title: Regular Exercise Throughout Pregnancy Is Associated With a Shorter First Stage of Labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of moderate physical exercise throughout pregnancy on the duration of labor stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study was a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place at Hospital Puerta de Hierro and Hospital Severo Ochoa in Madrid, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 166 pregnant women (31.6 ± 3.8 years), and all had uncomplicated and singleton gestation. Of these 83 were allocated to the exercise group (EG) and 83 to the control group (CG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women from the EG participated in a physical conditioning program throughout pregnancy, which included 55- to 60-minute sessions, 3 days per week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancy outcomes were measured: duration of labor stages, gestational age, weight gain, type of delivery, birth weight, birth size, head circumference, Apgar score, pH of umbilical cord.
  
  
  METHODS
  Student's unpaired t-tests and χ(2) tests were used; p values of < .05 indicated statistical significance. Cohen's d was used to determine the effect size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found in the duration of the first stage of labor (EG = 389.6 ± 347.64 minutes vs. CG = 515.72 ± 353.36 minutes; p = .02, effect size Cohen's d = .36). The second and third stages did not differ between the study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A physical exercise program during pregnancy is associated with a shorter first stage of labor. These results may have important relevance to public health.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perales
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Calabria
authors.forename: Carmina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Evelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coteron
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barakat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013030:Spain; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Duration; Health focus: physical activity; Labor; Manuscript format: research; Outcome measure: duration of stages of labor; Physical Exercise; Pregnancy Outcomes; Pregnancy Research; Prevention Research; Research purpose: intervention testing; Setting: health care; Strategy: behavior change, culture change; Study design: randomized trial; Target population age: adults; Target population circumstances: pregnant women