title: Maternal physical activity, cervical length and its relation to spontaneous vaginal birth at term.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity during pregnancy is known to be beneficial, however there are controversies about the risk of preterm labor, and there is no published data to assess the association between cervical length and maternal physical activity during pregnancy. Therefore, the objective of the study was to describe the cervical length in the second and third trimesters, correlating with physical activity, anthropometric characteristics, and obstetric results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort with 56 pregnant women, allocated in two groups according to the answers obtained by a validating questionnaire on physical activity. It was considered significant p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The length of the uterine cervix was similar between active and sedentary women, from the 22nd to the 24th week of pregnancy (p = 0.58), and from the 32nd to the 34th week (p = 0.59). Gestational age at delivery was lower among active women than among sedentary ones, although without clinical repercussion, 38.2 ± 1.2 vs. 39.1 ± 1.2 weeks, respectively (p = 0.02). Among active women, 33 (89.1 %) had natural labor, while among sedentary ones, only 13 (68.4 %) (p = 0.05). The Apgar score was higher among children of active mothers (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite being the data still to small to allow final conclusions, maternal physical activity, cervical length and its relation to spontaneous vaginal birth at term is a relevant topic for the information of women in early pregnancy. More investigations directly after specific activities such as riding, walking, and biking are needed to answer the questions we receive from our pregnant patients.
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation of Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), School of Medicine, University of Passo Fundo (UPF) and Universidade Federal Da Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvane Nenê
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rocha-de-Souza
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oppermann-Lisboa
authors.forename: Giovana Bonfante
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Donatto
authors.forename: Simone Nenê Portela
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Dal Bosco
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: El Beitune
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001034:Apgar Score; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D009043:Motor Activity; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography