Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training on Postpartum Blues in High-risk Pregnant Women

Introduction: Postpartum blues is one of the complications that can affect the health of the mother and how she communicates with the baby, and as a result, her physical and mental health. Therefore, its prevention can influence the mental health of the family. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) therapy on the postpartum blues of high-risk pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 150 women with high-risk pregnancy referred to health centers in Shahreza City, Isfahan Province, Iran. They were selected by multi-stage sampling technique and randomly assigned into two groups of PMR (n=75) and control (n=75). The control group received only routine pregnancy care, while the PMR group, in addition to routine pregnancy care, received PMR education (Jacobson Method). The severity of postpartum blues was assessed by Zung’s self-rating depression scale on days 1, 3, and 10 after delivery. For analyzing data, we used the Chi-squared test, t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Both groups had no significant difference with each other in terms of demographic and obstetric factors. No significant difference was observed between the control and PMR groups in the severity of postpartum blues on the first day; however, the difference was significant on days 3 and 10 (P<0.05). Conclusion: Progressive muscle relaxation therapy can be useful in reducing the severity of postpartum blues in women with a high-risk pregnancy.