Effect non-invasive low forceps delivery on pelvic floor muscle strength and postpartum depression in singleton full-term pregnant women

Table 1 Comparison of baseline data between two groups, n (%)/mean ± SD

Baseline data	Control group (n = 35)	Observation group (n = 35)	t/χ2 value	P value
Age (years)			0.324	0.569
< 35	28 (80.00)	26 (74.29)
≥ 35	7 (20.00)	9 (25.71)
Body mass index (kg/m2)	25.43 ± 1.65	25.63 ± 1.71	0.498	0.620
Type of maternity			0.357	0.550
Primipara	29 (82.86)	27 (77.14)
Multipara	6 (17.14)	8 (22.86)
Educational level			0.651	0.722
Junior high school and below	11 (31.43)	8 (22.86)
Secondary/high school	15 (42.86)	17 (48.57)
College degree or above	9 (25.71)	10 (28.57)
Delivery gestational week (weeks)	38.72 ± 1.03	38.95 ± 1.26	0.836	0.406
Types of forceps delivery required			0.253	0.969
Fetal distress	13 (37.14)	14 (40.00)
Uterine atony	8 (22.86)	9 (25.71)
Abnormal position of the fetal head	6 (17.14)	5 (14.29)
Prolonged second stage of labor	8 (22.86)	7 (20.00)
Gender of newborn			0.233	0.629
Baby boy	19 (54.29)	21 (60.00)
Baby girl	16 (45.71)	14 (40.00)
Newborn birth weight (kg)	3.55 ± 0.42	3.43 ± 0.39	1.239	0.219

Table 2 Comparison of perioperative indicators between two groups, mean ± SD

Perioperative observation indicators	Control group (n = 35)	Observation group (n = 35)	t value	P value
Number of forceps traction (times)	1.26 ± 0.18	1.34 ± 0.21	1.711	0.092
Amount of bleeding during delivery (mL)	267.19 ± 19.76	221.47 ± 17.28	10.301	< 0.001
Second stage of labor duration (minute)	87.04 ± 7.55	88.59 ± 8.85	0.788	0.433
Postpartum 24-hour bleeding volume (mL)	314.87 ± 25.48	268.92 ± 23.51	7.881	< 0.001
VAS score at 12 hours postpartum (points)	7.24 ± 0.73	5.38 ± 0.51	5.713	< 0.001
VAS score at 24 hours postpartum (points)	5.19 ± 0.45	3.56 ± 0.37	6.398	< 0.001

VAS: Visual Analogue Scale.

Table 3 Comparison of complications between two groups, n (%)

Complications situation	Control group (n = 35)	Observation group (n = 35)	χ2/Z value	P value
Cervical laceration	2 (5.71)	1 (2.86)	0.348	0.555
Perineal tear			-2.368	0.018
I degree	14 (40.00)	9 (25.71)
II degree	11 (31.43)	5 (14.29)
III degree	1 (2.86)	0 (0.00)
Postpartum uroschesis	6 (20.00)	1 (2.86)	3.968	0.046
Postpartum perineal infection	1 (2.86)	0 (0.00)	1.014	0.314
Skin abrasions in newborns	3 (8.57)	2 (5.71)	0.215	0.643
Neonatal scalp hematoma	3 (8.57)	1 (2.86)	1.061	0.303
Neonatal asphyxia	4 (11.43)	2 (5.71)	0.729	0.393

Table 4 Comparison of delivery experience scores between two groups, mean ± SD

Group	n	Self-ability	Professional support	Security awareness	Participatory nature	Total score
Control group	35	15.48 ± 2.19	11.56 ± 1.49	12.47 ± 1.72	6.97 ± 1.09	46.48 ± 5.25
Observation group	35	16.79 ± 2.47	12.35 ± 1.06	13.48 ± 1.94	8.15 ± 1.26	50.77 ± 5.79
t value		2.348	2.556	2.305	4.190	3.247
P value		0.021	0.013	0.024	< 0.001	0.002

Table 5 Comparison of pelvic floor muscle strength between two groups after delivery (mean ± SD, grade)

Group	n	Type I muscle fibers					Type II muscle fiber
		6 weeks postpartum	3 months postpartum	6 months postpartum	F value	P value	6 weeks postpartum	3 months postpartum	6 months postpartum	F value	P value
Control group	35	2.97 ± 1.32	3.23 ± 1.36	3.95 ± 1.42	4.825	0.011	3.02 ± 1.18	3.39 ± 1.41	4.07 ± 1.51	5.261	0.007
Observation group	35	3.60 ± 1.12	3.98 ± 1.17	4.63 ± 1.28	6.684	0.002	3.72 ± 1.29	4.13 ± 1.35	4.84 ± 1.32	6.448	0.002
t value		2.153	2.473	2.104			2.369	2.243	2.271
P value		0.035	0.016	0.039			0.021	0.028	0.026

Table 6 Comparison of postpartum pelvic floor electromyography between the two groups (mean ± SD, V)

Group	n	Resting average electromyographic value					Maximum electromyographic value of fast muscle
		6 weeks postpartum	3 months postpartum	6 months postpartum	F value	P value	6 weeks postpartum	3 months postpartum	6 months postpartum	F value	P value
Control group	35	2.42 ± 0.51	2.97 ± 0.64	3.25 ± 0.62	17.760	< 0.001	25.02 ± 2.71	27.45 ± 3.08	32.07 ± 4.12	39.840	< 0.001
Observation group	35	2.79 ± 0.38	3.34 ± 0.48	3.63 ± 0.53	29.150	< 0.001	30.25 ± 2.25	32.64 ± 3.32	35.13 ± 4.32	17.990	< 0.001
t value		3.442	2.736	2.756			8.784	6.780	3.033
P value		0.001	0.008	0.008			< 0.001	< 0.001	0.003

Table 7 Comparison of postpartum depression scores between the two groups (mean ± SD, points)

Group	n	EPDS rating
		6 weeks postpartum	3 months postpartum	6 months postpartum	F value	P value
Control group	35	7.06 ± 2.54	8.12 ± 2.68	8.26 ± 2.62	2.205	0.115
Observation group	35	5.37 ± 1.73	6.13 ± 1.65	6.39 ± 2.13	2.877	0.061
t value		3.253	3.741	3.276
P value		0.018	< 0.001	0.002

EPDS: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.