Physical activity and maternal health

Question 1

why should exercise be promoted in pregnant women ?

Answer 1

• known as “window of opportunity”
• when women pick up new habits

Question 2

why should women be physically active ?

Answer 2

• prenatal Pa reduced odds of pregnancy complications without increasing adverse outcomes.
• gestational diabetes reduced 38%, pre-eclampsia reduced 41%, gestational hypertension reduced 39% and prenatal depression reduced 25%

Question 3

what are the guidelines for Pa in pregnancy ?

Answer 3

-1985 – ACOG released first guidelines for pregnant women
-HR <140 bpm and max 15 min exercise at a time
-Pre-pregnancy inactive women advised not to begin exercising while pregnant.
-Now – country specific recommendations vary but majority recommend – 20-30 min moderate intensity Pa most days/week.

Question 4

why is there limited guidance ?

Answer 4

-Knowledge plus confidence in Pa prescriptions for pregnant women is low among health care professionals.
-Lack clarity.
-Midwives feel ill prepared.
-Leaves pregnant women confused.

Question 5

what were Pa levels before and during pregnancy?

Answer 5

-Sample >90% Caucasian, <10% obsess, educated, >90% married/cohabiting.
-Pa assessed using self-reported questionnaire.
-The proportion of regular exercise pregnancy was 46.4% and declined to 28% and 20% by gestational weeks 17 to 30, respectively.
-Pa during pregnancy best predicted by high Pa levels before pregnancy.
-Active mother more likely to be educated, cohabitants, smoke less, primiparous.

Question 6

what are Pa levels in different pregnant ethnic groups ?

Answer 6

-Decline in Pa observed during pregnancy in all ethnic groups, but during pregnancy, and especially three-month postpartum, Western women were more physically active than ethnic minority women.

Question 7

what were pregnancy levels before during and after pregnancy?

Answer 7

Proportion of women not meeting PA guidelines increased from 12.6% pre-pregnancy to 21.6% during pregnancy and postpartum.

Question 8

why aren’t pregnant women active ?

Answer 8

• cultural beliefs
• barriers are multifunction
• lack go time, no childcare, money, low self-esteem, pregnancy/breastfeeding discomfort, depression, fatigue
• lack of evidence - knowledge plus confidence in Pa prescription for pregnant women is low among healthcare professionals

Question 9

what is physical activity like across population?

Answer 9

-Physical inactive is an issue across the whole population.
-1 in 3 men and ½ of all women are not physically active enough for good health.
-1 in 5 men and >1/4 women are classified as “physically inactive” (<30 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity per week)