CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the study
During pregnancy the body
experience dramatic physiological and psychological changes which is natural
and to remain healthy, the pregnant woman must indulge in regular physical
activities call exercise.1 The professional health workers need to carefully design
physical exercise programme to enable the pregnant woman remain healthy. In
country like Brazil, her Ministry of Health stipulates that in addition to
consultation and prenatal care, breathing and relaxation techniques should be
taught for better control of labour and general well-being (2). Different
exercise programmes are available for pregnant mothers; these exercises include
aerobic exercises such as dancing, walking and swimming. Another type is Kegel
exercise; this involves tightening of pelvic muscles to control urine flow (3).
Exercise has been known
scientifically and physically to promote blood circulation to the mother and
the foetal vital organs such as the brain, liver and heart etc; exercise also
improve pelvic bone and muscle tone thus enhancing normal safe delivery of baby
during labour (5). Exercise is an activity requiring physical effort done to
improve health, it is a physical or mental activity that is done to stay
healthy or become stronger. Exercise session in antenatal clinic should be
designed to stimulate interest in the physical changes occurring to promote
body awareness and to facilitate physical and mental relaxation.
Heggard states that women who
practiced more than one type of sports or leisure time physical activity had 24%
of reduced risk of preterm delivery, which compared with women with no sports
activity (12). It must be noted that before asking a group to perform antenatal
exercise on the floor, the correct way of getting down and up again must be
demonstrated side-lying in the coma position with pillows under arm and knee is
usually comfortable position in pregnancy. The pregnant mothers should get up
from lying by bending the knees, rolling on to one side then using the arms to
push up into a sitting or kneeling position to prevent strains on both the back
and the abdominal muscles. Muscles of good tone are more elastic and will
regain their former length more efficiently and more quickly after being
stretched than muscles of poor tone. Exercising the abdominal muscles
antenatally will ensure a speed to normal postnatally, effective pushing in
labour, and the lessening of back ache in pregnancy (13). Exercise during
pregnancy are of utmost concern for most medical care giver, educators, the
general public as well as pregnant mothers and their family (14). Regular and
moderate exercise in early pregnancies is healthy for the mothers and their
babies (7,15,16). Mother’s health physiotherapist is the ideal choice to teach
the physical skills required or parenthood.17 However in areas where there is
no physiotherapist available, midwives may find themselves responsible for
physical preparation as well as parent education in antenatal classes or as
one-to-one basis (5).
1.2 Statement of the problem
Prenatal exercise is of benefit to
every pregnant mother. Exercise can reduce the length of labour, shorten the
recovery time and even help with post-partum weight management (5). The
physiotherapists in the hospital always come to the clinic as early as possible
but they usually meet only few pregnant mothers because they come late to the
clinic for the exercise as they see little or no need for prenatal exercise.
The purpose of this study is to study how pregnant mothers perceive usefulness
of antenatal exercise as it is being performed in the antenatal clinics. There
is need to find a way to change the perception of pregnant women about
antenatal clinic through training, seminars and health talks on important of
exercises in pregnancy and antenatal clinics.
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.
To examine the
importance of exercise in pregnant women.
2.
To examine how the perception of pregnant women about
exercise during pregnancy can be positively improved.
1.4 Research Questions
1.
What is the importance of exercise
in pregnant women?
2.
How can perception of pregnant
women about exercise during pregnancy be positively improved?
1.5 Significance of the study
Exercise during pregnancy has the
following importance:
- Fast labour.
- Weight loss in obese pregnant
women.
- Relief of fatigue, swelling and
back pain.
Therefore, this study will help in
educating pregnant women on the importance of exercise during pregnancy, which
has great advantage on their health.
1.6 Scope of the study
The study focuses on the
Perception of exercise and recreation among pregnant women attending antenatal
clinic.
References
1. Principles and Labs for fitness
and wellness. 10th edition. Warner W K Hoeger, Sharon A Hoger 2010.
2. Ministry of Health (Brazil)-
Bureau of Health Polices: Prenatal childbirth and Puerperium. Humane care for
women. Brasilia 2001.
3. Sarfraz M, Islami D, Hameed U,
Hasan Danish S, Ahmad F. Role of Physical Therapy in antenatal care as
perceived by the clients-a cross sectional survey on pregnant females attending
antenatal OPD. Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry 2013;1(01): 34-46.
4. Green M. Expectations and
experiences of pain in labor: findings from a large prospective study. Birth
1993;20(2):65-72.
5. Dianne MF, Margaret AC. Myles
Textbook for midwives 14th ed. Churchill Livingstone London Elsevier Ltd
2004:873-89.
6. Hornby AS. Advanced learner
dictionary 6th ed. New York: Oxford university press, 2004.
7. Clapp JF. Exercise during
pregnancy: A crucial update; Clinical sport medicine 2004;19(1):273-86.
8. Yeo S, Steele NM, Chang MC,
Leclaire SM, Ronis DL, Hayashi R. Effect of exercise on blood pressure in
pregnant women with a high risk of gestational hypertensive disorders. Liberia
Republic Medicine 2000;45(4):293-8.
9. Varney R. Text book of
Midwifery. 4th ed. New Delhi: All India Publishers, 2005;571-610.
10. Amudha P. Study on the effect
of antenatal exercises among pregnant woman. Nightingale Nursing Times
2007;2(12):55-6.
11. Keefer EJ. From Pain to
Performance, 2005. Available from:
http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/pain/pain1.htm [Accesed November 7, 2013)
12. Haggard P. Leisure time
physical activity. American Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
2008;198(2):180(5).
13. Mac-Phail A, Danis CA, Victory
R ,Wolis JF. Maximal exercise testing in late gestation fetal responses.
Obstetric and gynaecology 2000;96(40):565-70.
14. AdegbesanOA ,Roberts OA.
Perception of medical caregivers on the role of exercise in the promotion of
Health and Well being of pregnant women. European Journal of Scientific
Research 2005;2(1):97-105.
15. Clapp JF &Rizk K. Effects
of recreational exercise on midtrimester placenta growth. American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1992;167(6):1518-20.
16. Jackson MR, Gott P, Lye SJ,
Ritchie JW, Clapp JF 3rd. The effect of maternal aerobic exercise on human
placental development. Placental volumetric composition and surface area.
Placenta,1995;16(2):179-91.
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