Effect of Muscular Relaxation and Breathing Technique on Blood Pressure in Pregnancy

Gestational hypertension is the main cause of maternal and fetal mortality, however, it has no definite effective treatment. nowadays, the stress management approaches are use for essential hypertension. So, this study aimed is study the effect of progressive muscular relaxation and breathing control technique on blood pressure during pregnancy.

this 3-groups clinical trial has been done in Mashhad Health Centers and Governmental hospitals. 60 pregnant women with systolic blood pressure less than 135 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure more than 85 mm Hg who met inclusion criteria were assigned into three groups of progressive muscular relaxation, breathing control and control. In tow experiment groups, exercises were controlled by one day personally and the rest by CD, BP before and after interventions was controlled for 4 weeks. In control group blood pressure was measured before and after 15 minutes with no intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• systolic blood pressure ≥ 135mmHg or
• diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85mmHg
• absence of severe preeclampsia condition
• eclampsia
• absence chronic hypertension
• gestational age 20-36w
• single pregnancy
• have not contraction or bleeding
• absence of underlying disease and mental disorders
• absence of polihydramnios
• hydatiform mole and placenta previa
• not addicted to drugs, alcohol, mood-altering medicine and cigarette
• not to use similar relaxation methods and breathing techniques during pregnancy
• reading and writing literacy
• have contact number

Exclusion Criteria:

• using antihypertensive drugs(for experimental groups)
• CBR
• bleeding
• contraction or watering during study
• deteriorating of preeclampsia to severe form
• hospitalization
• start medical treatment for experiment groups
• changing mind for continuing with study
• to be absent in one session of personal instruction for experiment groups do not exercises more than 3 sessions of relaxation and breathing control at home
• delivery during 4- week interventions and presence of symptoms such as confusion, fatigue, feeling of suffocation, pain, blurred vision during doing exercises