Physical exercise during pregnancy and its influence in the type of birth.

OBJECTIVE To verify if medium intensity exercise performed during pregnancy can influence in the type of delivery, and to observe compliance to an exercise program among primiparous women with different levels of schooling. METHODS A study carried out at the Centro de Incentivo ao Aleitamento Materno, in São Sebastiao (SP), between April 7, 2008, and April 14, 2009. A prospective study involving 66 primiparous women who were divided into two groups: an Exercise Group, engaged in regular physical activity during pregnancy, and the Control Group, that did not participate in regular physical activity during the same period. Significance level in this project was 5% (p = 0.05). RESULTS The group that did engage in regular exercise had a higher rate of vaginal deliveries, with a statistically significance difference evaluated by the χ² test (p = 0.031). The pregnant women with the highest level of schooling showed greater compliance with the exercise program, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.01736). CONCLUSION Physical exercise in primiparous women increased the chances of vaginal deliveries, and there was greater compliance with the exercise program among those with a higher level of schooling when compared to those with a basic education.