title: Leisure time physical activity among pregnant women and its associations with maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity during pregnancy is generally considered safe and beneficial for both the pregnant woman and her fetus. The overall aim was to investigate pregnant women's pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy physical activity and its associations with maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study combined data from the Maternal Health Care Register in Västerbotten (MHCR-VB) and the Salut Programme Register (Salut-R). Data were collected from 3,868 pregnant women living in northern Sweden between 2011 and 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost half of the participants (47.1%) achieved the recommended level of physical activity. Compared to the women who did not achieve the recommended level of exercise, these women had lower BMI, very good or good self-rated health, and a higher educational level. No significant associations could be established between physical activity levels and GDM, birth weight, or mode of delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positively, a considerably high proportion of Swedish pregnant women achieved the recommended level of physical activity. Factors associated with recommended physical activity level were BMI ≤30 kg/m(2), very good or good self-rated health, and higher educational level. Our findings emphasize the need for health care professionals to early detect and promote fertile and pregnant women towards health-enhancing physical activity, especially those with low levels of physical activity and overweight/obesity, to improve overall health in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.lindqvist@umu.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindkvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eurenius
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivarsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mogren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D037841:Pregnant People; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body mass index; Cross-sectional study; Education; Health promotion; Physical activity; Pregnancy outcome