Evaluating the effect of exercise on the postpartum quality of life

Mothers are potentially susceptible to some complications, postpartum which would affect their wellbeing. So, it is essential to deliver appropriate postpartum care, to improve physical, mental and social wellbeing. The current study was carried out to assess the effect of physical exercise on postpartum maternal physical, mental, social and general wellbeing. This is a semi-experimental, anterograde study which was fulfilled on experiment and control groups. The data was gathered by interviewing and a self-made questionnaire. The data was analyzed using independent t-test by SPSS software. Findings demonstrated that the experiment group scored higher in all aspects of life quality. Significant statistical difference was noted in general [P= 0.000], social [P= 0.011] and mental wellbeing [P= 0.005]; while, the difference between two groups in physical wellbeing was statistically significant. Various aspects of life quality would be affected by postpartum physical exercise. So, women should be encouraged to take exercise, postpartum to improve their quality of life

[Relationship between prenatal stress and neonatal age and weight]

The role of stress in health and sickness has been shown in many studies. This is a fact that stress is related with many diseases. Studies showed that one unit increase in maternal stress score is related with 55.03 gram reduction in neonatal weight as well as a 3 day reduction in age of birth. This study evaluated the relation between maternal stress, neonatal age and weight at birth in Isfahan. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, analytic survey which covered 301 women who referred to selected hospitals in Isfahan. Data collection was done by questionnaires, interviews and hospital documents. Data were analyzed by variance analysis and step down regression analysis. Data analysis showed that maternal stress is related with neonatal age [P=0/004] and weight at birth [P=0/041]. promotion of community knowledge in maternal emotional health is necessary. Public health can be promoted through maternal emotional support. Appropriate strategies can be applied to decrease maternal stress and increase mothers' knowledge on how to cope with stress

Stress and anxiety in pregnancy

Pregnancy causes psychosocial changes and every one shows a different reaction to them. Generally, pregnancy is a highly stressful period and pregnant women are very sensitive in this period. This study has targeted at defining the rate of stress and anxiety in pregnancy in women referred to Isfahan hospitals. This is a descriptive, cross sectional study. Samples were 301 women that had delivered in past 24 hours. Data collection was done by a reliable questionnaire that measured stress of life events [holms and raheh checklist] as well as a pregnancy related anxiety questionnaire and hospital documents. Data were analyzed with SPSS soft ware. The findings showed that 19.27% of samples were in middle stress group and 25.58% were in high stress group. 12.29%were in middle anxiety group and 87.21% were in low anxiety group. On the basis of the results, educating pregnant women, their family and health managers about stress coping methods, positive and negative emotions in pregnancy and how to react with them are highly suggested

Unwanted pregnancy outcomes

Unwanted pregnancy is that in which one of the couples or both did not expect pregnancy. Unwanted pregnancy highly affects couples' health and maternal mortality rate. Nowadays, it is one of the major health problems of under developed countries. Regarding the high ratio of that in Iran, this research has tried to investigate its outcomes so that the strategy makers can precisely look for practical solutions on family planning and decrease those and their outcomes. This is a qualitative study based on grounded theory. The participants included women with unwanted pregnancies, their husbands and health centers personnel. Sample size after data saturation through interviews was revealed to be 18 participants. The data were collected by taped semi-organized verbatim interviews recorded for 45-80 minutes. The interviews were conducted in participants' houses with unwanted pregnancies, health centers and in one of the nursing and midwifery faculties in Iran.Strawbert method was handled to analyze the data. The findings, indulged through qualitative method regarding unwanted pregnancy outcomes were classified as 82 codes and 4 groups containing' economic, physical, emotional, family problems and deprevation of social activity. lack of knowledge, motivation and insuficient understanding of couples regarding counsequences, of unwanted pregnancy caused their ignorance concerning family planning. So, the spouses should equally have family planning counseling to modify their attitude and function toward health systems

effect of postpartum exercise on mothers' quality of life

In postpartum period, mothers are exposed to some potential complications and their health many decrease. Therefore, cares for the promotion of their health is necessary. Encouragement of mothers for exercise and supporting them is one of the postpartum cares, but its effect on postpartum health of mother has not been assessed yet. This was a prospective quasi experimental study that covered 62 women divided into two groups. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling. The data were collected through questionaires. The data were analyzed with SPSS. In six weeks after childbirth, the mean score of general, social and psychological health of case group was significantly higher than control group. There was a significant difference between two groups. [General health [p<0/001],[social] [p=0/01]], psychological [p=0/005], but there was no significant difference in physical health [p=0/082]. Subscales were significantly higher in case group. Two groups were matched in demographic variables. The case group's health was better than control groups'. Case group included mothers exercising in postpartum period while control group included those not. Therefore, instruction and encouragement of mothers to postpartum exercise and supporting them is beneficial to mothers' health and quality of life