What does any woman, even childless, know about childbirth? The fact that giving birth is painful. The forums are filled with creepy stories from maternity hospitals. And one of the scariest things is crotch tears. According to statistics, from 7 to 15 percent of all women in childbirth suffer from them. Sometimes tears can be avoided by using an episiotomy. Also a dubious pleasure, but much better than injury. However, there is a way to minimize the risks.
A specific study was started at the University Hospital of San Cecilio in Granada, Spain. Scientists led by Dr. Raquel Rodriguez Blank already knew that physical activity during pregnancy reduces the risk of preeclampsia, improves sleep and prevents postpartum depression. But will exercise help reduce the risk of childbirth rupture?
Usually, women are advised to do exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor, believing that this will facilitate the course of labor and help to recover faster. But many pregnant women avoid even such activity, considering physical education unsafe for the fetus. But trips to the pool did not cause rejection in anyone: water aerobics is a smooth thing, it is quite difficult to get injured while exercising in the water.
Scientists have divided 129 pregnant women into two groups. 65 of them did water aerobics for pregnant women three times a week for 45 minutes, then stretching for another 15 minutes. The other group did nothing out of the ordinary: no additional physical activity.
Well, after giving birth, scientists assessed how the process went. It turned out that in the group of those who did not go to aerobics, perineal ruptures occurred 12,5 times more often when compared with the group of “athletes”. But the amount of weight gained did not affect the risk of rupture and episiotomy.
Moreover, women who did water aerobics were less likely to ask for additional pain relief. The difference was not only in the duration of childbirth – physical education did not affect this in any way.