Childbirth-related fatigue trajectories during labour

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Mental Health
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Childbirth involves significant physiological and psychological fatigue, impacting laboring women.
• Limited empirical research exists on the temporal changes and influencing factors of childbirth fatigue.
• Understanding fatigue trajectories is crucial for improving maternal care during labor.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct patterns (trajectories) of childbirth-related fatigue intensity over time.
• To explore factors influencing these fatigue trajectory patterns.
• To provide evidence for targeted interventions during labor.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, correlational study with repeated measures.
• 209 low-risk pregnant Taiwanese women followed throughout labor.
• Fatigue analyzed using semiparametric mixture models; influencing factors identified via logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Two fatigue trajectories identified: low intensity (30.8%) and high intensity (69.2%).
• Fatigue intensified for both groups during labor, with the most rapid increase in the active phase.
• High-fatigue primiparas showed higher anxiety and lactate levels upon admission.

Conclusions:

• Preventing high fatigue levels during labor is essential.
• Women with high fatigue at labor onset require early intervention, particularly during rapid fatigue escalation.
• Targeted support can mitigate adverse impacts of childbirth fatigue.