The Relationship between maternal fitness level and length of active labor, use of analgesics, and incidence of perineal laceration in primiparas.

Thirty-five primiparas were tested for aerobic fitness levels and assigned to either a control or experimental group based on fitness level. The experimental group represented primiparas who engaged in regular, sustained, aerobic activity for 20 minutes, three times weekly from 28-36 weeks gestation. The control group was comprised of 17 primiparas who did not perform any sustained, aerobic activity. After the subjects' deliveries, hospital chart reviews were conducted to determine the length of stage 1 and stage 2 labors, the amount and type of analgesia used, and the incidence of perineal lacerations. Statistical comparisons between the two groups indicated that no significant difference between the stage 1 or stage 2 labor times was demonstrated. There was also no difference in the incidence of perineal lacerations noted between the control and experimental groups. There was a statistically significant decrease in the use of analgesia by the experimental, exercise group.