Exercise in Pregnancy: The Impact of an Intervention Program in the Duration of Labor and Mode of Delivery

Abstract

Objective To access the benefits or harms of an exercise program, based on the current American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines, on the mode of delivery, duration and onset of labor. Methods A study performed at the Hospital Senhora da Oliveira between October 2015 and February 2017. This was a quasi-experimental study involving 255 women divided into two groups: an intervention group engaged in a controlled and supervised exercise program during pregnancy (n = 99), and a control group that did not participate in the exercise program (n = 156). Data were collected in two stages: during the 1st trimester biochemical screening (before the beginning of the program), through a written questionnaire, and after delivery, from the medical files of the patients. The significance level in the present study was 5% (p = 0.05). Results The control group had higher odds of induced labor (odds ratio [OR] 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42–5.17; p = 0.003), when compared with women who underwent the intervention. No differences were found between the groups in instrumental vaginal deliveries, cesarean rate, time until the beginning of the active phase, duration of the active phase, and duration of the second stage of labor. Conclusion The implementation of a controlled and supervised exercise program in pregnancy was associated with significantly lower odds of induced deliveries.

The association between objectively-measured physical activity during pregnancy and the risk of cesarean delivery: a prospective study

“…In a study by Ferreira et al, women in the exercise group engaged in PA three times a week for two hours each, from 12-15 weeks of gestation until delivery. No difference in the rate of cesarean delivery was observed between the exercise and control groups (27.3% vs 32.1%; p = 0.418) [11]. However, a meta-analysis from Domenjoz et al revealed that PA during pregnancy can lower the risk of cesarean delivery (relative risk 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.99) [12].…”

Application of pelvic floor ultrasound during pregnancy to detect patients at risk of cesarean section due to failure of labor progression in a Spanish population

“…[23] The coactivation phenomenon has been defined as a reduction in the anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus on Valsalva with respect to the diameter at rest. [20,24] It appears that PFMT before delivery favors levator distensibility and decreases the second stage of labor [25,26,27]. Furthermore, PFMT may improve postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction.…”

Why We should Recommend Exercise in Pregnancy?

“…Regular exercise during pregnancy has positive physical and mental effects on the pregnant woman and her fetus [16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Benefits of exercise for pregnant women include: reduced risk of developing gestational diabetes [23][24][25][26][27], effective intervention in diabetes management [28][29][30], reduced incidence of gestational hypertension [31][32][33], preeclampsia [33][34][35], peripheral edema [36,37], varicose veins and deep venous thrombosis [38,39], reduced incidence of urinary incontinence [40][41][42] as well as painful conditions of the spine and pelvis (including sacroiliac dysfunction) [43][44][45], weight problems [46,47] and premature birth [36,48].…”