Exercise before and during pregnancy and reproductive outcomes: a population based cohort study - the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

Abstract

Regular physical activity is an important component of a healthy pregnancy due to its potential beneficial effects on both maternal and fetal health such as reduced risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclampsia, urinary incontinence and reduced postpartum depression. Consequently, current guidelines for exercise during pregnancy are now proactive and recommend both strength-conditioning exercises in addition to aerobic exercises of moderate intensity on most, if not all, days of the week for women with normal pregnancies. Objectives The overall objective was to expand our knowledge about level of exercise during pregnancy, and to assess factors associated with regular exercise during pregnancy, and to estimate how exercise performed at different time points during pregnancy affects reproductive outcomes such as excessive birth weight, gestational age and Cesarean delivery.

Paper I: Owe K. M., Nystad W., Bø K. Correlates of regular exercise during pregnancy: the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sport. 2009; 19(5): 637-45. Epub. 2008 Jul 8.

Paper II: Owe K. M., Nystad W., Bø K. Association between regular exercise during pregnancy and excessive newborn birth weight. Obstet Gynecol. 2009; 114(4): 770-6.

Paper III: Owe K. M., Nystad W., Skjærven R., Stigum H., Bø K. Exercise during pregnancy and the gestational age distribution: A cohort study. (In press in Med Sci Sport Exer.).

Paper IV: Owe K. M., Nystad W., Vangen S., Stigum H., Bø K. Antenatal exercise decreases Cesarean delivery rate in nulliparous women. (Submitted).