Pregnancy Related
Conditions
Keywords
Pregnancy, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Female athlete, Fertility, Delivery, Maternity leave, Resistance exercise training
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Ostfold University College
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Being pregnant * Group of interest: Being experienced with heavy, free-weight resistance exercise training, and aiming to continue exercise at comparable level during pregnancy * Reference group: being regularly physical active before pregnancy (i.e. at least 2 work- outs per week), but not experienced in heavy, free-weight resistance exercise training
Exclusion criteria
* Any known metabolic condition or contraindication on doing physical activity during pregnancy (i.e. miscarriages, bleedings).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Injuries during pregnancy, up to week 30 | Pregnancy week 23 to 30 | Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations |
| Anal insufficiency after delivery | Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months | Number of participants reporting any fecal incontinence and if it has worsened after giving birth |
| Injuries during pregnancy up to week 23 | 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 |
| Delivery week | At delivery time | The selfreported pregnancy week for delivery |
| Delivery method | At delivery time | Participants report the method for delivery, choosing from natural delivery, delivery with assistance (e.g. birth forceps, vacuum delivery), caesarean section. |
| Pregnancy complications at week 23 | During pregnancy up to 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) |
| Pregnancy complications at week 30 | Pregnancy week 23 to 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) |
| Pregnancy complications at week 40 | Pregnancy week 30 to 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) |
| Childs weight at birth | At delivery time | The weight of the child |
| Childs length at birth | At delivery time | The length of the child |
| Apgar score 5 minutes | At delivery time (5 minutes post-delivery) | 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. |
| Miscarriage | Previous and up to October 2023 | Number of miscarriages |
| Urinary incontinence before pregnancy | Any experience 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) |
| Urinary incontinence during pregnancy | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40 | 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) |
| Urinary incontinence after delivery | Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months | 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) |
| Anal insufficiency before pregnancy | Any experience before pregnancy | Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence |
| Anal insufficiency during pregnancy | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40 | Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence |
| Analgesic during delivery | At delivery time | Number of participants reporting use of analgesic during delivery, and what type of analgesic (e.g. nitrous oxide, epidural) |
| Injuries during pregnancy, up to week 40 | Pregnancy week 30 to 40 | Number of participants reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during pregnancy, choosing from a list of anatomical locations (yes/no) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodpressure | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery, | Bloodpressure measures, and numbers above/below clinical cut offs (having hypo-or hypertension) |
| Body weight at week 23 | Pregnancy week 23 | Participants report on body weight changes during pregnancy |
| Body weight at week 30 | Pregnancy week 30 | Participants report on body weight changes during pregnancy |
| Body weight at week 40 | Pregnancy week 40 | Participants report on body weight changes during pregnancy |
| Body weight post-delivery, 1month | Postpartum, 1 month after delivery | Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy |
| Body weight post-delivery, 3 months | Postpartum, 3 months after delivery | Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy |
| Body weight post-delivery, 6 months | Postpartum, 6 months after delivery | Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy |
| Body weight post-delivery, 12 months | Postpartum, 12 months after delivery | Participants report on body weight changes after pregnancy |
| Changes in external loads used in exercise training | During pregnancy | Participants report on changes in external loads used in exercise during pregnancy (% of normal loading used pre-pregnancy) |
| Changes in external loads used in exercise training, up to week 23 | During pregnancy, week 23 | Participants report on changes in external loads used in exercise during pregnancy (% of normal loading used pre-pregnancy) |
| Changes in exercise volume during pregnancy, up to week 23 | During pregnancy, week 23 | Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) during pregnancy |
| Changes in exercise volume during pregnancy, up to week 30 | During pregnancy, week 30 | Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) during pregnancy |
| Changes in exercise volume during pregnancy, up to week 40 | During pregnancy, week 40 | Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) during pregnancy |
| Changes in exercise volume after pregnancy | Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months | Participants report on changes in exercise volume (number of sessions per week) after pregnancy |
| Injuries from exercise during maternity leave | Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months | Reporting on any exercise related injuries occuring during maternity leave (up to 12 months post-delivery), choosing from a list of anatomical locations |
| Fertility | Before pregnancy | Reports on any fertility problems or use of fertility techniques in order to become pregnant |
| Symphysis-fundus measure | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40 | symphysis fundus measure during pregnancy; as a measure for growth of the fetus, evaluated according to national/international standards |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Use of supplements | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery, | Number of participants reporting use of dietary supplements, and what kind of supplements |
| Use of any prescribed drugs | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery, | Number of participants reporting any use, and what type of drug |
| Use of tobacco/cigarettes or snus | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery, | Number of participants reporting any use |
| Intake of alcohol | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery, | Number of participants reporting intake of alcohol, and how regularly (choosing between no, daily, weekly, monthly) |
| Use of caffein (coffee, energydrinks, sodawater) | At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40, and at 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months postdelivery, | Number of participants reporting use of caffein, and in what doses per day |
Countries
Norway
Outcome results
None listed