Pregnant Women Doing Resistance Exercise Training (PREG_RET)

Ostfold University College

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pregnancy Related

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04780087

170066

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 53 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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).

Trial design

53 participants in 2 patient groups

Weight lifting women

Description:

Experienced resistance exercise trained and pregnant women

Reference women

Description:

Physically active pregnant women (not experienced with free weight lifting)