Document Type : Original Article
Authors
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,
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exercising during pregnancy has various benefits for the mother and the fetus, but
there are controversial results about its effect on labor and delivery. Therefore, the present study
was conducted to evaluate the effect of walking during late pregnancy on the outcomes of labor
and delivery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present randomized clinical trial was conducted on 102 pregnant
women who were referred to the comprehensive health service centers of Rafsanjan and were
selected using convenient sampling method and randomly were allocated into two groups from
August 2018 to February 2019. The intervention group performed walking from the 34th week of
pregnancy until the time of delivery 4 times per week, each time for 40 min. The control group just
received the routine prenatal care. Information about the outcomes of delivery were gathered from
the participants’ medical files in the hospital and were analyzed using SPSS software version 22
and Chi‑square and independent t‑tests.
RESULTS: The results indicated that the Bishop score of the intervention group was significantly
higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, regarding the duration of the third phase
of delivery, spontaneous labor, induced labor, cesarean section , and instrumental delivery,
a statistically significant difference was observed between the intervention and the control
groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between both the groups
regarding the duration of the first and the second stages of delivery and Apgar score at 1st and
5th min (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Walking during late pregnancy could improve Bishop score, increase spontaneous
onset of labor, and decrease induction, cesarean, and instrumental delivery without having any
adverse effect on the neonate’s Apgar score.
Keywords
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