THE INFLUENCE OF HYDRATION ON FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AND FATIGUE DURING LABOR
Keywords: Fluid Therapy; Physical Functional Performance; Fatigue; Obstetrics; Labor, Obstetric; Maternal Health.
Introduction: The process of childbirth demands significant physical effort from women, which can lead to dehydration and impact the progression of labor. Therefore, adequate hydration during pregnancy and labor favors homeostatic balance and improved functional capacity. However, the literature still lacks studies regarding the relationship between hydration and its impact on functional capacity and fatigue during labor. Objective: To evaluate the influence of hydration on functional capacity and fatigue during labor. Method: The study consists of two concurrent stages. The first stage involves a Scoping Review aiming to map evidence on the effects of food, supplements, and beverages consumption in laboring women. The second stage is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study population comprises parturients admitted to the obstetric sector, undergoing normal labor, with an estimated sample size of 100 parturients. Regarding the Scoping Review, a preliminary search was conducted in November 2023. Subsequently, search strategies were developed for a comprehensive literature search using the descriptors “Labor,” “Obstetric,” “Organism Hydration Status,” and “Food and Beverages,” along with their synonyms, across databases including Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Two independent reviewers selected articles based on inclusion/exclusion criteria using the Rayyan® software. Primary studies published in peer-reviewed journals were included, applying a filter for articles from 2013 onwards in any language and available in full text. Duplicated studies were counted only once, and experience reports and theoretical trials were excluded. The authors utilized a tool for data extraction and methodological analysis of the included articles. Results: The results have been described in two sections. First, the product of the Scoping Review is presented in an article structure: introduction, method, and results. In the second section, the results of the cross-sectional descriptive study are presented, which is currently in the data analysis stage. The scoping review provides insights into the effects of food, supplements, and beverages consumption in laboring women during childbirth. From the analysis of the studies, it was identified that most studies do not differentiate between food, beverages, and supplements in the labor outcome. Instead, they generally discuss the effects of overall food and liquid intake. Additionally, there was no clear distinction made between beverages and supplements. Therefore, the authors categorized isotonic, protein-rich, and carbohydrate-rich drinks as supplements. However, there was no consensus among the studies regarding carbohydrate supplement intake. Dates were the most frequently mentioned and analyzed food item in the studies, showing significant results in reducing labor duration and inducing labor. Other outcomes observed in the studies included reduced time in labor phases, maternal satisfaction, decreased ketosis, and comparable incidence of nausea and vomiting between the fed group and the fasting group. Regarding the cross-sectional descriptive study on the influence of hydration on functional performance and fatigue during labor, data analysis is currently underway. The findings will be presented during the master’s defense in May 2024. Conclusion: It is hoped that this study will contribute to improving care for parturients, minimizing discomforts, and enhancing the overall positive experience during childbirth.