Exercise Counseling in Pregnancy: Do Women Perceive Receiving the Information They Need?

Perspectives of Midwives and Nurse Practitioners in Kentucky on Exercise Counseling During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study

Introduction

Healthcare professionals are in an optimal position to deliver exercise information to pregnant women, yet previous research suggests this seldom happens. Midwives and nurse practitioners, who may have more time with pregnant women, are particularly well suited for this role.

Objectives

This qualitative study examined the exercise advice and counseling provided by midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky, focusing on the barriers they face.

Methods

Twenty-one midwives and nurse practitioners were recruited until the sample size reached saturation. A survey with open-ended questions was distributed to potential participants in regional hospitals, universities, and professional associations. The framework method was employed to identify common themes in the responses from participants.

Results

Five main themes emerged: nature of advice, discussing exercise benefits, safety concerns, barriers to counseling, and suggestions for improvement. Findings revealed that midwives and nurse practitioners recommend moderate exercise, aiming for 150 min weekly, monitoring heart rate for intensity, continuing prepregnancy exercise routines, starting low-intensity exercise during pregnancy such as walking, slowing down as pregnancy advances, and avoiding heavy lifting and vigorous activities. Many midwives and nurse practitioners in our sample took a reactive approach to exercise counseling, providing exercise advice if pregnant women asked questions or if they were at high risk for hypokinetic diseases. It was also observed that midwives and nurse practitioners discussed the maternal benefits of exercise more than the fetal benefits. Only a few nurse practitioners and midwives were content with their counseling, while the majority did not feel their counseling was effective.

Conclusions

Many midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky provided comprehensive and accurate physical activity guidelines to pregnant women. However, there is room for them to improve: proactive counseling should include discussions on fetal benefits and using the "talk test" for exercise intensity. Advising patients to slow down as pregnancy progresses should be reconsidered, and evidence-based guidance on specific exercises should be prioritized.

Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Among Pregnant Women at High Risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Physical activity could decrease the odds of pregnant women at high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) developing GDM. Physical activity self-efficacy was the key predictor of physical activity. This study aimed to examine physical activity self-efficacy and identify its predictors among pregnant women at high risk for GDM in mainland China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Zhengzhou, China, from October 2021 to February 2022. Two hundred fifty-two pregnant women at high risk for GDM completed the Pregnancy Physical Activity Self-efficacy Scale, the Social Support for Physical Activity Scale, the Knowledge of Physical Activity Questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and a socio-demographic data sheet. Multiple linear regression was used.

Results

Chinese pregnant women at high risk for GDM reported a moderate level of physical activity self-efficacy. The best-fit regression analysis revealed four predictors. Social support for physical activity was the strongest predictor, followed by knowledge of physical activity, intention to do physical activity, and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

The study found that Chinese pregnant women at high risk for GDM had a moderate level of physical activity self-efficacy, which had 4 predictors. Healthcare professionals should make efforts to enhance pregnant women's social support, knowledge, and intention to do physical activity and decrease their anxiety symptoms to improve their physical activity self-efficacy.

Fostering the social and physical challenges of female recreational or professional athletes in pregnancy and postpartum

Combining pregnancy and parenthood with sporting activities or a professional athletic career can be challenging. The objective of this Collection is to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of pregnancy and postpartum on female athletes, both recreational and professional, in order to improve their health and fitness outcomes and support their continued success in sports.