Exercise During Pregnancy: The Role of Obstetric Providers (original) (raw)
Related papers
Journal of sports science & medicine, 2006
For pregnant women, exercise offers numerous benefits with little risk. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) endorses aerobic exercise for all pregnant women without medical or obstetric complications. Nonetheless, only a small percentage of pregnant women meet exercise guidelines. We investigated the extent to which obstetricians (Obs) in private or small group practice in the USA actively recommend exercise to their pregnant patients. Surveys were sent to 300 Obs in 33 American cities, of which 83 were returned. 52% of respondents reported discussing exercise with 81-100% of their patients. Using a 7- point Likert scale (1 = never, 7 = always), Obs reported recommending aerobic exercise more often than resistance exercise (5.6 ± 1.5 versus 3.8 ± 1.6, p < 0.001). Obs do not routinely advise sedentary women to initiate exercise during pregnancy (mean 4.4 ± 1.8). Of the 67% of Obs who specify a target exercise duration, 95% recommend ≥ 16 min, consistent ...
Physical activity promotion among pregnancy – the role of physician from the women’s perspective
Frontiers in public health, 2024
Objective: The clear benefits of planned and supervised physical activity (PA) during pregnancy make it imperative that women are encouraged and educated about this activity. This study aimed to investigate how effectively physician promote physical activity and exercise among pregnant women. It also examines pro-health changes in selected health behaviours during pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited a total of 353 pregnant women in Wielkopolskie Voivodship in Poland. An anonymous survey (on-line or inpaper) was used to assess physical activity before and during pregnancy (with Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire), physical activity self-efficacy, wellbeing (WHO-5 Well-Being Index), and guidance received from physicians on physical activity during pregnancy. Results: Only 41% of women surveyed followed WHO recommendations for PA before pregnancy, and they were much more likely to discuss safety and the need to change the intensity or type of PA with their doctor or gynaecologist. Only 23% of women were asked about their PA before pregnancy and less than 40% were encouraged to be active during pregnancy. We observed a higher probability of poor well-being among pregnant women who were inactive before pregnancy (OR = 1.873, 95%CI 1.026 to 3.421, p = 0.041). Conclusion: Health professionals infrequently educate and motivate women to be physically active during pregnancy. Physician advice, as it is currently perceived by women, seems to be insufficient to help pregnant women meet the recommendations for PA during pregnancy.
Midwifery, 2009
Objective: to explore pregnant women's exercise patterns across pregnancy, reported reasons for exercising or not exercising, beliefs about the safety of exercise during pregnancy and the association of those beliefs with the amount and intensity of exercise that women participated in. Design: a prospective questionnaire-based approach was implemented over three pregnancy time points 8 weeks apart, with retrospective pre-pregnancy data obtained at the first time point. Setting: participants were mailed questionnaires at 16-23-weeks pregnancy (T1), 24-31-weeks pregnancy (T2), and 32-38-weeks pregnancy (T3). Participants: a total of 158 pregnant women participated. Measurements: at 16-23-weeks pregnancy women completed an Exercise Safety Beliefs Questionnaire in which they described their beliefs about the safety of low to medium exercise, high intensity exercise, gentle exercise, and weight bearing exercise. At T1, T2 and T3 reasons for exercising and not exercising were described, and participants maintained a 1-week exercise diary in which they recorded amount and intensity of physical activity. Physical symptoms experienced over time were also reported. Findings: the amount and intensity of exercise decreased over the course of pregnancy, with main reasons for not exercising including feeling tired or unwell, being too busy, and, particularly in late pregnancy, exercise being uncomfortable. Some women also reported safety concerns. Safety concerns predicted amount and/ or intensity of exercise. Key conclusions: overall, most women had clear beliefs about what forms of exercise were safe or not safe during pregnancy. Women who rated gentle and low to medium exercise as unsafe reported engaging in less intense and fewer minutes of exercise. Implications for practice: information and discussion about ways to exercise safely, enjoyably, and comfortably should be offered to pregnant women by health professionals in early pregnancy, when safety beliefs may impact on women's exercise patterns across pregnancy, and throughout pregnancy since the most appropriate forms of exercise may need to be modified over time.
2018
Extensive scientific evidence has shown that prenatal physical activity is a prerequisite for the proper course of pregnancy, fetal development, labour and delivery, and the postpartum period. In 2015, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a breakthrough statement that inactivity in pregnancy is risky behaviour. The aim of this paper is to provide answers to the questions concerning who and how should prescribe and conduct exercise programs for pregnant women. Close cooperation between the woman, her obstetric care provider and exercise specialists is necessary to promote exercise in pregnancy. Obstetricians should carefully evaluate women with medical or obstetric complications before starting the exercises. They should also provide women with general information about the benefits of prenatal exercise and the risks of physical inactivity. On the other hand, the design and implementation of the exercise program are tasks for exercise professionals, prefe...
Physical Activity Patterns and Factors Related to Exercise during Pregnancy: A Cross Sectional Study
PLOS ONE, 2015
Objective To assess the physical activity levels of pregnant women and to examine the characteristics associated with the practice of exercise and the activities of daily living during pregnancy. Methods For this cross-sectional study, 1,279 women were recruited within 72 hours postpartum. They were interviewed about their socio-demographic data and obstetric history and were administered self-report questionnaires about exercise and daily physical activities during pregnancy. Data on the current pregnancy, labor, delivery, and newborn outcomes were collected from participants' medical records. To analyze factors related to the practice of exercise, we used the student t-test, X², and odds ratio (OR), with a corresponding 95% confident interval (CI), followed by a multiple logistic regression. The significance level was 5%. Results Compared to the pre-pregnancy period, the prevalence of physical activity among participants was lower throughout pregnancy (20.1%) (p = 0.01). Half of the women interrupted practicing physical exercise due to pregnancy. The lowest prevalence of exercise was observed in the first (13.6%) and third trimesters (13.4%). Less than half of women received exercise guidance during prenatal care meetings (47.4%). Walking was the most commonly reported exercise, followed by water aerobics. Factors positively associated with exercise practice were higher educational level (OR= 1.82; CI 95% 1.28-2.60), primiparity (OR=1.49; CI 95% 1.07-2.07), exercising before pregnancy (OR= 6.45; CI 95% 4.64-8.96), and exercise guidance during prenatal care (OR=2.54; CI 95% 1.80-3.57). Mildly intense exercise and domestic activities were most frequently reported among pregnant women. There were no differences in maternal and perinatal outcomes between active and sedentary pregnant women.
Exercise Counseling in Pregnancy: Do Women Perceive Receiving the Information They Need?
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 2021
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women exercise throughout pregnancy unless they have a condition-related contraindication. This study’s purpose was to determine if pregnant women perceive receiving exercise counseling by their providers with details of frequency, intensity, type, and time (FITT principle). Women in 2 postpartum care units of a large health care system were invited to complete a voluntary, anonymous survey regarding whether they received exercise counseling during their prenatal care. Survey results were descriptively reported, stratified by demographic variables, and analyzed using Fisher’s exact tests. Of 224 postpartum women surveyed, 130 (58.0%) perceived receiving exercise counseling during pregnancy; 119 (91.5%) did not recall receiving counseling on exercise frequency. Though 165 (73.6%) exercised before becoming pregnant, 64 (38.8%) ceased exercise during pregnancy. Eighty-eight (39.3%) received advice from other source...
Student's Journal of Health Research Africa, 2022
Background: Physical activity during pregnancy provides many health benefits not only to pregnant mothers but also to the fetuses. Adequate knowledge among pregnant mothers is vital to enhance positive attitudes. This study assessed knowledge of pregnant women on PA in pregnancy among pregnant women attending ANC in Lira Regional Referral Hospital. Methods: The cross-sectional study of 152 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic visits in Lira Regional referral Hospital, northern Uganda. Data were obtained on socio-demographic characteristics of mothers, knowledge,and attitude towards PA in pregnancy. Results: Decreasing the risk of swelling of extremities (65%), back pain (73%), and high blood pressure (80%), and promoting better ability to cope with labor and delivery (72%) were the most commonly known benefits of PA in pregnancy and vaginal bleeding (80%), chest pain (70%), difficulty in breathing (77%), abdominal pain (72%), premature labor (73%), muscle physical activity during pregnancy. 46% had adequate overall knowledge of PA weakness and migraine headache (73%) were perceived contraindications of during pregnancy. The knowledge of women was influenced by gestational age (p=0.007) and level of education (p=0.014). Conclusion: The majority of women demonstrated inadequate knowledge of physical activity during pregnancy. Mothers had a fair knowledge of the benefit, but the majority had minimal information about the contraindication and when to start and stop physical activity when they get pregnant. Recommendation: Based on the findings, women in this study didn't have comprehensive knowledge about PA during pregnancy, health care providers should be empowered to counsel healthy and fit pregnant women with a comprehensive, evidence-based prenatal exercise guidelines on the safety of involvement in PA during pregnancy.
Exercise during pregnancy: a practical approach
Current sports medicine reports, 2003
Attitudes toward exercise during pregnancy have changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Recent studies show that, in most cases, exercise is safe for both the mother and fetus during pregnancy, and support the recommendation to initiate or continue exercise in most pregnancies. This report discusses the rationale behind the changes, and offers educational tools that may be employed to initiate behavioral change. We also propose exercise prescriptions for pregnant women who are sedentary, physically active, and competitive athletes. Armed with this information, the practitioner will be better equipped to counsel patients and incorporate a discussion on physical activity into prenatal visits.
Indications to Promote Physical Activity during Pregnancy
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 2017
Reduced physical activity in pregnancy is often associated with a progressive increase of chronic metabolic disease and to an enhanced risk for the child. The majority of women are less physically active during pregnancy, despite the motivation to improve their health, quality of life, and fitness. Education on the benefits of regular physical activity in pregnancy is determinant as suggested by obstetricians and gynecologists. The specific programs need to be supported by specialists in Sports Medicine. Counseling and support by nurses can also be helpful in encouraging women to maintain a sufficient level of physical activity during pregnancy or to modify their lifestyle, adapting the single models and specific physical activity programs to their needs.