Comparing the Outcomes of Physiologic Delivery with Non‑Physiologic Delivery Group

Abstract

Background: The main purpose of physiologic delivery is to rely on mother’s body for childbirth. In physiologic delivery method pregnant women attend delivery preparation classes and they learn how to overcome fear and pain.

Objectives: This study compares delivery outcomes among women who participated in physiologic delivery with those who had undergone non‑physiologic delivery.

Methods: All patients referred for physiologic delivery were assessed. Exclusion criteria were lack of PROM, post date, cephalopelvic disproportion, multi‑fetal pregnancy, Meconium stain, blood pressure above 90/140, placenta previa and previous record of cesarean. Data was entered in SPSS 16 software and Fisher and Chi‑square tests were used to compare vaginal laceration, episiotomy and Apgar score between two groups.

Results: Twelve out of 73 pregnant women (16.4%) in physiologic delivery group and 27 out of 69 pregnant women (39.1%) in non‑physiologic delivery group needed episiotomy (P = 0.002). Ten patients (13.7%) in physiologic delivery group and seven persons (10.1%) in the non‑physiologic delivery group were suffering from vaginal laceration (P = 0.51). There was no significant statistical difference between newborns’ Apgar score in two groups.

Conclusions: Physiologic delivery can reduce the need for episiotomy without any further complications.

Keywords: Episiotomy, natural vaginal delivery, physiologic delivery