Physically fit individuals take less sick time than do those not physically fit. This is particularly true of women. Other women in the group who did not utilize this position, but went through most of their labor in the recumbent position had prolonged labor, increased pain, and had operative delivery. The women whose infants rotated had short second stages of labor, and no complications during the delivery. The authors observe that infants which are going to rotate during this maneuver will do so during the first hour after the mother assumes the position, although some infants have rotated only halfway by the conclusion of the first hour, and the mother must maintain the position longer to allow the infant to complete the full rotation.
Some women find the hands and knees position so comfortable for labor that they prefer it.
While the researchers point out that this is a small study group and further studies need to be carried out, it warrants our consideration. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to other people's cigarette smoke. Both primary and secondary exposure to tobacco smoke may contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. A recent report suggests that chorionic villus sampling, a test often done on pregnant women to evaluate fetal development, may cause limb abnormalities. Earlier studies have shown that children given acetaminophen for relief of varicella infections suffered symptoms over longer periods of time than those not given acetaminophen.