Objective: To evaluate the effect of birth ball abdominal core training on fatigue, waist pain, and delivery outcomes in middle and late pregnancy.
Methods: A prospective study of 209 primipara in total with 24-27 weeks of gestation were recruited and divided into the training group (109 cases) and the control group (100 cases). The control group received routine prenatal exercise. On the basis of routine prenatal exercise, pregnant women in the training group were given birth ball exercises based on abdominal core training. The difference in pregnancy fatigue, waist discomfort, and delivery outcomes between the two groups were compared.
Results: The waist pain and fatigue ratings of women were significantly lower and the vaginal delivery rate (74.3%) was significantly higher (62%) (P < 0.001) in the training group. There were no significant differences in the total stage of labor, postpartum hemorrhage, neonatal weight and 1-min neonatal Apgar score between the two groups. The rate of episiotomy in the training group (14.7%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (25.0%) (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Birth ball exercises can relieve fatigue and waist pain in middle and late 2021 pregnancy, reduce the rate of episiotomy, and promote spontaneous vaginal delivery.
Keywords: abdominal core training; birth ball; delivery outcome; low back pain.
© 2021 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.