Effect of healthy life style practice for reliving lower limp edema during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome

ABSTRACT

Dependent edema is a common discomfort that occurs as a result of physiological changes during pregnancy. The nurse plays an important role in caring for woman with lower limb edema during pregnancy. Of the study was to explore the effect of healthy life style practice [HISP] for relieving lower limb edema during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome Quasi-experimental study use 150 pregnant women recruited from both the outpatient clinic at Ain Shams Maternity University Hospital and from two MCH centers at abassia zoon by purposeful random sample. Subjects were classified into two groups study group [100 subjects] followed HISP program and control group [50 subjects] took routine hospital care. Data were collected through interviewing sheet, general examination life style and lower limb edema and follow up sheets. Assessment of edema was done by evaluating the extent and degree of edema also by measurement of lower limb circumference and subjective feeling. In the third visit, there was a significant difference was observed in study group than in control group regarding extent of edema [P<0.005], but no significant difference was detected regarding degree of edema [P>0.05]. Also, there was a significant difference in study group than in control group regarding the subjective feeling about the edema problem [P<0.05]. HISP in management of lower limb edema has an important value in relieving symptoms of lower limb edema during pregnancy and also it has a positive effect on pregnancy outcome. Of this study show that HISP program can relieve or control minor discomfort which annoys and worries the pregnant women also it can decrease adverse pregnancy outcome: