The Effects of Antenatal Training Sessions on Prenatal Outcomes

<p><strong>Objective:</strong> To study maternal and neonatal outcomes, the nulliparous women submitted to a training<br />program in third trimester.<br /><strong>Materials and methods:</strong> This randomized controlled trial was carried out on 64 nulliparous pregnant<br />women divided into two groups according to their participation including; training group; n=34 or not;<br />n=34. The program consisted of 8 meetings (between the 28 th and the 40 th gestational week) during<br />which educational activities were developed. The control group received the standard care. Maternal<br />and neonatal outcomes also were recorded. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16, and P&lt;0.05 was<br />considered significant.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> There was no significant difference in age and body mass index in both groups, but a<br />significant difference was found in both the gestational age based on last menstrual period (LMP), and<br />ultrasonography, as well as in the cervix dilatation at the time the women arrived for delivery in both<br />groups (P&lt;0.05).The difference was also significant in the reasons of admission in hospital (P=0.04),<br />oxytocin induction (P=0.01), mode of delivery (P=0.01), and gestational age of infants based on<br />physical examination in both groups. Birth outcomes were also similar in both groups and no adverse<br />effects of the interaction were found.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Antenatal training program in nulliparous women was associated with arriving at maternity<br />ward in active labor, decreasing oxytocin induction, and cesarean section and increasing the gestational<br />age of infants based on physical examination, Training program offered to pregnant women by midwives,<br />is an important low-technology health promotion tool, and may be performed at low cost in most settings .<br />Whether these results also apply to multiparous women or not, requires additional studies.