The Effect of Using Birth Ball on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Using exercise with birth ball during labor leads to labor pain relief and improvement in the labor process, and is a very important non-medication method, looking into the chemical medications side-effects on mother and fetus, plus being affordable. This study aimed to investigate the effects of using birth ball on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: In this clinical trial, 100 primiparous women, 45-18 years old, were admitted to Fatemiyeh hospital in 2015, and were randomly divided into two groups of 50 tests and controls. The data collection instrument was questionnaire. In the duration of labor, the need for oxytocin, Apgar score after the delivery, and birth weight were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean duration of labor was significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The need for oxytocin, Apgar score, birth weight and mode of delivery were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: Performing exercise with birth ball during labor can decrease the active phase of labor, with no harmful consequences on the Apgar score; so, it can be used as a non-medication treatment to reduce labor pain and the duration of delivery.

Keywords

• birth ball
• labor
• delivery stages
• pain