Greater abdominal muscle thicknesses and a smaller inter-recti distance
at late pregnancy are related to better cord blood gas values. A
cross-sectional study from the GESTAFIT project.
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the associations of
abdominal muscles thickness and inter-recti distance (IRD) at late
pregnancy with birth-related outcomes and umbilical cord blood (CB) gas
values. Design: cross-sectional study. Setting: Sport and Health
University Research Institute Sample: One hundred and fifty-two pregnant
women. Main outcome measures: The thickness of the abdominal muscles
(transverse abdominis [TrA], internal [IO] and external obliques
[EO]) and the IRD were measured by ultrasound at the 34th
gestational week. Birth outcomes were collected from obstetric medical
records. Umbilical CB gas concentrations were assessed after birth using
a blood analyzer. Results: Greater TrA and IO thickness were associated
with a higher venous CB PO2 value, both at muscular rest (respectively,
p<0.01 and p<0.05) and during activation (both
p<0.05). A greater activated TrA thickness was associated with
a higher venous CB oxygen saturation (p<0.05). EO thickness at
rest was positively related to arterial CB pH (p<0.05), and
during activation to the 1-minute Apgar test (p<0.05). A
greater IRD was associated with higher arterial (at rest
p<0.01; during crunches p<0.05) and venous CB (at
rest, p<0.05) PCO2 values, and with lower arterial CB PO2
(p<0.05), arterial CB oxygen saturation (at rest,
p<0.05; during crunches p<0.01), and venous CB
oxygen saturation (during crunches, p<0.05, and lower venous
pH (p<0.05). Conclusion: Greater abdominal muscle thicknesses
and a smaller IRD at late pregnancy are related to better umbilical CB
gas values at birth. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02582567