3. Results
During data collection, 786 parturients were evaluated for eligibility, and 210 were randomized into the two groups. However, a total of 148 volunteers were lost, 80 from the intervention group and 68 from the control group, for the following reasons: labor induction and withdrawal from participation (Figure 2). The final sample consisted of 62 patients, 31 in each group. No high-risk pregnant women were included in this study.
The volunteers had a median age of 23 years (IQR IG: 21-28; CG: 19-30) and median gestational age of 39 weeks (IQR IG: 38-40; CG: 38-40), with no difference between the groups regarding maternal, sociodemographic and biological variables (Table 1).
No difference was observed for the following neonatal and maternal outcomes: episiotomy, perineal lacerations, duration of the second stage of labor, vaginal, cesarean, or instrumental delivery. There were no cases of postpartum hemorrhage and maternal blood pressure changes. However, there was a 3.2-minute (IG: 3.2 ± 3.5; CG: 6.5 ± 3.8; CI95% 1.4 to 5.1; p<0.001) (Table 2) decrease in the duration of the maternal pushing and lower maternal anxiety in IG (Md (IQR) IG 46 (35-52) CG 51 (44-56) p:0,049). There was no difference in pain, maternal fatigue, and satisfaction (Table 3).
Regarding neonatal outcomes, there were no cases of newborn admission to intensive care, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, Apgar scores lower than 7, and neonatal resuscitation between the groups.