[Effects of walking exercise during late trimester on pregnancy outcome of low-risk primipara]

To explore the effects of walking exercise during late trimester on pregnancy outcome of low-risk primipara.

A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted for 123 cases of low-risk primipara who had regular prenatal care at Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University from July 2012 to June 2013. And informed consent was obtained. The control group included 116 cases of other low-risk primipara in the same period. Except that the experimental group had regular structured walking exercise from 34 weeks of gestational age to delivery, other consulting guidance were the same as the control group. The inter-group differences, such as delivery mode, mean body weight gain per week after 34 weeks of gestation, duration of labor, labor pain perception, neonatal weight and neonatal birth condition, were detected and analyzed.

Finally there were 13 and 8 dropouts in experimental and control groups respectively. For two groups, the rate of caesarean section was 12.7% and 18.5%, the mean body weight gain per week after 34 weeks of gestational age (0.41 ± 0.13) and (0.56 ± 0.09) kg, the labor pain score are 6.1 ± 1.9 and 7.6 ± 2.3, the duration of labor (12 ± 4) and (15 ± 6) h, the neonatal birth weight (3.4 ± 0.3) and (3.7 ± 0.6) kg and the rate of macrosomia 4.5% and 7.4% respectively. The differences had statistical significance (P < 0.05). The rate of preterm birth was 5.5% and 4.6%, the rate of premature rupture of membrane 15.5% and 13.9% and the rate of neonatal asphyxia 2.7% and 3.7% respectively. The differences had no statistical significance (all P > 0.05).

Simple, safe and effective, walking exercise during late trimester may improve the pregnancy outcomes of low-risk primipara.