Abstract:
The objective of this experimental research was to study the effects of abdominal and pelvic floor muscles training and breathing exercise in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy on delivery outcomes and low back pain in primigravidas. The samples were composed of 101 primigravidas who attended the pre-natal clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. All subjects were selected by random sampling technique and allocated into 3 groups for the experimental 1 (Exl) group, the experimental 2 (Ex2) group and the control group; for 34, 32 and 35 pregnants, respectively. The Exl group received the breathing exercise program. The Ex2 group received the pelvic tilt and breathing exercise program. All three groups received routine pre-natal care. Data was analysed by SPSS for Window program for frequency distribution, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation and test for differential significant at the level p < 0.05 by Chi-square test and ANOVA. The results of the study revealed that (1) The rate of normal labor in the Ex2 group was slightly higher than the Exl group and the control group but the difference were not significant (p > 0.05). (2) The mean delivery time in the 2nd stage of labor in the Exl group and the Ex2 group were statistically significant shorter than the control group (p < 0.05) but the Exl and the Ex2 groups were not statistically significant different (p > 0.05). (3) The mean score of low back pain in the Ex2 group was statistically significant lower than the Exl group and the control group (p < 0.05). According to this experiment, it can be concluded that the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles training and breathing exercise program in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy can shorten the 2nd stage of labor and reduce low back pain during pregnancy.