The Impact of Physical Activity Level and Sexual Activity During Pregnancy on Labor

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to obtain epidemiologic data on the level of physical activity during pregnancy, physical activity barriers of pregnant women, and sexual activity during pregnancy in Türkiye. We investigated the relationships between physical and sexual activity in pregnant women and labor-related variables. Materials and Methods: The study included volunteers who gave birth in the maternal ward of tertiary training and research hospital. To determine the physical activity levels in pregnancy, “International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)” and “Physical Activity Readiness Medical Examination (PARMED-X)” scales were used. In addition, participants were questioned about their sexual activity during pregnancy. Participants’ data on the duration of the first and second phases of labor, postpartum hemorrhage, oxytocin administration for labor induction, and unplanned Cesarean section (Cs) were obtained from patients’ electronic medical records. Results: The study included 173 pregnant women. Seventy-seven (44.50%) participants were nulliparous. With increasing age, participants were found to be less physically active (p=0.235). There was no correlation between physical activity levels and duration of the phases of labor, gestational age, oxytocin usage, postpartum hemorrhage, and type of delivery. Lower gestational weight gain was observed in the physically active group. There was a relationship between an increase in sexual activities during pregnancy and a shorter duration of the second phase of labor (p=0.018). Conclusion: Our study showed that physical activity levels tended to decrease in pregnant women, and pregnancy-related side effects were mainly responsible for this situation. It was observed that physical activity levels and sexual activity had limited effects on labor.

Keywords

• exercise
• pregnancy
• sexual behavior
• labor; oxytocin

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