The Effects of Delayed Pushing During the Second Stage of Labor on Postpartum Fatigue and Labor Results

Abstract

Objective: The study was made to examine the effects of delayed pushing during the second stage of labor and pushing on postpartum fatigue and labor results.Method: This is a randomized controlled experimental study. The sampling of the research is comprised of 48 primiparous women (23 in the delayed pushing group and 25 in the control group). The pushing of control group was initiated when strong uterine contraction appeared when the fetal head rotation was completed. Different from the control group, when the fetal head was “+1” inside the pelvis, considering the desire to push, pregnant were asked to delay the pushing until the feeling of powerful and involuntary pushing reflex in the delayed pushing group. As a data collection tool, “Pregnant Identification Form”, “Follow-up Form”, “Partograph” and, “Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue” was used.Results: The mean duration of the second stage of labor was 38.34 ± 17.84 minutes in the delayed pushing group and 13.52 ± 5.29 minutes in the control group. It was observed that a statistically significant difference was found between the delayed pushing and control group women in terms of the mean duration of the second stage of labor, the mean pushing time, the average fatigue, and energy scores in the first hour after labor (p <0.05).Conclusion: It was found out that delayed pushing prolonged the time of the second stage of labor but reduced the pushing time and significantly affected the fatigue at the first one hour of postpartum.