A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Kegel Exercise and Prone Position on Afterpains and Involution of Uterus Among Postnatal Mothers at Selected Hospitals of Moradabad U.P.

Abstract

Background of the study: The postpartum phase, also called as puerperium and "fourth trimester," is period next to childbirth during which the physiologic changes because of pregnancy revert to the non-pregnant state. In addition to the physiological changes and any potential medical difficulties at this time, healthcare practitioners should be mindful of the postnatal mother's psychological and physiological needs. Most experts agree that the postnatal phase begins with the baby's birth. The end is less clearly defined, but it sometimes regarded as occurring six to eight weeks after delivery since by then, effects of pregnancy on many system, largely returned to their before pregnancy states and the uterus has begun to involute. Involution of the uterus is the process in which pregnant uterus reverts back to the pre- pregnant condition.
Objective:  (1) To assess the effectiveness of Kegel exercise on involution of uterus among the postnatal mothers, (2) To assess the effectiveness of prone position on afterpains among the postnatal mothers, (3) To find the association between the level of pain and degree of involution of uterus with selected demographic variables.
Method:  This study was carried out  in District Hospital of Moradabad,  U.P. The Quasi-experimental (time series) design was used in this study. The sample consisted of 40 postnatal mothers, who were chosen through purposive sampling method.   Data was collected by administering the numerical pain scale for assessing the level of afterpains and Fundal height assessment sheet for measurement of uterine involution.    The collected data was organized in master data sheet and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics as per objectives of the study, using SPSS version 20.
Results: Data analysis showed in the level of afterpains 3.70 was the post-test mean score of experimental group, lower than the post-test mean score of control group i.e., 5.70. The result of the statistical unpaired 't' test for total responses to pain is determined to be 4.85. P value is 0.00, indicating that it is highly effective and the level of involution of uterus revealed that post-test mean score of experimental group 39.12 was less than control group post-test mean score 41.62. The statistical unpaired t’ test value for overall responses to fundal height is found to be 3.18. it was statistically effective, indicated by P value 0.03.

Conclusion: After the administration of kegel exercise and prone position, this research study revealed that the afterpains got reduced and involution of uterus got increased, hence the intervention was effective in reducing the afterpains and enhancing involution of uterus among postnatal mothers.