Exercise throughout pregnancy in active individuals: a retrospective analysis — ASN Events
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  2. Poster Listing: Preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and intrapartum health of women and babies
  3. Exercise throughout pregnancy in active individuals: a retrospective analysis

Exercise throughout pregnancy in active individuals: a retrospective analysis (#64)

Kate Oxnard 1 , Jemima Spathis 1 , Richard Johnston 1 , Evelyn Parr 2 , Kassia Beetham 1
  1. School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, Queensland, Australia
  2. Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

INTRODUCTION & AIMS: The aim of this study is to investigate how individuals who were physically active in the six months prior to conception exercised throughout their most recent pregnancy. Specifically, the study will analyse the volume, frequency, intensity, duration, and type of exercise conducted in each trimester of pregnancy.

METHODS: At least 63 participants will be recruited. Eligible participants will have completed >150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, >75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise, or an equivalent combination of both, on most weeks in the six months prior to conception. Additionally, participants must have used an exercise monitoring app (e.g., Strava) or a wearable monitor (e.g., WHOOP) during their most recent pregnancy. Participants will be asked to share the exercise data recorded during their pregnancy and provide information about relevant maternal and neonatal health outcomes via online surveys. The primary outcome will be the change in mean weekly exercise volume (MET-minutes per week) throughout pregnancy. Reported maternal and neonatal health outcomes will be exploratory and include infant birth weight, gestational age at birth, gestational weight gain, and the incidence of pregnancy-related health conditions (e.g., urinary incontinence).

RESULTS: As of May 2024, 21 participants have shared their training data and completed all of the study surveys. On average, participants were 34 years old when they most recently gave birth (range: 26-41yrs). On average, participants gave birth at 39 weeks’ gestation (range: 35-41wks) to infants weighing 3254 grams (range: 2551-3950g). Seven participants competed in sport while pregnant, engaging in CrossFit (n=1), Powerlifting (n=1), Running (n=3), Triathlon (n=1), and Volleyball (n=1). Data collection is ongoing.

CONCLUSION: This study will contribute to an improved understanding of how active individuals modify their exercise behaviours as pregnancy progresses. The study will also explore the maternal and neonatal health outcomes associated with continued exercise throughout pregnancy.

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