Authors: Hanne Kristine Hegaard Peter Damm Morten Hedegaard Tine Brink Henriksen Bent Ottesen AnnaKarin Dykes Hanne Kjaergaard
Publish Date: 2010/08/01
Volume: 15, Issue: 6, Pages: 806-813
Abstract
To describe patterns of leisure time physical activity during pregnancy in relation to prepregnancy leisure time physical activity sociodemographic characteristics fertility history and lifestyle factors 4718 nulliparous with singleton pregnancy and intended spontaneous vaginal delivery were included in the study at gestational week 33 from May 2004 to July 2005 Information was provided by selfadministered questionnaires Leisure time physical activity was categorised into four categories competitive sport moderatetoheavy light or sedentary In this population of nulliparous women 4 participated in competitive sport 25 in moderatetoheavy activities 66 in light activities and 5 in sedentary activities in the year prior to pregnancy Physical activity before pregnancy was statistically significantly associated with age prepregnancy BMI chronic diseases number of years at school and smoking habits The proportion of women who took part in competitive sports and moderatetoheavy activities decreased over the three trimesters of pregnancy The proportion of women with light physical activity was stable during pregnancy while the proportion of women with sedentary activity increased from 6 to 29 During the third trimester women performing competitive sports or moderatetoheavy activities before pregnancy continued to have a higher level of physical activity than women with light activities or sedentary activities before pregnancy In general the intensity and time spent on exercise decreased during pregnancy Women with the highest level of exercise prior to pregnancy continued to be the most active during pregnancy Among women with sedentary activities before pregnancy onefourth changed to light activity during pregnancyThe study was supported by grants from the Research Committee of the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation The Danish Association of Midwives Aase and Ejnar Danielsen′s Foundation Sophus Jacobsen and wife Astrid Jacobsen Foundation The Augustinus Foundation and Else and Mogens WedellWedellsborg′s Found
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