Neuromuscular control of childbirth-prepared women during the first stage of labor.
To evaluate the neuromuscular control of Lamaze-prepared women during the first stage of labor and to identify the factors which influenced control, 94 women were studied. The women were categorized into two groups: class-taught and self-taught. A tool was devised to evaluate neuromuscular control. The study revealed that class-taught women exhibited a significantly higher degree of neuromuscular control, more frequent practice patterns, and a greater ability to make goal-directed statements about their labor than the self-taught women. The data also demonstrated an association between practice and control and goal directedness and control.
D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007747:Labor Stage, First; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009321:Natural Childbirth; D009773:Obstetric Nursing; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011247:Pregnancy; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014590:Uterine Contraction