushing training. Participants were able to acquire interpretable images and engage effectively with the biofeedback process. These findings support further evaluation of this approach in larger studies assessing its impact on labor outcomes and its integration into telemedicine-based prenatal care.
SN - 1471-2393
ER -