Asian Nurs Res.  2018 Mar;12(1):1-8. 10.1016/j.anr.2017.12.003.

Effect of Structured Bed Exercise on Uterine Contractions, Fetal Heart Rate Patterns, and Maternal Psychophysical Symptoms of Hospitalized High-Risk Pregnant Women: A Randomized Control Trial

• Kim YJ
• Park YJ

• KMID: 2409864
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2017.12.003

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study examined the effect on uterine contraction frequency (UCF), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns and psychophysical symptoms (physical discomfort, anxiety, and depression) of structured bed exercise (SBE) in hospitalized high-risk pregnant women prescribed bed rest.
METHODS
Forty-five hospitalized high risk pregnant women at >24 weeks of pregnancy prescribed bed rest were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. From January to May 2014, data were collected using electronic fetal monitoring and patient monitoring of UCF, BP, HR and FHR patterns, and psychophysical symptoms were measured using the antenatal physical discomfort scale, state-trait anxiety scale, and Edinburgh postnatal depression scale.
RESULTS
UCF, BP, HR, and FHR patterns (rate, variability, acceleration, and deceleration) did not differ significantly between the experimental and control groups. The experimental group showed a significant increase in baseline FHR after SBE within the normal range, and after SBE, it reduced to the FHR before SBE. The variability, acceleration and deceleration of FHR before and after SBE did not differ significantly between two groups. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference before and after SBE in the experimental group. Also, the experimental group showed statistically significant decreases in physical discomfort score. However, there were no significant differences in depression and anxiety score between two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
SBE in hospitalized high-risk pregnant women under bed rest did not increase the risk to the fetus, and relieved physical discomfort and anxiety. Therefore, SBE should be considered as a nursing intervention in hospitalized high-risk pregnant women.

Keyword

Anxiety; Exercise; Fetal heart; High-risk pregnancy; Uterine contraction

MeSH Terms

Acceleration
Anxiety
Bed Rest
Blood Pressure
Cardiotocography
Deceleration
Depression
Depression, Postpartum
Female
Fetal Heart*
Fetus
Heart Rate
Heart Rate, Fetal*
Humans
Monitoring, Physiologic
Nursing
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, High-Risk
Pregnant Women*
Reference Values
Uterine Contraction*