Staying active when pregnant increases chances of a normal birth

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Women who stay active in pregnancy are more likely to have a normal birth, without the need for a caesarean or the use of instruments such as forceps, according to a new study led by Swansea University College of Medicine.

Active pregnancyIn the study, which was published in the international medical journal PLOS One, the team analysed anonymous data on 466 women. 

They looked at body mass index (BMI) and activity levels, which were measured by giving each woman an accelerometer, a device which logs how much they move, for 7 days.  

‌They then examined what happened at the time of birth: how many of the women required an induction; how long they were in labour; how the baby was delivered; the health of the baby; and how long they stayed in hospital.

The researchers found that women with low activity levels:

•    had twice as many forceps/ventouse deliveries, compared to women with high activity levels (26% compared to 13%)

•    had a higher rate of Caesarean births (37% compared to 25% for women with high activity levels).

Importantly, these findings were independent of a mother’s weight. Therefore women who were overweight or obese with high activity levels were also more likely to have a normal birth.  Healthy weight women with low activity levels were still more likely to require an instrumental delivery.

Kelly Morgan from Swansea University College of Medicine, who led the research, said:

"Our findings provide positive news for pregnant women. Often women are apprehensive about the process of childbirth and the uncertainty of needing medical interventions.

Our results suggest that maintaining an active lifestyle during pregnancy is an avenue for promoting an intervention-free birth. This is something all women with complication-free pregnancies can take advantage of."

Read the research paper

College of Medicine