Pregnant Women Doing Resistance Exercise Training
- Conditions
- Pregnancy Related
- Registration Number
- NCT04780087
- Lead Sponsor
- Ostfold University College
- 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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 53
- 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
- Any known metabolic condition or contraindication on doing physical activity during pregnancy (i.e. miscarriages, bleedings).
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 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)
Anal insufficiency before pregnancy Any experience before pregnancy Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence
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)
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.
Childs length at birth At delivery time The length of the child
Miscarriage Previous and up to October 2023 Number of miscarriages
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
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)
Delivery week At delivery time The selfreported pregnancy week for delivery
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)
Anal insufficiency during pregnancy At pregnancy week 23, 30 and 40 Number of participants reporting any challenges with fecal incontinence
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
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)
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)
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)
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 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
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Body weight at week 40 Pregnancy week 40 Participants report on body weight changes 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
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)
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
Fertility Before pregnancy Reports on any fertility problems or use of fertility techniques in order to become pregnant
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
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 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
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
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
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 Post-delivery: 1 month-, 3months-, 6 months- and 12 months Participants report on changes in external loads used in exercise after 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
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
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Therese Fostervold Mathisen
🇳🇴Fredrikstad, Norway