Determining the childbirth stories of women doing prenatal pilates and their views on the advantages of pilates

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Prenatal pilates is a low-effect mental exercise providing emotional, mental and physical advantages to the pregnancy and childbirth process. The purpose of this study was to determine the childbirth stories of women doing prenatal pilates in a fitness center in NC and their views on the advantages of pilates. Methods: The study was carried out as a retrospective, descriptive and relation-seeking study. Target population of the study consisted of pregnant women (N:58) who had enrolled in a fitness center in Northern Cyprus for pilates between 2016-2018. Among the population, 40 volunteer women regularly attending prenatal pilates twice a week for at least one month, comprised the study sample. Results: It was determined that 52.5% of the women had had vaginal delivery. Majority of the women (82.5%) stated, ‘it helped me have a more flexible and active pregnancy’ and ‘it made me happy’, (70.0%) ‘it helped me have a healthier and more comfortable pregnancy’ and ‘it enabled me to socialize’. Majority of the women expressed advantages related to the moment of childbirth such as, ‘it helped me cope with labor contractions more easily with the help of respiratory breathes’ (45.0%). Conclusion: In the study, it was found that prenatal pilates had greater emotional and mental advantages and the women believed that the least advantageous process was the moment of childbirth.