duration of labour . These measures are costly
and cause adverse effects on the mother .
Maintaining upright posture during the first
stage of labour has been a safest nonpharmacologic intervention used for many
years. It is an effective and safest intervention
to increase the uterine contractions and to
decrease the duration of labour .
Various studies were conducted
worldwide to determine the effect of upright
positions in reduction of duration of first stage
of labour . Most of the studies say that upright
positions have effect in reduction of first stage
of labour .
5, 6,7
On the same lines the present
study was under taken with an objective to
assess the effect of upright postures i.e.,
sitting and standing to decrease the duration
of first stage of labour .
A systematic review conducted by
Cochrane Collaboration,which included 21
studies revealed that first stage of labour was
approximately one hour shor ter for women
randomized to upright as opposed to
recumbent positions.
7
In present study the
average reduction in the first stage of labour
in experimental group was 2 hours.
In 1975, a study conducted by Mendez
et al. on nulliparous mothers on Effects of
standing position on spontaneous uterine
contractility . The results of study revealed that
the intensity of contractions was significantly
higher in patients who maintained standing
position. The average duration of labour was
3 hours 55 min.
5
In present study also
nulliparous mothers were included. Those
mothers who maintained upright positions
had significantly higher intensity of
contractions. The average duration of first
stage of labour was 4 hours (241.33 minutes)
which is similar to results of this study .
A study conducted by Díaz A.G., et al
on Ver tical position during the first stage of
labour . The results of the study revealed that
when the mother remains in the 'ver tical'
position during the first stage of labour:
duration of the first stage is shor tened and
the incidence of forceps deliver y diminishes.
6
In present study also mothers who maintained
upright positions during first stage of labour
all of them had normal vaginal delivery and
no one had forceps and ventouse delivery.
In 1984, Stewar t P . conducted a study
on Posture in labour: patients' choice and its
effect on per for mance. Study included
primigravida mothers who were in
spontaneous labour . The results of study
revealed that mothers who remained ambulant
throughout had the shor test labours.
8
In
present study mothers had not same mode
of labour, all mothers were included
irrespective of their mode of labour . Some
mothers had spontaneous onset and some
had induction of labour and results of the
present study also revealed that mothers who
maintained upright posture had shor ter
duration of labour