Abstract The study was conducted to assess the effect of ambulation onfetomaternal parameters during first stage of labour among primigravida mothers. Objectives: To assess the effect of ambulation on fetomaternal parameters among primigravida mothers during 1st stage of labour. To compare the effect of ambulation on fetomaternal Parameters among primigravida mothers with demographic variables of the experimental group. To find out the association between the effect of ambulation on fetomaternal true– experimental, posttest only control group design was used to achieve the objectives of the study. Probability simple random sampling technique was adopted to select the sample. The sample size comprised of 60 primigravida mothers, 30 mothers in the experimental group and 30 mothers in the control group. Analysis of data was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings of the study: Except In The Labour Pain Perception the mean scores of fetomaternal parameters were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The ambulation was found as an effective strategy in reducing labour pain of primigravida mothers, as the ‘t’ value computed (t=13,699), in increasing cervical dilatation (t=6,975), in increasing cervical effacement (t=9,937), in increasing frequency of uterine contractions (t=17,748), in increasing duration of uterine contractions (t=14,780), in shortening duration of 1st stage of labour (t=12,325), in good facilitation of fetal head descent (t=10,543), all which were significant at p<0.01. The fetal heart rate (t=2.140) was significant at p<0.05 level. Relationship between the ambulation effect of fetomaternal parameters among primigravida mothers with respect to their demographic variables I the experimental group was analyzed by using chisquare (c2 ) test. Conclusions: The findings revealed that majority of respondents in the experimental group were having less labour pain, increased cervical dilatation and effacement, increased frequency and duration of uterine contractions, shorter duration of 1st stage of labour, rapid fetal head descent and good fetal heart rate in the 1st stage of labour. The ambulation was effective intervention for the primigravida mothers to get good maternal and fetal outcome. There was no relationship between the effect of ambulation on fetomaternal parameters with demographic variables of primigravida mothers in the experimental group except with gestational age in weeks. A similar study can be conducted on a larger population. A similar study can be undertaken on a sample with different demographic characteristic like husband’s education and occupation. A similar study can be carried out by using different fetomaternal parameters like rupture of membranes and engagement. A similar study can be conducted by increasing the length of ambulation. A comparative study can be onducted by providing ambulation to both primigravida and multigravida mothers to assess fetomaternal parameters. A similar study can be conducted by using other intervention like maternal positions and its effect on fetomaternal parameters.
Keywords: Fetomaternal; Primigravida Mothers.