Progressive relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. Before starting the exercise, the environment was made quiet and free from external disturbances. The patient was also seated comfortably, and standard meditation music was played during the exercise. Progressive relaxation exercises combine the contraction and relaxation of large muscle groups such as the face, arms, legs, neck, and back with deep breathing. The exercises were performed by taking a deep breath, tensing the muscles, maintaining this tension for 5-7 seconds, and then relaxing the muscles (15-20 seconds). Throughout the exercise, the individual was instructed to continue breathing slowly and deeply through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

The training group received pre-planned training based on the literature. The training content included topics such as postpartum uterine changes, bleeding and vaginal discharge, elimination, sleep and rest, postpartum blues, medication use, initiation of sexual intercourse, timing of the resumption of menstruation, contraceptive methods, nutrition, breast care and breast problems, infant care, breastfeeding, and infant vaccinations. During the training, educational materials such as illustrated guides on family planning were used, and an educational brochure prepared by the researcher based on the literature was also given to the women after the training. The training was conducted face-to-face with each woman by the researcher, in accordance with adult education principles, and lasted 30-45 minutes. In addition, training methods such as lecturing, question-and-answer, discussion, brainstorming, and problem-solving were used during the training.

On the first postoperative day, the women were met with, informed, and their written consent was obtained. Women in the Progressive Relaxation Exercise group who met the inclusion criteria were administered the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale via face-to-face interviews on the first postoperative day. Completing all forms took 15-20 minutes. Relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. In the final test phase, the Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale were repeated on the second postoperative day.

The scale is graded as 0-10 cm long, with 0=no pain, 10=the most severe pain. It is applied by the individual marking a point corresponding to the level of pain they feel. The distance between the determined point and the lowest part of the line is evaluated in centimeters. The value found indicates the patient's pain level.

The State Anxiety Inventory consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel at a specific moment under specific circumstances, taking into account their feelings about the situation. The Trait Anxiety Inventory also consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel in a given situation, regardless of the circumstances. High scores on both the State and Trait Anxiety Inventories indicate high anxiety levels, while low scores indicate low anxiety levels.The scale allows for scores ranging from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80.

The Postpartum Comfort Scale assesses the physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural comfort of women who have had both cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Physical and bodily perceptions constitute the physical comfort subscale. Spiritual and psychological components form the psychospiritual comfort subscale. Interpersonal, family, and social relationships, as well as components related to finances and support systems, constitute the sociocultural comfort subscale. The scale, which uses a five-point Likert scale, consists of 34 items. The lowest possible score is 34, and the highest is 170. Values close to 170 indicate a high level of comfort.

The scale is graded as 0-10 cm long, with 0=no pain, 10=the most severe pain. It is applied by the individual marking a point corresponding to the level of pain they feel. The distance between the determined point and the lowest part of the line is evaluated in centimeters. The value found indicates the patient's pain level.