A randomised controlled trial on the effect of antenatal pelvic floor muscle training excercise on outcome of labour

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is absolutely a physiological process that does not always requires any medical/ surgical intervention. Pregnant women should engage in pelvic floor exercises to bolster these muscles in order to deliver vaginally normally. A recent Cochrane research found that unmarried gestating women whom participate in exercise for the pelvic floor muscle report a reduction in incontinence of urine throughout gestation. Aim: To assess the effects of intensive prenatal abdominal muscle exercises performed between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy on labor and delivery outcomes. newlineMethods: This is a randomised controlled research includes 300 participant of age more than 18 years, primi or previous normal vaginal delivery within gestational age of 28 to 36 weeks who visited Chettìnad hospital and health institute. The participants were assigned to both groups using a randomization process: 150 mothers in intervention category in which regular antenatal care is given along with PFM exercises and 150 mothers in control group, in which regular antenatal care is given without PFM training exercises. Then the values collected was categorised, arranged using Microsoft excel 2007 and analysed using SPSS v15 in terms of frequencies, percentages, chi square test as well student t test. A p value lt0.05 was taken to represent statistical significance. newlineResults: The average age of women in intervention category was 25.85 + 3.44 as well in the control group was 26.09 + 3.54 years. Most of them were in the lifespan category of 25 to 40 years. A total of 300 study subjects were divided into two groups: the intervention category, consisting of 150 randomly assigned people, and the control category, also consisting of 150 persons. In the intervention category 77.3% were in the middle class, 65% were educated upto undergraduate level, 70% were house wife, among the control group, 78% were in the middle class of socioeconomic status, 69% were educated upto undergraduate level, 71.3% were house wife. Mean weight, height and BMI of intervention group was 67.89 + 7.45, 155.49 + 2.98, 28.09 + 3.17 and control group was 68.03 + 9.13, 156.03 +3.82, 28.02 + 4.21 respectively. About 68% of newborns of the intervention group had no NICU admission and found statistically significant.(plt0.05) 60.4% of NICU admissions were due to elevated bilirubin(plt0.05). 75.3% of the mothers of intervention group had normal vaginal delivery with a statistically significant p value of lt0.001. newlineConclusion: Gestating women who are in excellent condition are recommended to PFM exercises as a low-risk approach to enhance the likelihood of having a vaginal delivery. PFM damage is caused by vaginal delivery, an independent risk factor, and episiotomy may also harm PFM. PFM helps antenatal women to bear down in lithotomy position in second stage of labour. The rehabilitation process, including personal PFM instruction as well hospital-based therapy, will promptly commence to address the harm caused. newlineKeywords: pelvic floor muscle strength, labour, delivery, training newline