The effect of prenatal massage and psychological counseling on maternal mental preparedness for childbirth

Maternal mental readiness is a crucial factor for achieving a positive childbirth experience. Although prenatal massage and counseling are both recommended, evidence regarding their combined effect remains limited. This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest control group design involving 60 pregnant women in 2024. Participants were intentionally allocated to either an intervention group (prenatal massage plus counseling, n = 30) or a comparison group (counseling only, n = 30). Mental readiness was evaluated using a validated questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests, effect size estimation, and ANCOVA. Both groups showed significant improvement; however, the intervention group demonstrated a greater increase (48.3 ± 5.6 → 67.2 ± 6.1; mean change +18.9, p < 0.001) than the comparison group (47.9 ± 5.8 → 54.6 ± 5.9; mean change +6.7, p = 0.001). Between-group analysis revealed a mean difference of 12.2 points (95% CI: 8.9-15.5; Hedges' g = 2.06, p < 0.001), and ANCOVA confirmed the superiority of the combined intervention (ß = 12.1, 95% CI: 9.0-15.2; p < 0.001). In conclusion, prenatal massage combined with counseling provides a more effective approach to enhancing maternal mental readiness for childbirth.