Easing the Ache After Birth: A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Kegel Exercises on After-Pain Among Postnatal Mothers in Rural South India

Smitha D'Souza

Abstract: Background: The days immediately after childbirth are rarely as peaceful as new mothers expect. As the uterus works to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size, many women experience 'after-pains'- cramping contractions that can be as uncomfortable as early labour. Kegel exercises, developed to strengthen the pelvic floor, have been proposed as a simple, low-cost way to ease this discomfort and support uterine involution, yet they remain under-used in routine postnatal care in many parts of India. Objectives: To assess pre- and post-intervention after-pain scores among postnatal mothers, determine the effectiveness of a structured Kegel exercise protocol in reducing after-pain, and examine whether selected demographic variables were associated with baseline pain levels. Methods: A quasi-experimental, two-group pretest?posttest design was used at St. Mary's Community Health Centre, H. D. Kote, Mysuru. Forty postnatal mothers (20 experimental, 20 control) who had undergone normal vaginal delivery were enrolled through non-probability purposive sampling. The experimental group performed Kegel exercises three times daily for three days; the control group received routine postnatal care alone. After-pain was measured using an 11-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. Results: Mean pain scores in the exercise group fell from 8.25 (SD 0.64) on Day 1 to 5.75 (SD 0.79) on Day 2 and 3.80 (SD 0.89) on Day 3. Friedman's ANOVA confirmed a significant reduction across the three days (χ² = 40.00, p 0.05), though a modest positive correlation between gestational age and pain score emerged by Day 2 and Day 3. Conclusion: A brief, nurse-taught Kegel exercise protocol produced a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in after-pain among postnatal mothers. Given its negligible cost and simplicity, Kegel exercise deserves a routine place in postnatal nursing care, particularly in low-resource community settings.

Keywords: Kegel exercise; after-pain; postnatal mothers; uterine involution; pelvic floor muscle training; numerical pain rating scale

How to Cite?: Smitha D'Souza, "Easing the Ache After Birth: A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Kegel Exercises on After-Pain Among Postnatal Mothers in Rural South India", Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1397-1402, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26922111748, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26922111748

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