3. Results
During data collection, 786 parturients were evaluated for eligibility,
and 210 were randomized into the two groups. However, a total of 148
volunteers were lost, 80 from the intervention group and 68 from the
control group, for the following reasons: labor induction and withdrawal
from participation (Figure 2). The final sample consisted of 62
patients, 31 in each group. No high-risk pregnant women were included in
this study.
The volunteers had a median age of
23 years (IQR IG: 21-28; CG: 19-30) and median gestational age of 39
weeks (IQR IG: 38-40; CG: 38-40), with no difference between the groups
regarding maternal, sociodemographic and biological variables (Table 1).
No difference was observed for the following neonatal and maternal
outcomes: episiotomy, perineal lacerations, duration of the second stage
of labor, vaginal, cesarean, or instrumental delivery. There were no
cases of postpartum hemorrhage and maternal blood pressure changes.
However, there was a 3.2-minute (IG: 3.2 ± 3.5; CG: 6.5 ± 3.8; CI95%
1.4 to 5.1; p<0.001) (Table 2) decrease in the duration of the
maternal pushing and lower maternal anxiety in IG (Md (IQR) IG 46
(35-52) CG 51 (44-56) p:0,049). There was no difference in pain,
maternal fatigue, and satisfaction (Table 3).
Regarding neonatal outcomes, there were no cases of newborn admission to
intensive care, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, Apgar scores lower than
7, and neonatal resuscitation between the groups.