Inclusion criteria:
First-time pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy, with no history of childbirth or miscarriage
The age range is 18 to 35 years old.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) should be less than 30 kg/m², within the range of 19.8 to 30
Informed consent for participation in research
A healthy fetus in cephalic position, expecting spontaneous vaginal delivery (candidate for natural childbirth), without any pregnancy complications
Confirmation of fetal health based on ultrasound findings or the triple test of pregnancy, no addiction to drugs, and no cognitive or psychological problems
No apparent risk factors according to the findings of prenatal examinations and ultrasound for the mother and fetus
Medical clearance for physical exercise during pregnancy
The participant should not have psychiatric disorders or a history of any mental illness such as anxiety or depression, or neurological diseases
The participant should not have severe cardiovascular disease
The participant should not have high blood pressure due to pregnancy
The participant should not have gestational diabetes
The participant should not have a history of two or more miscarriages
The participant should not have uncontrolled thyroid disease
The participant should not have pulmonary-respiratory diseases
The participant should not have a history of abdominal/uterine and pelvic surgery
The participant should not have any underlying chronic diseases such as chronic constipation, asthma, chronic cough, or dystocia
No history of tobacco use or alcohol addiction
The ability to correctly perform pelvic floor muscle contractions
Healthy sensory and motor function in the lower limbs and no musculoskeletal abnormalities
No presence of prolapse, neuropathy (damage or lesions to peripheral nerves for any reason), or collagen tissue disease
No prior engagement in pelvic floor muscle exercises similar to the exercise protocol before pregnancy and no history of professional sports
Exclusion criteria:
Women who have a high probability of cesarean delivery or who undergo cesarean delivery
Women who are at risk of preterm labor
Any contraindication to physical activity according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Women who withdraw from the study before its completion for various reasons, including lack of time, changing hospitals, or migrating to other provinces
Failure to attend two consecutive training sessions and three non-consecutive sessions, irregular performance of pelvic floor and breathing exercises according to the schedule (depending on the group they are placed in)
Pain during pelvic floor muscle contractions
Patients with paradoxical contraction of the pelvic floor muscles (defined as the descent of the pelvic floor muscle, where instead of pressing and actively lifting the pelvic floor muscles upwards, the pelvic floor is pushed downwards)
The presence of persistent urinary tract infection during pregnancy
Preeclampsia (pregnancy poisoning is one of the dangerous diseases of pregnancy that occurs in mothers with high blood pressure after the twentieth week of pregnancy) or other diseases that can affect participation
Cephalopelvic disproportion, polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios or deep vein thrombosis. And pregnancy complications such as placenta previa, placenta accreta, known fetal anomaly and intrauterine fetal demise, abnormal placental conditions and vasa previa (a very dangerous condition in which the placenta and vessels within the membranes are positioned over the internal cervical os), antepartum hemorrhage, fetal distress or the administration of pain relief drugs other than IMP
Premature rupture of membranes, emergency cesarean delivery, breech presentation, vulvovaginitis during hospitalization for delivery
In the final days of pregnancy, if the baby's weight is more than 4000 grams or less than 2500 grams