Despite the increase in numbers of women who engage in heavy, free-weight resistance exercise training (e.g. powerlifting, weightlifting, cross fit), the knowledge on how such exercise may affect fertility, pregnancy and birth outcomes is poor. Based on observational and associational studies of pregnant women in labour, recommendations are not to lift more than 11 kg in external load after mid-term, or to lift more than a total of 100 kg during a day. Ignoring such recommendations is associated to increased risk of miscarriage and preeclampsia, and of low birthweight and premature birth, respectively. As such, fit women who continue to exercise during pregnancy, are met with scepticism and warnings, resulting in shame and insecurity. Such attitudes may also result in physical inactivity during pregnancy, being on the contrary of what is recommended for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Elite athletes may additionally be deprived from an early return to sport if not being able to keep exercise intensity close to pre-pregnancy period. With poor knowledge on how fit, strong women respond to high external loads during pregnancy exercise, recommendations are to follow the general guidelines. The aim of this observational study, is to explore how regular resistance exercise training may affect fertility, and how high external loads in resistance exercise training during pregnancy in resistance trained women affect; a)their pregnancy and birth outcome, and b)health of the women and their children up to 12 months post-delivery.
Pregnant women who are experienced in heavy, free-weight resistance exercise training, and who choose to continue their exercise regimes during pregnancy, are recruited in social media to regularly respond to an online questionnaire on personal health, foetus development, and the newborn child health. A reference group of pregnant women being regularly physical active (still not lifting free weights of high loads) are concurrently recruited. All will respond to questionnaire at mid-term, and week 23, 30 and 40 of pregnancy. During maternity leave the women will be asked to respond to questionnaires at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post-delivery.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
53
Therese Fostervold Mathisen
Fredrikstad, Norway
Delivery week
The selfreported pregnancy week for delivery
Time frame: At delivery time
Delivery method
Participants report the method for delivery, choosing from natural delivery, delivery with assistance (e.g. birth forceps, vacuum delivery), caesarean section.
Time frame: At delivery time
Pregnancy complications at week 23
Number of participants who report any complications during pregnancy, choosing from a list of alternatives (yes/no) (preeclampsia, nausea, fatigue, low back pain, pelvic pain, constipation, mood swings, birth anxiety, gestational depression, anemia, hypertension, pregnancy diabetes, foetus growth retardation)
Time frame: During pregnancy up to week 23
Pregnancy complications at week 30
Number of participants who report any complications during pregnancy, choosing from a list of alternatives (yes/no) (preeclampsia, nausea, fatigue, low back pain, pelvic pain, constipation, mood swings, birth anxiety, gestational depression, anemia, hypertension, pregnancy diabetes, foetus growth retardation)
Time frame: Pregnancy week 23 to 30
Pregnancy complications at week 40
Number of participants who report any complications during pregnancy, choosing from a list of alternatives (yes/no) (preeclampsia, nausea, fatigue, low back pain, pelvic pain, constipation, mood swings, birth anxiety, gestational depression, anemia, hypertension, pregnancy diabetes, foetus growth retardation)
Time frame: Pregnancy week 30 to 40
Childs weight at birth
The weight of the child
Time frame: At delivery time
Childs length at birth
The length of the child
Time frame: At delivery time
Apgar score 5 minutes
The Apgar score 5 minutes post-delivery. This test checks a baby's heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs to see if extra medical care or emergency care is needed. The test is usually given twice: once at 1 minute after birth, and again at 5 minutes after birth. Scores below 4 indicates need for lifesaving measures, and higher scores indicates better health.
Time frame: At delivery time (5 minutes post-delivery)
Miscarriage
Number of miscarriages
Time frame: Previous and up to October 2023
Urinary incontinence before pregnancy
Number of participants reporting any challenges with urinary incontinence, and if it occurs; if it is only during increased abdominal pressure (coughing, laughing), or heavy lifting (choosing from a list of "always", only during increased abdominal pressure, only during lifting of heavy load)
Time frame: Any experience before pregnancy
Urinary incontinence during pregnancy
Number of participants reporting any urinary incontinence, and if it occurs; if it is only during increased abdominal pressure (coughing, laughing), or heavy lifting (choosing from a list of "always", only during increased abdominal pressure, only during lifting of heavy load)
Time frame: At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40
Urinary incontinence after delivery
Number of participants reporting any urinary incontinence, and if it occurs; if it is only during increased abdominal pressure (coughing, laughing), or heavy lifting (choosing from a list of "always", only during increased abdominal pressure, only during lifting of heavy load)
Time frame: Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months
Anal insufficiency before pregnancy
Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence
Time frame: Any experience before pregnancy
Anal insufficiency during pregnancy
Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence
Time frame: At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40
Anal insufficiency after delivery
Number of participants reporting any fecal incontinence and if it has worsened after giving birth
Time frame: Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months
Injuries during pregnancy up to week 23
Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations
Time frame: During pregnancy up to week 23
Injuries during pregnancy, up to week 30
Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations
Time frame: Pregnancy week 23 to 30
Injuries during pregnancy, up to week 40
Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations (yes/no)
Time frame: Pregnancy week 30 to 40
Analgesic during delivery
Number of participants reporting use of analgesic during delivery, and what type of analgesic (e.g. nitrous oxide, epidural)
Time frame: At delivery time
Body weight at week 23
Participants report on body weight changes during pregnancy
Time frame: Pregnancy week 23
Body weight at week 30
Participants report on body weight changes during pregnancy
Time frame: Pregnancy week 30
Body weight at week 40
Participants report on body weight changes during pregnancy
Time frame: Pregnancy week 40
Body weight post-delivery, 1month
Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy
Time frame: Postpartum, 1 month after delivery
Body weight post-delivery, 3 months
Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy
Time frame: Postpartum, 3 months after delivery
Body weight post-delivery, 6 months
Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy
Time frame: Postpartum, 6 months after delivery
Body weight post-delivery, 12 months
Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy
Time frame: Postpartum, 12 months after delivery
Changes in external loads used in exercise training
Participants report on changes in external loads used in exercise during pregnancy (% of normal loading used pre-pregnancy)
Time frame: During pregnancy
Changes in external loads used in exercise training, up to week 23
Participants report on changes in external loads used in exercise during pregnancy (% of normal loading used pre-pregnancy)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: During pregnancy, week 23
Changes in external loads used in exercise training
Participants report on changes in external loads used in exercise after pregnancy (% of normal loading used pre-pregnancy)
Time frame: Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months
Changes in exercise volume during pregnancy, up to week 23
Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) during pregnancy
Time frame: During pregnancy, week 23
Changes in exercise volume during pregnancy, up to week 30
Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) during pregnancy
Time frame: During pregnancy, week 30
Changes in exercise volume during pregnancy, up to week 40
Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) during pregnancy
Time frame: During pregnancy, week 40
Changes in exercise volume after pregnancy
Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) after pregnancy
Time frame: Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months
Injuries from exercise during maternity leave
Reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during maternity leave (up to 12 months post-delivery), choosing from a list of anatomical locations
Time frame: Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months
Fertility
Reports on any fertility problems or use of fertility techniques in order to become pregnant
Time frame: Before pregnancy
Bloodpressure
Bloodpressure measures, and numbers above/below clinical cut offs (having hypo-or hypertension)
Time frame: At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery,
Symphysis-fundus measure
symphysis fundus measure during pregnancy; as a measure for growth of the fetus, evaluated according to national/international standards
Time frame: At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40