Effectiveness of interventions applied to pregnant and postpartum women on postpartum comfort: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Postpartum comfort is a critical component of maternal health, influencing both physical and psychological recovery following childbirth. Non-pharmacological interventions offer potential benefits in enhancing postpartum comfort, yet their impact remains inconsistent across studies. This review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in improving postpartum comfort. Relevant studies were systematically identified using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and quality was assessed through the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB2) tool. Data synthesis and meta-analytic calculations were conducted using Review Manager (RevMan) software. The intervention effect size was determined based on the standardized mean difference in postpartum comfort scores between intervention and control groups. Heterogeneity was assessed using I 2 and Q statistics, while publication bias was examined through funnel plot asymmetry and Egger’s test. A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The forest plot of pooled effect size indicated that non-pharmacological interventions significantly improved postpartum comfort, with a standardized mean difference of 1.45 (95% CI: 0.84, 2.05) at the last outcome assessment. Subgroup analyses revealed an effect size of 1.23 (95% CI: 0.52, 1.95) for immediate impact interventions (within the first 48 h postpartum) and 1.59 (95% CI: 0.63, 2.56) for sustained impact interventions (up to two weeks postpartum), with substantial heterogeneity observed across studies (I 2 > 90%). Publication bias was minimal, although small-study effects were detected. These findings suggest that non-pharmacological interventions can play a significant role in enhancing postpartum comfort, particularly in the early postpartum period. Further research across diverse populations is recommended to strengthen the evidence base for these interventions.