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- Title
Investigating antenatal pelvic floor training using a vaginal balloon device in Czech women.
- Authors
Fousek, Karel; Mrkvova, Katerina; Branna, Tereza; Ozana, Marek
- Abstract
Background/Aims: A vaginal balloon device for antenatal pelvic floor training may reduce the incidence of negative outcomes from vaginal birth on women's pelvic health. This study's aims were to investigate the effect of antenatal vaginal training on birth-induced levator ani muscle avulsion and to analyse the relationship between use of a balloon device for training and the duration of the second stage of labour, incidence of episiotomy and birth-induced perineal trauma. Methods: In this prospective cohort intervention study, 123 nulliparous women were divided into two groups: 64 training with the device antenatally (intervention) and 59 women receiving normal antenatal care (control). Clinical data were collected 10 weeks after birth and differences in the incidence of levator ani muscle avulsion, episiotomy, perineal tears and other birth injuries, as well as the duration of the second stage of labour, were assessed using two-tailed tests. Results: Training with the device was not associated with a reduction in the incidence of levator ani muscle avulsions (P=0.82), and the device did not shorten the duration of the second stage of labour (P=0.63). However, it was associated with a reduction in the frequency of episiotomies (cases: 34% vs controls: 59%; P=0.007). There was no significant difference in the incidence of perineal tears (P=1.00) or other birth injuries (P=0.50). An obstetric anal sphincter injury occurred in only one case, in a woman in the control group. Conclusions: The use of an antenatal training device in nulliparous women with cephalic vaginal birth at term is not associated with better pelvic health outcomes. However, it may reduce the frequency of episiotomies.
- Subjects
CZECH Republic; MUSCLE injuries; PELVIC floor injuries; EPISIOTOMY; NONPARAMETRIC statistics; STATISTICS; CLINICAL trials; ANUS; KEGEL exercises; BIRTH injuries; MUSCLES; PREGNANT women; DISEASE incidence; FISHER exact test; VAGINA; COMPARATIVE studies; URBAN hospitals; T-test (Statistics); SECOND stage of labor (Obstetrics); PUERPERIUM; PELVIC floor; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; PRENATAL care; DELIVERY (Obstetrics); DATA analysis; DATA analysis software; EDUCATIONAL outcomes; PERINEUM; CATHETERS; EXERCISE equipment; LONGITUDINAL method
- Publication
British Journal of Midwifery, 2023, Vol 31, Issue 2, p82
- ISSN
0969-4900
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.12968/bjom.2023.31.2.82