Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background: Many researchers believe that exercise during pregnancy positively effects normal delivery, controls babies' weight and reduced the length of labor.

  Objective: To find out the effect of physical exercise during pregnancy on pregnancy outcome in primiparous women.

  Design: This study was a controlled field trial. Data were collected by means of questionnaire and monitoring the length and the umbra of time the women in trial group performed exercise. Data about pregnancy outcome were gathered using labor and newborn records and were compared in two groups (women doing and not doing physical exercise during pregnancy).

  Samples: 160 primiparous women were selected consecutively and assigned randomly to one of trial or control group (80 in each group).

  Results: There were no significant between two groups except that the second stage of labor was shorter and the mean of babies' birth weight was smaller for the trial group.

  Conclusion: The results not only indicate no harm for mother or baby by doing physical exercise during pregnancy but also seems that it shortens the second stage of labor and controls babies' weight. It is suggested to encourage women to do exercise and not stop doing it during pregnancy if they are already used to do it.