PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of moderate physical exercise throughout pregnancy on the duration of labor stages. DESIGN: Study was a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The study took place at Hospital Puerta de Hierro and Hospital Severo Ochoa in Madrid, Spain. SUBJECTS: We examined 166 pregnant women (31.6 +/- 3.8 years), and all had uncomplicated and singleton gestation. Of these 83 were allocated to the exercise group (EG) and 83 to the control group (CG). INTERVENTION: Women from the EG participated in a physical conditioning program throughout pregnancy, which included 55- to 60-minute sessions, 3 days per week. MEASURES: Pregnancy outcomes were measured: duration of labor stages, gestational age, weight gain, type of delivery, birth weight, birth size, head circumference, Apgar score, pH of umbilical cord. ANALYSIS: Student's unpaired t-tests and Chi2 tests were used; p values of < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Cohen's d was used to determine the effect size. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the duration of the first stage of labor (EG 389.6 +/- 347.64 minutes versus CG 515.72 +/- 353.36 minutes; p = 0.02, effect size Cohen's d = 0.36). The second and third stages did not differ between the study groups. CONCLUSION: A physical exercise program during pregnancy is associated with a shorter first stage of labor. These results may have important relevance to public health.

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