Effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise with postural advice on improving quality of life among pregnant mothers in bangladesh: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundPelvic floor muscle exercise has gained recognition as a valuable adjunct for promoting maternal well-being and optimizing childbirth outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise in enhancing the likelihood of improving quality of life pregnant mothers in Bangladesh.Methods/DesignThis was a randomized controlled trial in which 66 pregnant womenwere divided into control and intervention groups. The control group received conventional treatment, while the intervention group received the Pelvic Floor Muscles Exercise program with a posture explaining booklet. Both groups received supervised 30-min sessions five days a week for six weeks. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire measured pregnancy health and quality of life. Both descriptive (median and inter quartile range, IQR) and inferential statistics (Mann–whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed- ranked test) used to analyse the data by SPSS 25.0 software with 95% Confidence interval.ResultsThe intervention group mothers averaged gestional age was 32.4 (31.7 to 35.2) weeks, while the control group averaged 32.7 (32.3 to 36.2) weeks. According to the intergroup analysis, both groups had significantly improved health-related quality of life (p < 0.05). According to the intragroup analysis, participants who received pelvic floor muscle exercise with postural advice had better outcomes than did those who received only usual care with postural advice (p < 0.05).ConclusionPelvic floor muscle exercise may improve quality of life and the risk of vaginal birth. Healthcare professionals should include pelvic floor muscle exercises in standard prenatal care to help expectant mothers achieve positive childbirth and reduce postnatal problems.Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registry of India: (CTRI/2023/10/059091) (Date: 25/10/2023).