None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this intervention is to provide women with evidence-based advice on exercise during pregnancy that will help them to make informed decisions about their own health and wellbeing. By improving knowledge and awareness about safe and effective exercise during pregnancy, it is hoped that this intervention will contribute to better health outcomes for both mother and baby. Literature suggests that less than 39% of pregnant women meet the current physical activity guidelines. Potentially, this is due to the disregard of the physiological changes in the cardiovascular system as pregnancy progresses, resulting in poor adherence to exercise. This is clinically important as adequate physical activity during pregnancy is associated with lower average gestational weight gain. However, no research has investigated the effect of individualised exercise prescription on maternal weight gain. It is hypothesised that individualised exercise prescription provided during pregnancy will reduce maternal weight gain, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Interventions
The intervention group will receive education materials and guidance on effective exercise during pregnancy, including recommended types of exercise, intensity levels, and duration. The advice will be provided in the form of a one-on-one consultation with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP). Participants will be invited to attend AEP consultations either face-to-face at the hospital or via zoom, as such the timing and attendance between participants will vary. It is hoped that participants
The intervention group will receive education materials and guidance on effective exercise during pregnancy, including recommended types of exercise, intensity levels, and duration. The advice will be provided in the form of a one-on-one consultation with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP). Participants will be invited to attend AEP consultations either face-to-face at the hospital or via zoom, as such the timing and attendance between participants will vary. It is hoped that participants will attend 7 to 10 AEP consults. The consults will last for approximately 20-30 minutes. The initial session with the AEP will incorporate educational materials, pre-pregnancy exercise participation and exercise participation since pregnancy. The education materials will be designed specifically for this study. In the weekly and monthly telehealth sessions, The AEP will encourage participants to meet the physical activity guidelines according to the Australian Government - Department of Health and Aged Care guidelines (updated 2021). The advice will be individualised to each participants health concerns, conditions, interests and available equipment, as per a standard AEP consultation. However will broadly include recommendations for being active most days of the week, with a weekly total up to 5 hours of moderate intensity exercise or 2.5 hours of vigorous intensity exercise (or an equivalent combination of both). Muscle strengthening exercises will also be recommended at least 2 days each week. Adherence to the intervention will be assessed by a session attendance checklist.
Sponsors
Australian Catholic University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Pregnant and presenting to RWBH antenatal department.
Exclusion criteria
Standard absolute contraindications to exercise in pregnancy o Severe respiratory diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease and cystic fibrosis) o Severe acquired or congenital heart disease with exercise intolerance o Uncontrolled or severe arrhythmia o Placental abruption o Vasa previa o Uncontrolled type 1 diabetes o Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) o Active preterm labour o Severe pre-eclampsia o Cervical insufficiency
Outcome results
None listed