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Pensar Enfermagem / v.28 n.sup / October 2024
DOI: 10.71861/pensarenf.v28iSup.396
Abstract
Introduction
The medicalization of childbirth resulted in changes in care, confining pregnant women to
bed and conditioning the assumption of the role of protagonist during labor. Mobility
(ability to move freely) and positioning (vertical or horizontal) spontaneously assumed by
women in labor reveal maternal-fetal benefits, promoting natural birth and preventing
deviations from normal labor.
Objective
To map the published scientific evidence on the influence of mobility and positioning of
pregnant women during labor.
Methods
Scoping review, carried out in three databases: Academic Search Complete, CINAHL
Complete and MEDLINE Complete, to answer the research question “What is the
influence of the pregnant women’s mobility and positioning during labor?” formulated using
the PCC mnemonic - Population (pregnant women), Concept (mobility and positioning)
and Context (labor). 41 articles were identified, duplicates excluded, after reading the titles
and abstracts, 5 articles were selected for full reading, of which 3 answered the proposed
question; 3 more articles obtained from other sources of information were included, making
a total of 6 articles.
Results
From the analysis of the articles, two categories of results emerged influenced by the
positioning and mobility of pregnant woman during labor: Maternal results with six
subcategories (Duration of the 1st and 2nd stage of labor; Pain; Type of delivery; Perineal
outcome; Satisfaction; Complications); Fetal/neonatal results, with three subcategories
(Fetal positioning, Fetal well-being and Apgar score). A shorter duration of labor, increasing
of normal births, better perineal outcomes, normal fetal heart rates and lower levels of pain
resulting in better delivery experiences stand out.
Conclusion
The mobility and positioning of pregnant women contributes to favorable progression of
labor. It is up to the nurse-midwife to encourage freedom of movement and guide pregnant
women in selecting appropriate positions for the stage of labor she is in.
Keywords
Pregnant Women, Movement, Patient Positioning, Labor.
References
1. Prada F, Rafael M. Desvios ao Trabalho de Parto Normal. In: Nené M, Marques R,
Batista MA, editors. Enfermagem de Saúde Materna e Obstétrica. Lisboa: Lidel - Edições
Técnicas Lda.; 2016. p. 368–75.
2. Liu LP, Chen JH, Yang ZJ, Zhu J. Corrective effects of maternal extreme flexure and
hip abduction combined with contralateral side-lying on persistent foetal occipito-posterior
position. Int J Nurs Pract [Internet]. 2018 Oct 1 [cited 2024 Oct 15];24(5). Available from:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijn.12663
3. Zang Y, Lu H, Zhao Y, Huang J, Ren L, Li X. Effects of flexible sacrum positions during
the second stage of labour on maternal and neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and
meta‐analysis. J Clin Nurs [Internet]. 2020 Sep 25 [cited 2024 Oct 15];29(17–18):3154–69.
Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.15376
Mobility and Positioning of Pregnant Women in
Labor: Scoping Review
Ana Sofia Martins1
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0642-9071
Maria João freitas2
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3248-2326
1 Nurse at Delivery Unit and Obstetric and
Gynecological Emergency Service at Hospital de
Cascais, Master's student in the Master's Degree in
Maternal Health and Obstetric Nursing, attending the
Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa (ESEL),
Portugal
2 PhD, Adjunct Professor at ESEL; Maternal Health
and Obstetric Nursing Department, Researcher at
CINDUR, ESEL, Portugal
Corresponding author:
Ana Sofia Martins
E-mail: anasofiabarbosafaria@campus.esel.pt
