Daily Times

Pregnant women in Pakistan are missing out on the significant health benefits that come from regular exercise during pregnancy, new research finds.

A study, conducted by Aga Khan University (AKU), of the lifestyles of over 450 pregnant women found that just over one in three women (36 percent) were physically active during pregnancy with just 3 per cent of those surveyed setting aside up to 30 minutes per day for sport or exercise.

The majority of women, around 86 percent, reported that they spent their leisure time in sedentary activities such as watching television.

“There is a misconception that exercise can cause harm to the baby,” says Dr Zahra Hoodbhoy, a senior instructor in paediatrics and child health at Aga Khan University (AKU). “Most women are told to rest and to adopt a healthy diet during pregnancy but they are rarely informed about the value of exercise. Our study found that very few pregnant women were aware of how physical activity could contribute to their health and wellbeing.”

Guidelines from global obstetrics bodies recommend that pregnant women, who are not at risk of complications, engage in up to 30 minutes of exercise on most, if not all, days. Exercise is good for expecting mothers as it improves cardiovascular health, protects individuals from contracting diabetes or hypertension during pregnancy, limits weight gain and reduces the risk of postpartum depression.

There are also important health benefits for the baby as it boosts blood circulation and lowers the chance of fetal distress during labor. Contrary to the popular belief, exercising while pregnant does not affect fetal growth adversely.

Researchers found that the predominant type of physical activity for pregnant women involved doing household work and taking care of elderly relatives. They noted that while any physical activity is beneficial, pregnant women need to think differently about exercise.

Since expecting women are generally very keen to learn about ways to stay healthy during pregnancy, the research team also called on doctors and family members to remind mothers-to-be about the benefits of exercise.

The study also found a number of social and physical barriers that prevented women from exercising more regularly. The most common concerns were a lack of support from peers and relatives, poor access to affordable facilities and concerns about safety.

“A lot of women said there are not enough facilities available to them even if they want to exercise,” says Dr Romaina Iqbal, an associate professor in community health sciences at AKU and a co-investigator on the study.

Published in Daily Times, June 27^th 2018.