EXERCISE AND PREGNANCY OUTCOME AMONG URBAN, LOW INCOME, BLACK WOMEN

Abstract

Despite the benefits of exercise for adults, there remain concerns about safety of exercise during pregnancy. This research assessed associations between exercise prior to and during pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes and complications in a sample of 922 urban, low income, Black women. Women ages 18 years and older were enrolled in this study at 5 hospital-based or affiliated prenatal clinics located in Baltimore City. At their first prenatal visit, women completed a questionnaire about participation in strenuous (eg jogging) and non-strenuous (eg walking) exercise for fun and fitness both prior to and during pregnancy. Pregnancy outcome data (birthweight and length of gestation) and complications were obtained from clinical records. Overall, 12.2% of infants were born low birthweight (2500 grams or less). The percentages born low birthweight were not significantly different between those who did not exercise during pregnancy (11.2%), those who participated only in strenuous exercise (10.5%), those who participated only in non-strenuous exercise (12.2%) and those who participated in both strenuous and non-strenuous exercise (18.2%) (p = .53). For the full sample, 13.7% of the infants were born preterm (less than 37 weeks gestation). There were no significant differences in percent born preterm between those who did not exercise during pregnancy (14.2%), those who participated only in strenuous exercise (15.8%), those who participated only in non-strenuous exercise (13.4%), and those who participated in strenuous and non-strenuous activities (12.7%) (p = .97). There were also no statistically significant differences in spontaneous pregnancy loss according to exercise participation. Finally, the occurrence of complications of pregnancy such as bleeding, hospitalization, or abruptio placentae did not vary significantly by exercise participation prior to or during pregnancy. These results suggest that participation in physical activity did not increase risk of poor pregnancy outcomes or clinical complications in this sample.