Effect of Resistance Training, Aerobic Exercise Before Doula-Assisted Delivery on the Psychological Well-Being and Labor Duration of Parturients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of resistance training and aerobic exercise before doula-assisted delivery on the psychological well-being and labor duration of parturients. Methods: 105 cases of parturients who gave birth in our hospital from February 2021 to April 2023 were included in this study. The patients were divided into a control group of 52 cases and an observation group of 53 cases. The patients in the control group received no particular intervention before delivery and only received doula assistance. The patients in the observation group received resistance training, aerobic exercise, and doula assistance prior to giving birth. After delivery, the mothers were observed for 2 hours in the delivery room and then returned to the maternal and infant ward. The observation indicators of the two groups were compared. Results: In comparison to the control group, the observation group exhibited shorter durations in the first, second, and third stages of labor, as well as the total delivery time. Additionally, the amount of postpartum blood loss at 2 hours was smaller in the observation group. The rate of cesarean section was lower, and the rate of vaginal natural delivery was higher in the observation group. Following the intervention, both groups of postpartum women showed decreased SAS and SDS scores compared to before the intervention. Moreover, the observation group had lower scores than the control group. These differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Resistance training and aerobic exercise before doula-assisted delivery can effectively improve the psychological state of parturients, shorten labor duration, increase the rate of natural vaginal delivery, and reduce pain and postpartum hemorrhage.