Exercise during pregnancy and type of delivery in nulliparae.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between participation in aerobic exercise during the first two trimesters of pregnancy and type of delivery in nulliparous women.


METHODS
Nonexperimental, retrospective.


METHODS
A large metropolitan area in the southwestern United States.


METHODS
137 nulliparous women.


METHODS
Method of delivery.


RESULTS
An unadjusted odds ratio showed that sedentary women (n = 93) were 2.05 times more likely to deliver via cesarean section than active women (n = 44), but this relationship was not statistically significant. Through logistic regression analysis with control for the mother's prepregnancy exercise program, age, use of epidural anesthesia, change in prepregnancy to delivery body mass index, labor length, whether labor was induced, and the hospital of birth, the odds of cesarean delivery were found to be 4.5 times greater for sedentary women than for active women.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular participation in physical activity during the first two trimesters of pregnancy may be associated with reduced risk for cesarean delivery in nulliparous women.
Bungum
T J
TJ
Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton 76201-1337, USA. bungum@coefs.coe.unt.edu
Peaslee
D L
DL
Jackson
A W
AW
Perez
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015206:Southwestern United States