title: Feasibility and efficacy of a physical activity intervention among pregnant women: the behaviors affecting baby and you (B.A.B.Y.) study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. However, the majority of pregnant women are inactive and interventions designed to increase exercise during pregnancy are sparse. We evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an exercise intervention among a diverse sample of pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The B.A.B.Y. (Behaviors Affecting Baby and You) Study is conducted at a large tertiary care facility in Western Massachusetts. We randomized 110 prenatal care patients (60% Hispanic) to an individually tailored 12-week exercise intervention arm (n = 58) or to a health and wellness control arm (n = 52) at mean = 11.9 weeks gestation. Physical activity was assessed via the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the 12-week intervention, the exercise arm experienced a smaller decrease (-1.0 MET-hrs/wk) in total activity vs. the control arm (-10.0 MET-hrs/wk; P = .03), and a higher increase in sports/exercise (0.9 MET-hrs/wk) vs. the control arm (-0.01 MET-hrs/wk; P = .02). Intervention participants (95%) reported being satisfied with the amount of information received and 86% reported finding the study materials interesting and useful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a tailored exercise intervention in increasing exercise in a diverse sample of pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chasan-Taber
authors.forename: Marushka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Bess H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stanek
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Markenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult