Prescription of breathing orientations given by the healthcare team during labor: a cross-sectional study

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.20184203628641

Abstract

The choice of respiratory advice during childbirth has been controversial. This study aimed to identify the prescription of respiratory guidelines during labor and to evaluate the association between the presence of these orientations and maternal satisfaction. A cross-sectional study with 192 postpartum women with vaginal delivery was performed. A questionnaire and a visual analog scale were used to acquire the socioeconomic information, to identify respiratory orientations received during labor and maternal satisfaction. Measures of central tendency, frequencies, the odds ratio for associations with a 95% confidence interval were calculated. Deep breathing was the most indicated form (81.25%) and the most performed in an autonomous way (15.10%). Orientations of fast and superficial respiratory frequency (13.54%) and Valsalva Maneuver (93.22%) were still present. Postpartum women who received respiratory orientations in either the first (OR: 6.28, 95% CI 2.32-16.94) or the second labor periods (OR: 4.84, CI95% 1.33 - 17.67) had more satisfaction with their delivery. Respiratory orientations contribute to increase maternal satisfaction at the time of delivery.