Pregnancy Exercises Prevent Perineal Rupture During Normal Delivery In Independent Midwife Practice

Abstract

Background: The high rate of perineal rupture remains a complication of childbirth with serious impacts on maternal health, including bleeding, infection, and reproductive dysfunction. Prenatal exercise is known to increase pelvic floor muscle elasticity and is expected to play a role in reducing the risk of perineal rupture. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between prenatal exercise and the incidence of perineal rupture in women undergoing normal labor.

Methods: This study used a retrospective design with a case-control approach. The population included all mothers who gave birth normally in April–May 2025 at the PMB in Bengkulu City, Indonesia. The study sample consisted of 38 case groups and 38 control groups, using total sampling and random sampling techniques. Data analysis was performed using univariate and bivariate methods using the Chi-Square test.

The study results showed that mothers who did not regularly perform prenatal exercises had a higher risk of perineal rupture compared to mothers who did. Statistical tests demonstrated a significant association between prenatal exercises and perineal rupture (p < 0.05), with an odds ratio of 9.022.

Conclusion: These findings confirm that regular participation in prenatal exercise significantly contributes to the prevention of perineal rupture during normal delivery. This study highlights the urgency of promoting prenatal exercise as an integral part of antenatal care to improve the quality of normal delivery. It is recommended that midwives and health workers optimize education and facilitation of prenatal exercise to minimize the risk of perineal rupture and improve maternal safety.