Consumo alimentar e fadiga durante a fase ativa do trabalho de parto: existe relação?

Abstract

Objective: Investigate the relationship between maternal fatigue and caloric intake during the active phase of labor. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 32 parturients admitted to the Ana Bezerra University Hospital between July 2023 and February 2024, with an indication for vaginal delivery. Information was collected on sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric characteristics. The parturients completed the Maternal Fatigue Perception Questionnaire during Labor and a Food Recall Questionnaire. The association between variables was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. A partial correlation coefficient was also calculated to investigate the relationship between caloric intake and fatigue, controlled for other variables. Statistical significance was considered when the p-value was < 0.05. Results: There was a prevalence of low fatigue (90.6%, n=29) in the assessed population. A negative correlation was identified between energy intake and total fatigue (r = -0.36, p < 0.05), which remained even when controlled for the effects of gestational week and age. No correlation was found (p > 0.05) between total fatigue and isolated macronutrients. Conclusion: Caloric intake was associated with lower fatigue during labor, which seems to reinforce the importance of food intake during parturition.