THE EFFECT OF BREATHING TECHNIQUES IN SECOND STAGE OF LABOR ON DELIVERY OUTCOME

One of the important tasks in managing labor is improving delivery outcome.
Maternal pushing during the second stage of labor is an important variable to affect this. This study is
done to investigate the effect of breathing technique of blowing on delivery outcome.
Materials & Methods: This study was a clinical trial which involved 166 nulliparous pregnant women
performed at Kamali Hospital in IRAN. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups using breathing
techniques (case group) and valsalva maneuver (control group). In the control group, pushing was done
with holding the breath. In the breathing techniques group, the women were asked to take 2 deep
abdominal breaths at the onset of pain, then take another deep breath, and push 4-5 seconds with the
open mouth while controlling the exhalation. And from the crowning stage onward, the women were
directed to control their pushing, and do the blowing technique.
Results: The results showed that concerning the length of second stage of labor, there was no significant
difference between the two groups (P=0.619). In breathing techniques group, the first and fifth minute
Apgar was higher (P = 0.044), while the frequency of abnormal fetal heart rate was higher in control
group (P = 0.002).
Conclusion: The results showed that the use of breathing techniques in second stage of labor, likely
improve neonatal outcome while it does not affect on the length of second stage of labor.