Miscarriage linked to heavy exercise
Pregnant women are advised to carry out moderate exercise
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Thursday, 27, Sep 2007 04:07
Pregnant women who take part in strenuous exercise could increase their risk of miscarriage, a new study has warned.
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark in Odense studied interviews with over 90,000 pregnant women about the exercise they took part in.
According to the New Scientist, they found that those who exercised intensively were three-and-a-half times more likely to miscarry as those who did not exercise at all.
Exercising for more than seven hours a week and taking part in high-impact sports including jogging and ball games carried the greatest risk.
Women who exercised by swimming were not found to increase their risk, as was exercising after 18 weeks of pregnancy.
John Newnham at the University of Western Australia in Perth told the New Scientist that the findings should not put women off taking part in mild to moderate exercise, such as swimming.
The government advises that pregnant women keep active as it helps women to adapt more easily to changing shape and weight gain. It is also thought to help with labour and getting in to shape following childbirth.
Pregnant women are advised not to exhaust themselves and to avoid strenuous activity in hot weather, with walking and swimming highlighted as some of the best activity to take part in.