The effect of walking during late pregnancy on the outcomes of labor and delivery: A randomized clinical trial
نویسندگان
1 Department of Midwifery, Geriatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
2 Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nik Nafs Educational and Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran,
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doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Exercising during pregnancy has various benefits for the mother and the fetus, butthere are controversial results about its effect on labor and delivery. Therefore, the present studywas conducted to evaluate the effect of walking during late pregnancy on the outcomes of laborand delivery.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present randomized clinical trial was conducted on 102 pregnantwomen who were referred to the comprehensive health service centers of Rafsanjan and wereselected using convenient sampling method and randomly were allocated into two groups fromAugust 2018 to February 2019. The intervention group performed walking from the 34th week ofpregnancy until the time of delivery 4 times per week, each time for 40 min. The control group justreceived the routine prenatal care. Information about the outcomes of delivery were gathered fromthe participants’ medical files in the hospital and were analyzed using SPSS software version 22and Chi‑square and independent t‑tests.RESULTS: The results indicated that the Bishop score of the intervention group was significantlyhigher than the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, regarding the duration of the third phaseof delivery, spontaneous labor, induced labor, cesarean section , and instrumental delivery,a statistically significant difference was observed between the intervention and the controlgroups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between both the groupsregarding the duration of the first and the second stages of delivery and Apgar score at 1st and5th min (P > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Walking during late pregnancy could improve Bishop score, increase spontaneousonset of labor, and decrease induction, cesarean, and instrumental delivery without having anyadverse effect on the neonate’s Apgar score.
