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Purpose: to evaluate the effect of labor on pelvic floor muscles strength. Methods: Two hundred pregnant women at beginning of the 9 th month of pregnancy were selected randomly from antenatal care clinic of Kasr Al-Aini University Hospital in Cairo, Cairo University. Their ages were ranged from 25 to 35 years old and their body mass index was not exceeding 35 kg/m 2 . They were Primigravida and Multigravida. Women who had history of pelvic disease, any previous pelvic operations, diabetes mellitus, history of abortion and history of preeclampsia or smokers and alcohol abusers are excluded from the study. 133 women delivered normal labor (55 primipara and 78 multipara) (Group A) and 67 women delivered by cesarean section (29 primipara and 38 multipara) (Group B). Pelvic floor muscles strength was evaluated for all women by using TG Myo feedback 420v at beginning of the 9 th month of pregnancy and after 6 weeks postnatal. Results: Results of this study found that there was a statistically highly significant decrease (P<0.01) in pelvic floor muscles strength in both groups A and B after 6 weeks postnatal with percentage of decrease 30% and 9% respectively. After 6 weeks postnatal there was a statistical high significant difference between the mean value of pelvic floor muscles strength between both groups A and B with more decrease in group A . Conclusion: It can be concluded that normal labor markedly decreases the pelvic floor muscles strength than cesarean section delivery.

Background: Stress and fatigue experienced by lactating employed mothers could affect mothers’ and babies' mental and physical health detrimentally. Aerobic exercise is known to control stress and fatigue, but the dosages of the exercises needed to maintain long-term effects are under investigation. This study aimed to investigate the acute and long-term effects of aerobic exercise on controlling stress and fatigue in lactating employed mothers. Methods: This randomized control study involved sixty lactating employed mothers who were suffering from stress and fatigue. They were divided into two groups. Group A received five sessions of 30-minute aerobic training on a treadmill/week, in addition to lifestyle modification advice for 6 weeks. Group B received the same lifestyle routine advice for the same duration without being trained. Assessment of stress and fatigue levels were done before, after 6 weeks, and after 6 months from the baseline assessments using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) respectively. Results: Post-six weeks comparison within and between both groups showed a significant decline in PSS-10 and FAS in group A compared with group B (p < 0.001), however after six months of follow up there were statistically significant effects within groups only (p<0.05), and no statistically significant difference between groups at both variables as (p>0.05). Conclusion: Aerobic exercises for 6 weeks can induce an acute but not long-term effect on the stress and fatigue control in lactating employed mothers. Future research is needed to tailor the exercise prescription needed to maintain training long-term benefits.Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registration. Registered 4 June 2021, (Registry ID: NCT 04913558)

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